Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 DIAMOND DICK, JR. As for the present adventure, he thought he could stand as much of it as Mr. Huimphryes. When he had entered the passage he heard the panel close. Fora moment they were in darkness, then suddenly the place was flooded with electric light. This way,’’ said Mr. Htumphiryes. ‘TAll right, I’m coming,’’ Bertie re- sponded. For ashort distance the passage was level and straight. The floor was still of glass, as was the roof, but the sides were of brick. There was soon an abrupt turn to the left, and there a flight of steps led down- ward at a sharp angle for several feet. The electric lights revealed their sur- roundings, and Bertie noted that steps, sides, roof, everything was of glass, out- side of which could be seen the solid earth. Arrived at the bottom of the steps, a long passage was revealed, some three feet in width by six and a half in height, composed entirely of thick plate glass, the plates closely joined and sealed. For a distance the glass was black in appearance, but beyond that if had a beautiful tint of green. Bertie saw at once whiat it was. It was nothing more of less thati an air-tight tunnel extended out under thie water ! Mr. Humphryes led the way, and ina moment they had passed beyond the sand and mud of the shore and were walking through the clear water at the bottom of the lake. The roof of the tunnel was dark, and Bertie noted that it had a covering of something like lead—probably so that it could not be seen from the surface of the water; but the sides were as clear as the water itself, and it was a new and wonder- ful experience. Fishes could be seen, some lying still with only a gentle motion of fins, others darting this way and that as if with alarm. Now and then one would come straight at the strange tunnel and kill itself against the solid glass, which it would strike with the force of an arrow from the bow, giving the water a tinge of red just there. 99 OUT OF SIGHT. | Ina moment Mr. Humphryes stopped and looked at his visitor. There was a sinile of pride and triumph on his face, and he no doubt expected to see Bertie’s eyes open wide with wonder- iment. . But not so. _ Diamond Dick, Jr., was taking it all in as ceolly as if it were an everv-day exprerience, or as if it were nothing remarkable. He saw a shade of disappointment on his host’s face. ‘fAre you 4 not awed—almost over- -come?’? the mad millionaire inquired, as if this was what he had expected to find. “Well, hardly,’ Bertie quietly respond- ed. ‘‘You have got a pretty good show, I have to admit, but I see no reason why I should go into conniption fits over it.” ‘All right, but wait; you have not seen the half.”? ‘‘Yead on, then.’ This Mr. Huinphryes did, and Bertie boldly followed. The floor of the glass passage was cov- ered with a strip of rubber matting, to prevent slipping. At length a pair of hanging curtai# marked the end of the passage, and on reaching these Mr. Humphryes brushed thein aside, then stopped and held one of them aside for Rertie to enter. Diamond Dick, Jr., passed in, and found himself in a room. | It was of good proportions, the floor was carpeted, and there were tables, chairs, a couch or two, and so forth. The sides were glass—all glass, with a strong metal framework to hold the plates securely in place, and Bertie could not but feel awed even if he did not allow it to be seen. Perhaps it was the dead stillness that struck him, for it was a place of absolute silence. The air seeined fresh and pure, and the electric lights added greatly to the appearance, though the sunlight above would have been sufficient at the time. Other curtains or portieres marked an- other passage leading from this room, and when the mad millionaire had paused long enough to give his guest time to look around he drew these curtains aside and passed beyond, with a word to Bertie to follow, and they passed through a sort COMmicloooe S CO