Diamond Dick, Jr.'s Call Down; or, The King of the Silver Box — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

No. 175. -_-__— eek of = eee — ee cashier as the step approached and stopped at the door. A moment later a heavy hand knocked on the panels. _ With a swift, cat-like bound, Bolivar placed himself at Evang’ side and pressed his revolver against the young man’s temple. “Now, then,’’- he hissed, ‘‘it’s you an’ I for it. You’re ter say jest what I tell ye or take the consequences.’ ‘*Hello, thar, Evans!’ cried a deep voice from the hall. The cashier recognized the voice and planned a desperate deed, even as the words were being spoken. ae yer whist,’’ commanded Bolivar; ‘‘don’t say a word! Evans was sitting beside a small table on which was a piece of bric-a-brac. He moved slightly, as though recoiling from the out- law’s revolver, jarred the table, and the ornamental piece fell over and broke with a crash. ‘‘Cuss ye!l"’ gritted Bolivar; ‘‘I have a dern big notion ter shoot ye fer that. The chap outside knows thar’s some one in yere now.”’ “Tsay, Evans! Wake up! I want ter swap a few words with ye.”’ ‘‘Ask who it is?’’ whispered the outlaw. ‘“Whao is it?’’ repeated Evans. ‘‘Han’sum Harry. Don’t ye recognerize the meller trill of my bazoo? Let me in.”’ “Tell him to stay outside and swap his words through the door,’’ again whispered Bolivar. ‘I’m in the hands of the Don! I’'m—— Crack! The cushier had executed a desperate purpose. Suddenly springing up from his chair, he gave Bolivar @ push and called out his warning to Handsome Harry. Bolivar fired, but his aim was wild. Before he had a chance to repeat his shot the big Cali- fornian had crashed through the door, sprang into the room, and knocked the revolver from the outlaw’s hand. Bolivar leaped backward with a growl of rage. ° “T thought thar must be somethin’ wrong,’’ said Hand- some Harry, ‘‘an’ I see] wasn’t mistaken. Who is this feller, Evans?”’ “The Don's pard.”’ “You bet,’’ returned Bolivar. ‘‘Although you've dis- armed me, Han’sum Harry, you haven’t captered me, an’ I’m goin’ ter pass through that door behind ye.”’ ‘‘Yer welcome ter try.’’ Bolivar started forward, doubling up his fists, and Evans placed himself alongside the Californian. “Git away, sonny,’’ said Handsome Harry; ‘‘I’d never forgive myself if I allowed ye ter help me polish that varmint off. Sit down over thar an’ watch the fracas—it looks as though it might be a pretty one. Sit down, I tell e!? y Seeing that Handsome Harry was in earnest, Evans dropped into a chair. 9 ‘Now, then, my gallus friend,’’ went on the Californian,- ‘if ye’ll kindly sashay in this direction, Ill accommodate ye with as neat a pair of fists as ye ever run up against. Come on!”’ ‘I’m comin’,’’ replied Bolivar; ‘‘I’ve never yet struck a man that could knock me out, an’ I don’t reckon I have this time.”’ , ‘“‘Thar’s a big surprise in store fer ye, then. Without further talk Bolivar advanced to the fray ina manner that was scientific and beautiful to see. Advancing to within arm’s reach of the Californian, he made a pass with his left and another with his right. Handsome Harry parried both blows, and with the quickness of lightning delivered a couple of pile-driver clips on each of Bolivar’s shoulders. _ The outlaw went down on the table and smashed it into indling wood. oo sO Neva inind the furniture, Handsome Harry,’ cried Evans, delightedly; ‘‘1l stand the damage. Give it to bim!”’ ‘‘Fow the blazes picked himself up. ‘¢‘C§ome at me ag Harry. did ye do that?’’ queried Bolivar, as he ‘in an’ I'll show ye,’’ replied Handsome DIAMOND DICK LIGRARY. Bolivar prickcd up his ears and looked hard at the 11 ‘‘Jest what I’m goin’ ter do, pilgrim,’’ panted Bolivai ‘fan’ you kin bet I’ll double ye up this time.”’ ‘‘Do, my huckleberry, do!’’ remarked the Californian, as he sprang forward and caught his enemy in transit, with his guards in poor position. Had an earthquake suddenly burst open the ground be- neath Bolivar’s feet, he could not have’ been hurled farther, nor with greater force. He turned end over end, sinashed into the wall, and then dropped in a heap on the floor and lay there without sound or movement. ‘You've killed him!’’ exclaimed Evans. “‘Don’t you believe it,’’ replied Handsome Harry, as he approached and bent over the form of the unfortunate outlaw. ‘‘That upper-cut simply put him to sleep—I knew it would. Now me boy, I came back to ask if Miss Bicknell is comin’ down from Denver, to-morrer, an’ if she dupli- cated them diamonds o’ hers in paste.”’ ‘I presume she has,’’ replied Evans, ‘‘although I know nothing about it. I also believe she will arrive in Cripple Creek to-day, for you see it is almost sunrise. And that reminds me that we must hurry if we would save Diamond ick, Jr.”’ ‘‘What’s the matter with Diamond Dick, Jr.?’’ queried Harry. Without loss of time the cashier narrated the adventures he had had since Diamond Dick, Jr., and Handsome Harry had left him in his room. ‘‘Then the Don is onto the hull scheme?”’ ¢ ‘Yes. 99 Handsome Harry gave a long whistle. ‘*Then Diamond Dick, Jr.’ll have ter be steered clear of trouble, an’ his old pard is the hombre ter do it.”’ ‘‘T’ll go with you.’’ ‘No, Evans; you go down to the train an’ meet Miss Bicknell. That’s what Diamond Dick, Jr., sent me back ter tell ye.”’ ‘Very well; but what’s to be done with that man there?’’ ‘*He’s jest beginnin’ ter revive. out afore he gits his wits back.’’ ‘‘Why not turn him over to the police?’’ _‘*He hasn’t done anythin’ we can arrest him fer; be- sides, a feller that put up as purty a fight as he did de- serves some consideration.’’ The two then left the room and parted in front of the house. ‘‘Diamond Dick, Jr., wasn’t to be at Spitzer’s hole be- fore eight o’clock, eh?’’ asked the Californian. é ‘No. 9 “That was mv idee, but I wanted to be sure. If anythin’ happens to Miss Bicknell, let Diming Dick, Jr., know, will e?”? ‘‘Certainly,’’ replied Evans, in some alarm; ‘‘but what does Diamond Dick, Jr., think can happen to her?”’ “That’s a conundrum. Bertie can’t understand that Bicknell affair at all. Why does the gal kerry all her money in dimings?”’ ‘‘Because she’s peculiar, I suppose.”’ ‘‘Wall, mebby; but Diming Dick, Jr., doesn’t seem ter think so. Howsumever, we'll wait an’ watch develop- ments. By, by, Evans.’’ They separated, going in different directions. Proceeding to the hotel, Handsome Harry discovered that Bertie had left it some time before. ‘‘He must have started for the Spitzer claim,’’ muttered Handsome Harry, ‘‘an’ I'll have ter overtake him.”’ Without loss of further time, he left the town behind him and walked rapidly along in the direction of Spitzer’s old place. He had just struck the first spur of the rocky hill be- hind which lay Spitzer’s cabin, when he heard a loud cry for ‘‘Help!’’ proceeding from among the rocks. At this point a ravine-like opening penetrated the hill, and obeying his first impulse, the Californian turned into it. The call for help grew louder and more urgent as he proceeded. . The ravine grew wider and deeper, and suddenly, ag Handsome. Harry turned a sudden angle in the rocks. he 'gaw ahead of him an old shaft-house, and from within this 'came the muffled cries for assistance. CONN —_—_—- Come on an’ let’s slide <SriGOlin Gooo