Pluck And Luck (no. 751) (1912 10 23)

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Ne 75{ Oct.2341912 5 (enfs. | Vig le DAVE AND THE DIAMOND OR THE BOY woo CAME FROM BRAZIL AND OTHER STORIES By Berton Bertrew The window in the back of the store had been lowered at the top, and there, protruding over the sash, was the head ofaman. His face was dark and Swarthy, with small, glittering eyes and an enormous nose.

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PLUCK AND LUC Stories of Adventure Issued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the New — N. Y., Post Office, ~ November 7, 1898. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1912 in the office ae Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C., by Frank Tousey, Publisher, = West 23d St., New York New application Sor second-class entry pe Dave and the Diamond THE BOY WHO CAME FROM BRAZIL ~ By BERTON BERTREW > Fee aN oe ree et the books were always open to the police and Mr. Gompers — ever ready to assist in recovering the diamonds, if sold, for their rightful owners. ) Often he found himself seriously out of pocket by these Some years ago, before the tall skyscrapers began to go up! transactions, as both Dave and Adele very well knew. in Maiden lane, New York, some of the diamond dealers, tor | One afternoon in the month of May, just as Mr. Gompers which that street has so long been famous, used to have; was beginning to think about going home, the store door their places of business in small stores on the ground floor| opened and a well-known actress entered, Miss Irene Duche- CHAPTER I. ABOUT THE BIG DIAMOND THAT WAS OFFERED TO DAVE. - instead of upstairs in offices as now. nelle by name, who, nodding to Adele, asked to be shown - Mr. Israel Gompers, an elderly and much respected dealer|some unset diamonds, saying that she desired to match one in precious stones, was one of these. which had recently been presented to her. ' Js ' Mr. Gompers at that time was widely known as a rare| As Miss Duchenelle had bought diamonds at the store before : judge of gems and a man of strict integrity. He had fur-| Adele hastened to show her such gems as were likely to meet nished diamonds to some of the richest families in New York| her wants, and Mr. Gompers took his seat at his desk in ‘the and yet to look at his place from the outside you would not} rear of the little store, which occupied a place alongside of + _ think the man was worth ten cents. a window overlooking a narrew courtyard. we: It was just a little hole in the wall, a short, narrow store Mr. Gompers was now ready to deal with the actress through y curiously dove-tailed in between two larger ones, and yet} his clerk, who would offer nothing without first submitting the transactions amounting to many millions had been carried on; diamond to him to have the price fixed. there. He had hardly taken his seat when a handsomely-dressed a Mr. Gompers himself was a little dried- -up old gentleman,| gentleman entered with a number of small diamonds for sale. be ; with a harsh voice, but a kind heart and lots of cash to back} This brought Mr. Gompers to the front, for he always did — it up. his own buying. He had two clerks, a boy of some eighteen years named The diamonds were unset and in the usual blue papers. Mr. _ David Hartwell, whom he had taken a fancy to and picked! Gompers examined them, made a price, which - was rejected, 4 fon up out of the streets, so to speak, although the boy’s parents,| and then the bargaining began. - - both of whom were now dead, had been perfectly respectable| They were desirable stones, and the dealer advanced his oe and had given their son a fairly good education, which was| offer; the gentleman held out for more, and they were still a great help to “Dave,” as he was always cailed, now that] talking in low tones when the door opened a third time, and he was left to shift for himself. a boy entered, not much older than Dave, dressed in rough The second clerk was a young lady, who kept the accounts! clothes and with a face so sunburned that Dave at once put — Be and wrote the letters—typewriters were not much in vogue| him down for a sailor. He came timidly up to the Na % fn those days—and attended to the actresses when they called| and asked: “Do you buy diamonds here?” to buy or sell diamonds, for Mr. Gompers had a horror of = women and would only deal with them through Miss Adele 4 Bradford, who was both young and pretty and shrewd at Ate business, too of In Mr. Gompers’ establishment everything went like clock- work. Stolen goods were purchased sometimes, of course; it! > at yametgenag to avoid making mistakes, although Mr. Gom- _. pers was very particular and would never deal Dehoe! any one | : ie ee slieved to be a professional crook. ; , wner-Pn ee viet eee sae “Why, yes,” replied Dave. “Have you got any to sell?” “I have one,” said the boy, speaking with a strong Engl accent. “I'd like to turn it into cash if I could.” Mr. Gompers, who never looked around, but who heard and saw all, now gave Dave a sign, which meant: > . “Look at the stone. If it is no good, send him wees Atit 1 is worth buying, hold him till I am through.” ; oe “Perhaps we can do business,” replied Dave. “Let | me : | the diamond.” - The bahas’ 3 rea agente oaete®

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DAVE buch as spool cotton comes in. way of a diamond that Dave had ever laid eyes on. It was as big as a pigeon’s egg and beautifully cut. window, reflecting them back from a thousand points. large sum of money, if a genuine stone without a flaw, as it certainly appeared to be. “Where in the world did you get that?” asked Dave, in amazement. “Oh, I’ve just come up from Brazil,” replied the boy. “Only landed this afterncon. I was up in the diamond country a while. I got this from an Indian. I assure you it is all straight.” “But it has been ’cut,” said Dave. “This diamond has been to Amsterdam; there is nowhere else in the world ase such work can be done.” “I don't know par ees about that,” replied the boy. only know where I got it. My name is Gordon Winstanley. came up from Brazil as a deck hand om the hide ship Anglo- — I 4 as _ Saxon. She is lying at Robert's stores, over in Brooklyn, now. 4 If you don’t belicve me it is very easy to prove what I say.” na “That’s all right,” replied Dave. “I didn’t say that I did 7 - not believe you. What do you want for this stone?” 7 “Whatever it is worth.” ., > “It’s worth a good deal of money if it is straight goods. ‘We don’t buy these big stones as a rule. Wait a moment until Mr. ,Gompers can have a lock at it. I would not undertake to ~ - make a price.” “May I have a look at the diamond?” asked Miss Duchenolle, oe. turning away from Adele. “Oh, my, isn’t it a big one, and such a beauty! May I touch it? Please let me. I’ll be very “No!” said Mr. Gompers, shortly. “We don’t allow it, miss. - You may handie my diamonds, but not those belonging to ___ other people.” “You are insulting, sir!” cried the actress, springing up in -» a@ huff. I am no thief!” =e Mr. Gompers made no reply to this remark. ; *t want them at your price,” he said, pushing the blue paper toward the stranger, and then he stepped up alongside of Dave and’ proceeded to examine the big diamond in. his usual business-like way. He turned it over and over, put a glass on it for an instant, and then laid it back in the spool cotton box. ; While he was thus engeged, Miss Duchenelle stood behind - the boy from Brazil on the left, and the stranger, stepping up, _ stood on his right; both were regarding the big diamond with _ admiring eyes. » ~ “Don’t want it myself,” said Mr. Gompers, decidedly; “it is _ @ genuine stone