Diamond Dick, Jr.: The Boys' Best Weekly — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

28 Blackbelly! That jist what do, then he undelstand, you bettce!”’ The Mascot had put the messages in his pocket. He now produced them, and with a pencil marked a big ‘‘O. K.’? on one of them, with ‘‘Mascot’’ just under it. This done he handed it over to the Ace o? Spades, who rolled it tightly and clutched it in lis hand and slipped over the side of the boat as before and went down, down. Bertie was still watching, trying to get another glimpse of his niysterious visitor, and presently he saw him coming straight at jini with thé ease of a nativeof the element he was in, and lie came to the side of the glass house as before. There he stopped, holding himself at that depth by means of his feet, and there he unrolled the paper, carefully, and pressed it against tle glass for Bertie to read. This, of course, it was no trouble for Bertie to do, and asmile lighted up his face at once. Blackberry remained only a moment, and then, with an emphatic nod, he gave a kick and shot upward as before. And this was Bertie’s introduction to the successor of the T'wo-Cent Kid. CHAPTER VIII. THE SURPRISE OF THEIR LIVES. Ace o’ Spades soon rejoined his part- ners. Handsome Harry helped him into the boat, and lie soon had on his clothes once WOTe. They cnatted in whispers, taking good care not to make a sound that could pos- sibly reach the shore, and laid their plans. Blackberry having been there by day- light, knew the lay of the land—if by any stretch of the imagination water may be called land, and he was appointed to act as guide. Their plan was to run in near the boat- house, and from there make an attempt to reach Diamond Dick, Jr., with as little loss of tine as possible. The colored youth placed lumself in the prow and began to paddle as before. In a short tine the outlines of the boat- house were seen. With great caution, then, they drew in DIAMOND DICK, JR. OUTHEEEEEGHT. to the shore, and finally the boat touched ground some yards to the east of the building. | They got out and gently drew the boat upalittleway, not knowing but that they night have further use for it, and then advanced toward the boathouse with greatest caution, The building was dark and still. Not a sound was to be heard anywhere, and there were no lights nearer than those at the mansion. As they drew nearer to the building, however, the quick ears of the Mascot caught the sound of voices, and he gave the others a cautionary signal. All three sank down to the ground, where they waited, silent and :motionless, and presently the outlines of two men were seen approaching the frontof the boathouse, where they stopped. ‘Well, what is your opinion about it?” one asked. “My opinion is that I would leave her there all night, for I think she will be willing enough to do your bidding in the morning.’? ‘What makes you think so? She has a will like iron, asI am beginning to find out.”’ : “Vou wait and see. One night under the waters of this lake, with all the creeping and crawling things around her, will make her willing to do anything to escape anothier.”? “Well, maybe you are right. We certainly know she is safe there. But your prisoner—are you positively sure that he cannot escape ?”’ — “Pshaw! that’s a foolish question.’? “T know it seems so, but you don’t want to forget that he is Diamond Dick, Jr. ?) ~Rvyen if fe were Diamond Dick, Jr., twice over, le could not get out of that chamber alive. If he damages a elass he is sure to drown, and he will have better sense than to try it.”’ ‘Well, well, no doubt you are right. Then there 1s no use going down, is there? Iconfess it gives me the creeps to go under the water.”? “Vou need not go, but I shall do so, to see how things are.’’ “Then Ill go back to the house.’* “You may do that, and call everybody COMmiclboo (Cc S ote CO