and very valuable; worth too much money _ for me to take any chances on. I think I can place it for Po “you, though, if it is straight,” -+rn give you ten thousand dollars for it,” said .he stranger, “cash down.” - “Fl give twelve!” cried Miss Duchenelle. “Oh, {v's a perfect & ‘darling. I'll give more if I can’t get it for that.” ' “What do you mean by trying to do business in my store?” _ flashed Mr. Gompers. “Is dis an auction room? Who pays de oat here, you or I?” ‘Neither the stranger nor the actress answered, for at the same instant the boy from Brasitattred a sharp ery. Look! ‘There he is! I’ve been followed! Oh, save Save me!” he shouted, pointing to the rear of the. handkerchief, in which was wrapped a small pasteboard box, This he laid on the counter, and, opening it, displayed the most remarkable thing in the It caught the rays of the setting sun, which shone through the} was the head of a man. \ Dave saw at a glance that it was a unique gem and wortha store. | iad jt arte om Br he tip Anesth a a -* AND THE DIAMOND It was so sudden, so startling, that all involuntarily looked in the direction of the boy’s pointing finger. To Dave’s astonishment—and eyery one else was equally — startled—he saw that the window in the back of the store had been lowered at the top, and there, protruding over the sash, His face was dark and swarthy, with small, glittering eyes and an encrmous nose, For an instant only he surveyed the startled occupants of Mr. Gompers’ store, and then, as the boy from Brazil fell writhing in the fit, the face suddenly disappeared. CHAPTER II. DAVE SEES THE FACE AGAIN. In the excitement of the moment everybody in the store forgot the big diamond. Dave was the first to recollect the rule of the house, which Was never to take eyes off a valuable gem if there were people in the. store. He clapped the cover on the box and hastily put the box itself in the open safe. “Dat’s right, Dave,” whispered Mr. Gompers. “Run into the. — court. See who it was. Follow him. Have him arrested. Quick! ” ; Dave needed no second order. y He had often called Mr, Gompers’ attention to the insecurity of the place, for the window opened upon a narrow court, now wiped out of existence by the changes of modern times, but then haying an entrance on Maiden lane and an exit through a hallway into John street. Thus, one could go right through vod the block by way of that court, if he knew the ropes. ‘ Dave pounced out of the store, turned into the alley and ran through the court te John street, seeing nobody, nor was there anything to be seen of the pecullar-looking stranger when he got on the other street. y He inquired of one or two loungers at the windows of the jewelry stores if they had seen such a person come out of the hallway, which communicated with the court, but no one had. Then Dave realized what a hopeless task he had undertaken _ and gave it up, returning to the store, where he found Mr. Gompers and Adele alone with the boy from Brazil, the actress — and the stranger having departed, ordered out by Mr. Gompers. Adele whispered, as he went to the back of the store, where the old diamond dealer stood locking down at the sailor boy, who lay perfectly unconscious on the floor. = “Vell, did you see him?” demanded Mr. Gempers. “No, I read it in your face, Dave. He vas too quick for you—he vas gone.” “Yes, sir. I could find out nothing about him. “Bah! What's de uSe talking?” broke in Mr, Gompers, shrugging his shoulders. “It is not my peezness—no. 1 have . rung for an ambulance, Let them take de boy to de hospital As for dat feller at de vinder, mebbe he vas a tramp, mebbe he ca vas following de boy. I cannot tell.” came Just then the ambulance came rattling up to the door, and a the young doctor, accompanied by the policeman whom Mr. oa Gompers bad first called to his assistance, came hurrying in. _ es | “It's a severe case of epilepsy,” pronounced the doctor. ~ take bim to Chambers street. What's his name?” “How welt I know? Take b mond here. Officer, you Le. a record of dat.” “He told me his name was. Gordon Winstanley and AL +p epee sesh te speeches I— vm of

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a ee DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. policeman to put the unconscious boy into the ambulance, and | As he had not mentioned the cab, and Dave was not hiring he was driven away. {eabs himself, he sprang upon one of those strange vehicles — “This is a strange piece of business, sir,” remarked Dave, ; which have long since passed away, and found himeelf jolting after they had departed. | over the rough pavement, thrown violently forward one os Z Mr. Gompers gave a peculiar grunt, which always meant ment and dashed back against the seat the next. ‘ a _ that he was excited, We refer to the old Broadway stage, of course, and we may = . “Miss Bradford, you go home,” he said. “Dave, glose de; add that the one Dave got into was so crowded that there store.” was no seat for the boy at first, and he held on to the dia- Adele departed in a moment. mond, as he stood in the straw, holding on to the attay for 4 . “Don’t have anything to do with that diamond, Dave,” she dear life. as whispered, as she was leaving. “I don’t know why I say so, | In those days Broadway below Fourteenth: street was all a but I feel as though it was sure to bring you trouble if you! ablaze with light; there were theatres and concert halls on do.” | every block; the sidewalks were thronged with pedestrians “Pshaw! You are nervous, Adele!” laughed Dave, and he, and the roadway blocked with carriages and stages. ; pushed the heavy steel shutter which protected the rear win-| How changed is all this! Between six and seven o'clock, dow into place and carefully fastened it, nowadays, this part of Broadway is like a deserted city, the “Daye, come here,” said Mr. Gompers, after Adele withdrew. ' darkness and silence being broken only by the noisy cars a He was pacing up and down the store, smoking the inevi-| they go whirling along. table cigar. When the stage reached Grand street, Dave was fortunate — y “Yes, sir,” replied Dave, hurrying forward. : to get a seat, +o “Dave,” continued Mr. Gompers, “I am going home, but you; When it crossed Prince street, the man next to him got out ; _ have got work to do to-night. Did you know that?” and a lady dressed in deep mourning, with a heavy widow’s 7 “I’m ready to do anything you want done, sir,” replied Dave,; veil drawn down over her face, suddenly changed her seat _ promptly, “but I did not know it—no!” from the opposite side of the swaying vehicle and saree ssh A “Listen to me, Dave. I have seen dat big diamond before. | herself alongside of Dave. Do you know vat it is?” ; : Dave tried to move up, but there was no room, for a fat © “No, sir.” colored woman with a large basket occupied the seat on the “Vell, I tell you. Dat is a diamond vat vonce belonged to| other side of him and she would not budge. : ‘the great Napoleon. It is called de Star of de Vest. It is} Scarcely had the lady placed herself than she turned to - Yalued at a hundred tousand dollars easy, mebbe more. Ij| Dave and held out her hand. ee _ Baw it in Amsterdam twenty years ago. It vas stolen from; “Why, how do you do?” she exclaimed. “I am delighted _ de King of Holland’s jewel-cabinet some twelve years ago und|see you. Your health must have greatly improved to permit you to be out at night. Won't you shake hands?” pbk Dave was taken completely aback, but the lady simply — thrust her hand upon him and he could not refuse it, but as he pressed her hand he said, politely, “Madam, TY’ think 'y are making a “mistake.” ee She squeezed his hand with a grip which made Dave one inn it away in a hurry. ; As he did so something sharp seemed to stick him in ‘the palm, causing about as much pain as the slight prick of a ‘pin, Of this Dave thought nothing at the time, except that the thought flashed over him that the lady must have a ‘Pin stick ing in her glove. “Oh, no! I cannot be mistaken,” she said, in a loud wales “What, you do not know me! Dear, dear! Your old troub! in the head must have grown worse. Why, my dear boy, how — ean you forget your old aunt? Come, now, Charley! Look a me! That will make your mind clear.” : Sam drew away her veil on the side toward Dave, so tha’ no one besides the boy could possibly have seen her face, the old colored woman, and she was half asleep, = Dave gave a quick gasp and clutched the diamond » with his other hand, which was deep in his coat pocket. — The face behind the veil was a horrible one. eras Dark, swarthy, little eyes, very prominent nose; a evil face if ever there was one; a man’s face, and the i % de detectives have been looking for it ever since, for dere is _ @ revard of twenty thousand dollars for de man who finds it. + Dat’s de history of dat-stone.” -_. Dave’s eyes were big with astonishment. He had the most - implicit confidence in Mr. Gompers’ knowledge of diamonds. =e He never thought of such a thing as doubting the truth of what he had just heard. “And do you propose to hold the stone, sir?” he asked. it “I don’t know. It vas an unlucky stone, und I believe in unlucky stones. I could tell you more about it. Dere has been murders committed on account of dat stone, dere has * been—but no matter now. First of all I must be sure. Dave, - I yant you to take dat diamond up to de Hotel Brunswick a aia show it to my good friend Steenkamp, who has just come = from Amsterdam. Tell him all. Ask him {f it is really de famous Star of de Vest, but don’t say a vord about vat I t’ink until he says so himself—you understand?” “ok +) $¥es, sir, but—” _ “Dat’s all right. I camnot go, My niece is to be married x tonight at eight o'clock from my house, and I am to give her —avay, ‘so I vill trust you, for I know you to be an honest boy, : ‘So soon as you leave Steenkamp drive straight to my house and give me de diamond. Dat’s all, Now, good-night, Dave, -T am going right avay.” i ioe gre og ee Repti Bn Dead reel armas ag 2 asked Dave, Sy eae : ‘But Mr. Gompers declined, “Once was enough,” he gaid,| and he was in a hurry, so, closing the safe after Dave had the spool cotton box in his pocket, he hastily left the tore, leaving Dave to got « bite at « Nassau street restaurant ; then start uptown, it would have been wiser if Mr, Gompers bad in-| eK se 2 eta ae Pras hana gr ysrryeoontig 7 « S a Tc Sane ERO AE ied ol A are as CI SE i OP ARES RS ERE EEE iris ssh Oe (WHERE Is THE Bran ov THE West? | Dave was terribly frightened—there 1s no denying i P gpuiperee si rapeec tnt ' weary od re assceais 2

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Simply because he could no more have made the move than he could have flown out the window. Strange sensations had come over the boy. ‘His head was - whirling, his limbs tingled all over, and in a moment his whole body was in the same condition. It was just as if a thousand needles were sticking into him, “and yet to save his life he could not move nor could he speak, for his tongue seemed suddenly to have become paralyzed. + All he could do was to keep his eyes fixed upon that black veil and listen. The man was talking rapidly in a foreign language—talking ~ “{m a woman’s yoice—and poor Dave’s head was buzzing. Just two ideas were left in his muddled brain, One was the diamond. The other was that he had been poisoned by that supposed pin-prick, and this was, indeed, the truth. ’ Still the stage rattled on, still the strange creature behind * the veil kept talking, when all at once, just as they reached Eighth street—Clinton place it was called then—Dave’s head suddenly fel] over upon the shoulder of the supposed woman, ~~ "and so he Ihy, while she screamed and called out to the other iy passengers to stop the stage, which a sympathetic gentleman opposite immediately did. \ “Oh, he is my nephew, gentlemen!” the “woman” said. “My sister’s child. He is quite insane and subject to these attacks. I can’t imagine how they came to let him go out alone. I must call a cab and take him right home.” * ‘This is what she said, but it is not what she did. _ ‘Daye stumbled out of the stage after her, partly helped by ‘the gentleman and partly by the strong grip of the creature seyind the veil. | He was able to walk, though he ‘staggered, and was able to stand when-they reached the curb. He knew what had hap- pened and what he was about, but to save himself he could _ not hold his head up nor utter a single word. ; ge disguised man threw a strong arm about him and held him like a vise until the stage was out of sight. “Walk with me. If you try to escape I will kill you!” he _ hissed. “Do as J tell you and no harm shall come to you from this.” Dave heard, understood, and it gave him hope. ‘He tried to get his hand into his coat pocket and clutch the diamond box, but it hung limply by his side and he could not Taise it an inch. - But he could walk, supported by the stranger, and he did: They crossed Broadway and went along Eighth street to _ Neilson place—now the upper part of Greene street. Here they turned and went down a block or two, when they sud- iy ‘enly paused béfore a green gate set in a wall and knocked k Now, every moment Dave had been getting better. He was suffering from a poison which was extremely volatile and its effects were passing away. ry. “This ‘poison, we May as well state right here, was contained ima ring which the stranger wore. _ By slightly pressing a spring, which he was able to do by E aressing the ringed-flnger against the next, a sharp point shot out, puncturing the palm of the mend! which he grasped and _ the mischief was done. f Footsteps were heard behind the gate. ~. ‘dose of the subtfle fluid into the boy's palm. — "Whether Dave knew what had happened or not is doubtful, a Sel eS oe es ae all DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. ; > 5) ERGO EREIE Sy EERE Stee Sarria tam ar Een eS oO * “Take my hand. I'll help you,” whispered the man, ‘ena he —o Dave’s hand, pressed the spring and drove a second | shall suffer for this! u eee ne oe for all recollection sud-|cupied that he never noticed ‘the smoke which liantly lighted, with two men standing near a table talking in loud, angry tones. One was a tall, stylish-looking gentleman, whom Dave in- stantly recognized as the man who had tried to sell Mr. Gom- pers the diamonds, while the other was a man of most pe- culiar build and hideous face—the face which Dave had such good reason to remember, and which now came back to him © like a dream. Here was the disguised man disguised no longer. His face Was uglier than ever now, for he was wild with rage. ““It’s a lie!” he shouted. “I’m as much in the dark about the diamond as you are! I say it’s a lie!” “Hold your noise!” hissed the other. “You have the dia- mond! Give it to me or, by the eternal, you will never leave this room alive!” What did he mean? What did they both mean? % There on the table lay the spool cotton box, which Dave — had tried so hard to protect, and there beside it lay a big glittering thing which Dave certainly thought was the dia- mond, i ws He began to wonder if this was all a dream. oe “T tell you,” retorted the man with the big nose, “that I know nothing more than I have already stated. Young Win- stanley fell in a fit. The diamond was in the box, and this boy put the box in the safe. Perhaps that man Gompers changed it, but if so, is it my fault?” S “You lie! You've got it!” shouted the other. “You changed the Star of the West for this fake fiing. Hand it over, Pedro, and no more nonsense about it, or——” ‘ Bang! — Bang! é a Suddenly the man Pedro drew a revolver and fired. f i “Great heavens! I'm shot!” screamed the other, He made 2 a step forward as though he would clench with his would- be murderer, and then fell downward to the floor, whetess upon Pedro immediately rushed from the room. It was a terrible situation for Dave. on If he could have spoken or moved, it would not have been | a ¢ so bad, but he was again in the semi-paralyzed condition Ey. Ss: which he had found himself in the street. For a moment the silence was broken only by the gxduiees of the unfortunate man, then Dave saw him stagger to bis” ; feet. Bracing himsel’ against the table the man tore off ae coat and vest, and, pulling out a pocket knife, cut his races! away, the blood streaming down all the while. f “Pshaw! It is nothing but a scratch!” he exclaimed, with a an air of relief, “the bullet just grazed my side. It has ; stopped bleeding already. A close call, though, and shee shall pay for bt Aas - He pulled on his coat and turned to the bed. “Boy, are you awake? Do you hear me?” he demanded, iz low, hissing tones. ; “Yes,” he whispered, faintly. ¥ “I—hear.” ; er. “Where is the diamond? ‘Tell me if you wish to livel™ “I—don’t—know! I—see—it—on—the—table—I——”"_ a Be ‘a “No! No!” exclaimed the man. “That thing oa the ta is not the Star of the West—it is only a piece of glass, a fa > a fraud. Where is the diamond? Tell me? Tell me, now?” Fi Dave choked and mumbled, “I do not know.” ae The man bent over and looked hard in his eae EY oe x believe you,” he said at last. “I belleve “you are. honest boy and mean just what you say. Pedro has chang the diamond on me and that’s all there is hewn? ‘He shall. suffer for this!” So fierce was his anger and so deeply was his at to if the: room. ene en

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Agee a = , we "hae Te 38 ey eee , : P : . ee - DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. It came to him all at once that the house was on fire, and | of the Dutch king, and to every new owner bad luck ce! . al; he thought of what Adele had said about trouble coming from} did come. > the diamond, as he managed to gasp out: “The smoke! The] We could tell, if we chose, a great deal more bent thig smoke!” ; curious stone, but enough. has been said to show that what The man saw it, then. He had picked up the bogus diamond,| Mr. Gompers had stated about it was not all imagination bse and he now dashed it to the floor with an exclamation of} any means. = horror. The Star of the West was one of the most noted “unlucky : “He has set fire to the house!” he yelled. “Get off that bed! diamonds” in the world. and save yourself, boy! Quick! Quick!” As for Dave, when he found that he was sinking down on | He rushed toward the door and tried to open it, but it re-| that bed into the smoke he simply gave himself up for lost. S sisted all his efforts. That the house was on fire there was not the slightest sone - Thicker and more suffocating grew the smoke, as he stood It was just as certain also that Pedro was waiting os there beating against the door and kicking at the panels,| somewhere below. , shouting: As a matter of fact, Pedro was then in the cellar turning “Pedro! Let me out, Pedro! Let me out!” . a big crank. ~ aI Was he crazy? The crank connected with an endless chain and the chal ‘i Did he expect the man who had shot him down, and who,| controlled the movements of the bed. : perhaps, had set the building on fire for the express purpose} ‘The house, once the residence of a rich New York necchiense sy i of concealing his crime, to come to his rescue now?” had in after years become a famous gambling den. : . Dave did not know, and he did not care. Mer had been robbed of large sums there. People had bee » With all the strength he could throw out he was trying to| traced to this house who had mysteriously disappeared and a : break the awful power which held him back and move off| were never heard of afterward; in short, it was just the place “3 a that bed. for these diamond crooks ‘to carry on their evil work. 3 ::- Useless effort, but strangely enough when the boy could; As soon as the bed struck the cellar floor it stopped, o . _ Rot move off the bed the bed suddenly began to move off with| course, and Pedro sprang upon Dave. . \ = the boy." “Get up off of that!” he shouted. “Get up! The house | ae “Oh, the wretch! He’s going to save you and let me burn!” on fire! We must leave it at once!” s a yelled the man, turning away from the door and throwing| tye caught the boy by the hand and lifted him off the bed. — e up his hands. As he did so he worked the ring again. ai 4 The bed was slowly sinking. Dave felt the prick of the needle, but he did not 1 realiz 3 Wild-eyed and scared, Dave was struggling to rise off it,! jnot it meant. _ his hands and feet moved, but he had not strength enough) 1) 4. inew was that he suddenly felt that same ting! n iy Pe... te throw himself over on ‘the foor. sensation and with it came new strength. 7 Lower and lower the bed sank, carrying Dave down with it,|, The fact was Pedro kad used the poison once too often, 7 and a dense black smoke came pouring up through the opening | . The boy’s blood had now become charged with it and tl this ee an Mie flor. dose merely had a stimulating effect and did not deprive Dave — p< isa — of consciousness, as the others had done. , “Come! Come!” cried Pedro, running through the | ‘cell ee CHAPTER IV. which was thick with smoke. “For heavyen’s sake, you don’t mean to leave that man ° gitad piaAMoND coMES TO AE IF I HAVE TO KILL A HUNDRED men.| die up there?” cried Dave. * ye te “Mind your own business,” retorted Pedro, seizing hi fiercely by the arm. “You ought to be thankful that I di Dave was ‘beginning to beliéve in unlucky diamonds. In the Weave’ You “tiers! too.” gem trade there are many who believe in them. “Mr. Gompers was one of these and Dave had heard him tell many strange| Dave said no more. If the house pegs <— on he stories about the ill luck which had followed certain precious] Would have held back, but no one could live long ! ~~ stones. smoke, so he hurried on through a narrow. door set in- key. i. The Star of the West, as Mr. Gompers had mentioned, was cellar wall, to which Pedro had the an especially unlucky ate = This took them into another cellar, Pedro hastily closed. "Previous to its disappearance as one of the crown diamonds| oor, and, after listening éautiously, produced a dark lan of the great Napoleon, it had belonged to one of the dukes| #24 flashed it upon a flight of ail a foc eee of Mantua, in Italy, and it was stated that bad luck invariably teas coast seems to be all clear,” he muttered. Come, - followed each member ‘of that family who possessed it; several | 9°Y- were assassinated—and one walled up alive in an old church—| Up the steps, through a dark entry, out by a basement } a pleasant custom of those old Italian dukes when they wanted | door and into the street—that was the way they went to get rid of any one they did not like. A policeman was just running around the corner. Napoleon was said to have purchased the big “aiamond of an| Stopped and rapped with his club on the sidewalk. amsterdam Jew, who disappeared within an hour after re-| Smoke was pouring out of the upper windows” ot , ceiving the price, which was two hundred and fifty thousand joining house. cs a francs, or about fifty thousand dollars of our money. “You follow me, and if you say one word to that : a Later the body of the unfortunate man was found floating| kill you if I swing | for it!” Pedro hissed in Dave Bs ; ee the Seine with his pockets turned inside out. ~ He then walked boldly up to the policeman. ee. sity As for ‘Napoleon himself, within.a week after buying the| “Say, officer, there seems to be a fire in there,” - @iamond he was banished to the island of: Elba, which was| “My son and I just came out to see about it.” ayaa pestering’ at tis dorrpiel: es “Looks so,” sald the policeman. “Who lives theret y Star of the West was then sold, along with other crown ‘supposed to be vacant.” rand fer eee eeewee ed ha ala yas 2 1 ere irate Tas es

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DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. ‘ou Will look after it. ludson river road.” “Well, hain’t I looking after it now?” growled the officer, and e€ ran up the steps and began beating on the door furiously ~ with his club. ~ _ “That's all I wanted,” chuckled young Pedro. ~ young feller.” He caught Dave’s arm and hurried him around the corner. ‘Once out of sight he started down Neilson place on the Yun, and, sometimes running, sometimes walking, kept on ‘uniil he came to the corner of Fourth and Wooster streets. _ This was the old French quarter. French signs were every- where and in spite of the early hour—it was between one and “two c’clock in the morning—more than one of the basement wine shops were open for business; the pciice were not very - particular about such matters mm those days. - Pedro turned into one, hurrying down a flight of steps, still keeping hold of Dave’s arm. : “What's your name, boy?” he demanded, before opening the / We ete got to catch a train on the “Come on, “Dave what?” i - “Dave Hartwell.” ; “Now, look here, Dave Hartwell, you rub me the right away ae birt all right, but rub me the wrong way and I’m worse than e devil—understand.” thon muttered assent. “How do you feel?” asked Pedro. “T feel funny, but not as bad as I did.” _* “You'll be getting better and better all the time now. Look ere, when we get inside I shall call for a bottle of wine, but | your life don’t you drink any unless you want to die.” “J never do drink,” “That's all right. Don’t do it, now. Come on.” le upened the door and Dave followed him into the saloon, mi ply because he did not dare to run away. : It was a dirty place, and so thick with tobacco smoke that 2 at first Dave could scarcely make out what it looked like. A long black bar ran nearly the whole length of ‘the room alors the wall opposite many little round tables were ite a number of foreigners were at these tables smoking, ae away in French or some other foreign language; 2 smoke, the vile smell of the place and the clatter of ngues made Dave’s brain fairly reel. the door it happened, and called for a bottle of wine, which was promptly brought. It seemied strange business to be going on here just the same 3 ig it had been daytime, but Dave knew nothing about the rench quarter of New York or he would have known that it s the same way every night. ~ Pedro poured out two glasses of the wine, setions bate Dave a drank half of the other himself; then, looking warily nd, he changed the glasses and drank half of Dave's. Satoh can talk,” be whispered; “no one will pay any at- grow hat do y you want to talk about?” demanded Date. Hae : ‘*, to do vith you. anyhow? ..Whz don’t you let me Z ~ Pedro* took his place at one of the tables, the one nediaat \ happened: You probably know as much about the ba oneal as I know myself.” “Tl know this much,” hissed Pedro, leaning over the table and thrusting his ugly face close into Dave’s; “that diamond comes to me"if I have to kill a hundred men to get it, boy; do you understand?” = CHAPTER V. IS ALL THIS THE WORK OF THE UNLUCKY GEM? At no time since he fell into the hands of this strange mén had Dave been more frightened than he was now. If he had dared he would have sprung up from the table and rushed out of the place. Pedro’s terrible eye did more to keep him chained than the effects of the drug. “Listen,” continued Pedro, “I no longer think that you — know anything about the-changing of the diamond for that piece of glass; the question is, who did it, how was it done and where is the diamond now?” / : “I'm sure I can’t tell you anything at all about it,” ae , Dave. ty “No; perhaps not, but you can answer my questions,” was the reply, want to kpow without being aware of it. Don’t speak loud, now, just answer each question as I put it to you and be sure that your answers are true. First, did your people know that boy from Brazil who brought in the stone?” “No; we never saw him before.” “What became of him after he fell in the fit?” ; . “Mr. Gompers called the ambulance and sent him. to the ‘Chambers Street Hospital. 2 “Did he come out of his fit?” — od. es + ay “You think it was a real fit; that he was not shanpaten te WS “I am sure of it. There isn’t the least doubt about that.” “When I looked in the window and scared you all where was the diamond?” ‘ “On the showcase in the spool cotton box.” “Nobody watching it?” “Well, I don’t think anybody was watching it for the mo ment. We were ali pretty well startled.” __ = “Had Mr. Gompers looked at the diamond before ‘that? a “No.” : “He looked at it afterward, though?” _ “Yes. He just glanced at it-—-that was all.” “And put it right back in the box?” “Yes.” t “Didn’t he look at it after the boy was ira away tn ambulance?” Sra “No. ” es “Not when he gave ft to you to take uptown?” “No; stone.” “Ha!” cried Pedro. “He knew th ston, ata be? to ; call ae a name?” : “and by answering them you may tell me what I —

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. tongue. had ‘gone with It. ¥: vied words in the same language, springing up ond facing the a trace o? the old shop remained. - ever and all amid the greatest confusion and excitement, for| “She lookéd pale and frightened. “struggling pair. “Pm sure I don't know, Adele. I’ve just come,”” DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. aS SS “One was Miss Adele Bradford, our clerk; the other was the steps, sprinting off down the street as fast as his an actress, a customer.” : , could carry him. “So? What was her name?” The semi-paralysis of the poison was broken. “Irene Duchenelle.” ; Dave forgot all about his strange feeling until he reached “Don’t know her. Where is she playing?” . ‘Broadway, when they began to come back to him im part. “She is in the burlesque company which is playing at, Thero was a stage passing uptown and he sprang into it Niblo’s Garden, I believe.” land rode to Thirty-fourth street and then walked rapidly st “Do you think it is possible that Miss Bradford could have ‘to the house on that street, between Highth and Ninth avensee changed the diamond?” | where he had his room. “No, no!” | He was terribly excited—half crazy over it all, in fact, for ” “She is honest?” : ,he knew perfectly — that Mr. Gompers would never lore “Strictly so.” Baroy “Was there anything like that piece of glass in the aac cl Indeed, he looked for nothing short of being arrested, and “Nothing of the sort.” ‘his brain was fairly reeling. when he got into his room, and, ~ “As scon as you recovered from your astonishment when I without undressing, threw himself face down upon his bed. looked in the window you put the diamond in the box?” That was the time the poison of the ring finished its work. “Yes.” Dave fell into 2 deep sleep and never woke up until half “You covered the box?” ppast six; when it took him some time to collect his wits pi “Yes.” ‘recollect all that had occurred. ona ° ' He was in a bad fix and he fully realized it. : 4 Pwasihe é ; Still, there was nothing to do but to face the music, so, The diamond did not seem to have been disturbed at all? after breakfast, he started downtown, feeling no ill effects It looked just as it did before your attention was taken off {rom the strange drug, but terribly disturbed in his mind. dass ™ He left the car at Highth street and walked around int Just the same. Neilson place to have a look at the house to which he had “Are you a judge of diamonds?” Paes taken. . Pes “Not much of a one. I can tell if there are flaws and-—— “Any fool can do that. You are not a judge, then?” “Not of such a stone as that.” “But you think you could tell a piece of glass from a gen- Sure enough there had been a fire; the interior of the house was all burned out, but the walls still stood. : Dave looked up at the blackened, gaping windows in alle wine stone?” perplexity. “Certainly.” There was a policeman standing guard at the foot of t “Did you look at the diamond after Mr. Gompers gave it to Steps, but he was not the same man whom Dave had seen you to take up to the hotel?” the night. bs “No.” . “Anybody burned in there?” asked Dave, stepping up to tne “Then,” said Pedro, dropping his voice still lower, “the cer: case ts like this, either the actress, or that scoundrel we left! “No,” was the answer, “house was vacant.” behind us, or Mr. Gompers himself changed the stone.” “Seems to have been pretty well cleaned out?” ’ “It couldn’t have been Mr, Gompers. I tell you he had no} The policeman did not seem much inclined to talk. chance to do it. He only glanced at the diamond and then, He growled cute gruff “Yes” and Dave hurried away. put it right back into the box.” “How quick he would nab me if he knew what I know, sidewalk. - 5 A fierce struggie followed. ' Somebody touched his arm and said, “Oh, Dave!” ~The two men clenched, fell on the floor, rolled over and| It was Adele. ew every man in the place: sprang up and all Glosed about the} “How did it happen, Dave?” she asked, awards cca chance and he lost not an instant: in ayail Dave, more disturbed than she was. “Dear me, this bimself of it. terrible thing. I suppose the stock is all gone. What tthe outzome of he tr was he never ty, Zor he. Gort. ar? Oh, Adele, you were right about t allowing’ fit saferuat diamond ba tins.

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DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. hould say it was. I felt it last night. I’ knew some vas going to happen. Where is the > eet ig Dave?” ; “Lost, ” replied Dave, hoarsely. ~4What? You don’t mean it?” Before Dave could say another word a young man came Se hurrying up to them whom both recognized as Mr. Morgan- ’ “Well, eel, Dave! This is a great piece of business!” he “e aad, raising his hat to Adele. “When did it happen? v did it catch?” “I’m sure I can't tell you. I’ve just come,” replied Dave. Where is Mr. Gompers? What will he say?” A peculiar look passed over young Morganstern’s face. “Why, I don’t think he will say anything,” he replied. is is a bad piece of business, Dave, but I’ve got worse to F you; the old man’s gone!” — ’ _ “What!” cried Dave. _. “Gone where? What do you mean?” gasped Adcle. ; Dave almost screamed out the word. “Yes, unfortunately it is true. He dropped dead last night “my cousin’s wedding. Heart disease, the doctor says, al- ugh no one ever knew that he had it. Yes, it's a bad job all u er t was undoubtedly a bad job for Deve and Adele, who were ident on Mr. Gompers for a living. Dave was not thinking of that now. : He was thinking of the unlucky diamond. _ Was al! this the work of the Star of the West? CHAPTER VIL. : * IS THE DIAMOND AT ITS WORK AGaIn? ng for that very unsatisfactory firm, “Street, Walker 5 tle! ” n other words, he was out of: job. fr. Gompers was dead, the store was burned down and the kk destroyed. e heirs of the defunct diamond foaled were now quarrel- B over his esiate and there was not the least chance that ‘one of them would open up the business elsewhere and employment to Dave. for Adele, Dave did not know what had become of her. ele had always been a reticent girl; Dave knew but little nt her; he did not even know her address. nd Dave dated the beginning of his troubles from the mo- ‘the boy*from Brazil entered the store. he was out of business and out of money and expecting to be turned out of his room for non-payment of rent. s a bad job all around. The only good thing about it -as Dave could see was that he had never been called : ecu a report on the diamond. erned nobody but Mr. ee and the tie from 1. ‘ aeases was dead and iad Dave cutie: a ‘the Cham- s Street Hospital, which he did on the morning of the fire, wa Sad ONC: Gondde Winsfenies: bal hoon Pacheryns ents address bebind thes and the hospital superin, give'no ee weitere about the yr; forget about the Star of the West, but unsuccessfully, for the diamond was ever uppermost in his mind, It would not down. One rainy evening as Dave was walking up Broadway he met with anether adventure which certainly had to do with the diamond, so we may as well mention it here. He had just crossed Grand street when a closed carriage suddenly pulled up against the curb and a woman’s hand came out of the window and beckoned te Dave. He did not understand at first, but just looked at the car- riage and was passing on when the driver called out: “Say, it’s you the lady wants, young feller! Hey!” “Me?” cried Dave. The recollection of his previous adventure with a mysteri- ous female flashed over him, and he drew back. “Don’t be afraid! It’s only me! I wen’t hurt you!” called a pleasant voice from the carriage window, and then, as Dave approached, she added: “Don’t you recollect me, young man?” “Miss Duchenelle!” exclaimed Dave, lifting his hat. yes, I remember yeu very well.” “You ought to. Step in here with me. I am on my way to Niblo’s. I've got a favor to ask of you.” Dave could not refuse, so he got into the carriage. - “Do you remember that big diamond which came into Mr. Gompers’ store the night before it was burned?” asked Miss Duchenelle, as the carriage rattled on toward the theatre. “I am not likely to forget-it,” replied Dave. “It made me trouble enough. What do you know about it, ocal Duchenelle?” “What do you mean by speaking in that tone?” ected the actress. Bless me! One would think that yon were going to accuse me of stealing the diamond next. You are as rude as” Mr. Gompers. I’m sorry I called you in here. I—oh, mercy on me! What’s this?” Did the mere mention of the unlucky diamond bring mis- fortune or was Dave himself the “Joneh” in the case? = + “Oh, Suddenly there was a crash and a violent shock and the carriage, minus a wheel, went over on the slippery pavement, throwing poor Dave cn top of Miss Duchenelle, from which “: position he extracted himself in a hurry, breaking the glass in the door with his elbow in his haste to get ont. 9 = “Oh! Oh8! Oh! “Help me! Help me!” x Dave tried to do the best he couid, but the untortinate lady screamed so that he could not raise her up. The carriage had stopped and a crowd collected. “Stand back here!” cried a stern voice, and a man uae ta jerked back by the coat coliar. “He’s wanted for picking initecrsiats exclaimed pepe “Come along, now. No guff.” “But I was in the carriage! e gasped. Dave. *You.ere, me a mistake.” “Not on your life,” antaed she man. Somebody help that lady out. I’ve got my hands fall. here.” He had, for Dave was. aeenesling to free eNORE; Lea knew. : 2 He was terribly frightened, for he had recognized h pow. : » IB en Saunas he ae ioe i I’ye broken my arm!” cried the actress. a ~ a a handsome astrakhan overcoat elbowed his way pte > crowd. A “Stand back here!” he cried again. Young man, you are my prisoner!”

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DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. “Let go of that boy!” shouted a young fellow, darting out fellow, it’s only me, I-was watching you all the time. of the crowd. “I know he is no pickpocket. I saw him get did that slick. Gave ’em the slip completely. Strange out of the carriage myself.” | we should all meet there again. Very, very strange! “You!” gasped the bogus detective, falling back. , pee on, we may be followed. We had better keep on They were right under a big street lamp. move.” 7 : It was light encugh and Dave. had as little trouble as, his! He put his arm through Dave’s and hurried him on : captor in recognizing the young fellow who had jumped ih to they reached old Laurens street, afterward South Fifth avent . his rescue. , | now West Broadway, ‘He knew him instantly. Dingy houses lined both sides of the block, the mud _ It was the boy who came up from Brazil, slush was ankle deep and the feeble gaslights scarcely my ‘> them their way.” “Where are we going?” asked Dave. “Say, what’s your name?” asked the boy, in a whisper. CHAPTER VII. There was something about his tone which made Dave thi | that he had been almost as badly frightened as himself that he was frightened still. £ “Well, my name is Dave Hartwell,” he replied. “If Le Once more the unlucky diamond seemed to have got Dave member right, yours is Gordon Winstanley.” ? into trouble. | “That’s right. Say, you are the fellow I saw in the diamon d The “detective,” whom Dave instantly recognized as his old , SHOP on Maiden lane, are you not?” F enemy, the well-dressed man who had been shot by Pedro, “! am.” % in the house in Neilson place, had a firm grip on our hero’ ._"! Was sure of it. Y’ve been looking everywhere for ‘you ou, when the boy from Brazil sprang into the fight. The shop burned down and I heard the man that kept it wai But Dave showed that he was amply able to help himself. . dead. I couldn’t get trace of you anywhere. I called at t He hauled off and gave his captor a stunner between the house to ask about my diamond, but no one seemed to k eyes, which sent him sprawling. ag te about it and no one knew where you lived.” mt “Stop him! Hold bim! He's a thief!” shouted the fellow,!_~! Suppose you were troubled about the diamond,” DAVE SEES THE DIAMOND AGAIN. trying to pick himself up , Dave. “I can tell you all I know about it right now.” Biff—bang! “Not here,” said the boy, hastily. “Not here! hat stone is an unlucky one. It Down he went again and this time it was the boy from reathe a word. T a e x 4 | trouble wherever it strikes. Dear knows, it has broug! ge . _ Brazil who did the business. f “Run for your life!” he whispered to Dave. “Fight your way out of this crowd!” : This was just what Dave did. 5 He struck out right and left and, thanks to the confusion on account of the break-down and the screams of Miss Du- | ._ chenelle, which got everybody mixed up, Dave managed to’ : gain the opposite side of the way. = But he did not run here—he knew too much for that. t There were many people running toward the upset carriage. ! 3 > Dave stopped short, aenés up his collar, pulled his hat tumble-down old brick dwelling and was led nyetaing te - down over his eyes and appeared to join them. byes hall bedroom on the top-floor, 130,33 ¥ Several excited men rushed past him, calling out: “Stop' Here the boy lighted a lamp, and, having locked the door, 4 thief! Stop thief!” but they paid no attention to Dave, and motioned Dave to the only chair, aeehe a seat on the ie _ why should they, for he was coming toward them and not, himself. running away? “Now then, Dave, I’d like to hear your story,” he rs : As soon as he got into the middle of Broadway, Dave it is any stranger than mine it must be strange indeed.” ioe nN turned down and struck a diagonal line over to the side where’ “I don’t know what you will say when you do he ic the wrecked carriage was and then struck around the corner replied Dave, “but you must not blame me. I tried to d and felt himself safe. best about the diamond, but it was all too much for It was shrewdly done, for if he had run he would have been Here goes. es =x s captured to a dead certainty and there was no telling what | As briefly as possible Dave told what had occurred trouble enough to me.” “And to me, too,” replied Dave, bitterly, “It has ru me. I’ve lost my place, and——” ; ’ “You’re lucky you didn’t lose your life.” “Indeed, I think I came mighty near it.) “Ah, ha! The diamond did its work for you, did it? I won’t talk in the street. My room is close by. Come. me and we will talk it over there, Dave.” ] renee Dave saw no reason to object, so he followed the boy oe ” the end might be. /the moment the diamond was first placed in his t AEs Now, for the first time, Dave stopped to think of the boy| Gordon Winstanley listened with close attention. | f from Brazil. ae “All that you say doesn’t surprise me a bit,” he said. “ i “What a a pity that I missed that fellow,” he muttered. “I man who tried to arrest you to-night I don’t know at ; a might have found out something about the diamond. Of the man you eall Pedro I know to my sorrow, for he-t course, there is next to no chance of my ever seeing him me @ thousand miles through the wilds of Brazil and | A again.” not the least doubt that he is still following me. | The thought had searcely crossed his mind when a hand was surprise me, either, to see him appear in this oead laid on his shoulder, which brought Dave up with a start. Serene He’s a terrible man, a fiend of the. worst ss Hie thought that he was caught then to a certainty and he wish I had: wet esata diamond at the sate 5 was immensely relieved when he turned and saw the object of I do” Nal can bis. thoughts. Well; ail I cam-gay ia that ¥ wish 1 had never “Mall one Once more Dave found himself face to face with the boy who mond,” replied Dave, “but you can’t hold me re: losing it, Gordon, if I may call you by your first n: came from Brazil. , ete te aeaineihe Dave. “I thought—" - «1 “Do, Dave. You're a good fellow, and I like | That it was the the saseeites tees “No, young alae et meen sree

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Coat You never lost it—you never had it. 1} she pocketed the real stone. I saw her do it, but I couldn’t ‘know more ation the business than you think.” speak.” ““Perhaps you do,” replied Dave. “When I tell you that 1} “Is that so?” cried Dave. “That accounts for her wanting n't know anything about it I tell you the truth,” to see me and for her getting mad when I tried to talk to her “Of course.” about the diamond.” ; “Tt makes me mad, though, to think how I have been fooled.| “I don’t know anything about that,” replied Gordon. “All | just like to know where the diamond is now.” I Rnow is that I happened to be walking along the street “You would?” cried Gordon, with a curious twinkle in his} when I saw the carriage upset and, of course, I stopped to look. When I saw you come out I made a rush to help the -*TI would, indeed.” lady and you, too, and then all at once I saw this thing glit- “Well, I can tell you.” tering on the pavement. You bet I grabbed it quick. I didn’t me Nour” : realize Who the lady was until then.” “Yes; Iam the very fellow who knows; look here, Dave!” “Strange,” mused Dave, “You are sure she changed ths With an air of triumph, Gordon thrust his hand into his| store?” et and, drawing it out again, laid something upon the; “Positive. I'll swear to it in any court. If I had known le table where the lamp stocd. what her name was you bet I would have made it hot for her, “Great Scott! The diamond!” gasped Dave. but I could not succeed in getting any information anywhere, At the same instant a dull report, like muffied thunder, was| 80 I was all at sea.” d and the whole house seemed to shake. “I suppose, of course, she, being an actress, had lots of : bogus diamonds,” remarked Dave, “In fact, I know she did, for we sold her some ourselves. Say, this is a magnificent stone! I never laid eyes on anything like it. What do you . propose to do with it, now that it has come back into your ie CHAPTER VIII. hands?” ae “Sell it as soon as ever I can. That’s what I want to talk — PEDRO RIGHT ON HAND. + to you about. I want you to help me get rid of the infernal = iat: , thing.” “What on earth was that?” eried Dave, springing to his feet.| “Upon my word, I don’t know whether I want to do that ordon covered the diamond with his hand and turned as| or not,” replied Dave. “The diamond has made me so much ) aS death. trouble that I had a good sight rather leave it alone.” “More trouble!™ he gasped. “This infernal stone {s at its} “Oh, pshaw! There can be no danger in just giving a fee k again.” low a little information. You know the whole diamond trade ro t’s nonsense,” said Dave. “There has been an ex-| in New York, I suppose?” ae n somewhere in the neighborhood.” “I certainly do.” “Well, then, help a feller. I'll do the right thing by you. What do you suppose the thing is worth?” “It's worth a great deal of money, I think I can take you to a man who might buy it. What will you give me if it’s a sale?” “Come, I'll be liberal with you at the start and there need _ be no haggling. I'll give you a quarter of all you can get for. 101 ‘and a woman looked out. OWistairs people were calling cut to each other to know { the matter Was, but nobody seemed to know. it the door,” whispered Gordon. “It doesn’t concern yhow. Come back into the room.” it, so there.” “ obeyed. The door was locked and the diamond was| “That mieans a good deal of money,” replied Dave, who, ot a upon the table again. ‘ course, had Mr. Steenkamp in mind. “Well, I'll try; but, first, these two boys had made a vast and terrible mistake. | don’t you think you ought to tell me where you got the dla- noise did concern them most decidedly, as they were soon| ond?” arn. : “Do you think I stole it, Dave?” demanded Gordon, rather Pps here in the world did you get it, Gordon?” asked Dave, | hotly. is ag I am any judge, it is the same stone.” “[ didn’t say so, and I wasn’t thinking so. I shall be — urse it is the same stone,” replied the boy, with aj these questions and I shall want to know how to pea phot _ “Where did I get it? Why, I picked it up in the that is all.” A I found it on Broadway.” “You are right. I do owe you an explanation and ru tel you the whole story,” replied Gordon, bre the eae! over and over in his hand, “You see, I am a sailor. ran ie away from home and shipped on the tramp steamer—ob! ae 3 Dave! Help me! Save me! Look there!” — hs don’t mean it! Where?” Suddenly the boy broke off in his” speech belts: a yell ot re? Why, where I met you—where that woman dropped | terror and pointed to the window. 3 of her pocket or her hand, wherever pts had it when} It was the scene in Mr. Gompers’ store dentibd Over a upset.” - There, pressed against the glass, was the dark, evil tance: ‘In the world do you mean? Miss Decticnelist” : the man Pedro, regarding them with a wicked smile. on n't know what her name is, but it was she who stcle| . “Put up the diamond!” cried Dave, sp to hi ? ynond and changed it for that imitation stone. I saw| {nstead of obeying—and it is doubéful if he even, heard- Dave. Don't stare. Although I had started m on pace. uttered a wild ery, ine up Lg pees und

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Pad DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. Dave caught up the chair to defend himself. | But he grasped the situation and Adele at the same time. “Get out of here!” he cried. “Get out of here, or I'll brain “How came you here, Adele?” he demanded, throwing bis” , you! Don’t you dare lay a hand on that boy!” | arm about her. “Keep cool, now! If there is any way of But Pedro was not the sort to be bluffed or scared. ' saving you it is going to be done.” With a fierce snarl, he sprang upon Dave, dodged the blow, “Why, I live here,” wailed the girl. caught the chair, wrenched it away and brought it down upon Oh, Dave, what shall we do?” the head of our hero with a force which might:easily have, “We will try and get out by the roof,” said Daye. broken his skull and which did send him down on top of no scutth? There must be one—oh—it’s too late! Gordon Winstaniey as completely unconscious as if he had Jost!” fallen in a fit himself, Once more that frightful sound was heard ani this tit “At last!” hissed Pedro. “Lucky I saw them there when | was to be the last, for the wretched old rookery, which o the carriage upset. Lucky I was sharp enough to trace them | to have been condemned years before, collapsed altoget here. Now, at last, the diamond is mine!” ;and, bringing down parts of the adjoining houses with it, He seized the lamp and crawled under the bed, paying no ' fell, a heap of ruins, into the street. wily attention whatever to Gordon, who, underneath poor Dave's | It was one of those dreadful happenings which every ‘no unconscious form, was writhing in an epileptic fit. ; and then startle New York City into a ni epee sense of What he expected to do was to come out again in a moment badly its affairs are managed. _ with the far-famed Star of the West clutched in his hand. | Many lives were lost in the old Laurens street wreck tha 4 What he did do was to come out after five minutes, with his ' night, but Dave Hartwell and Adele Bradford, strange to swarthy face almost white with rage. escaped unharmed. a “It’s not there!” he snarled. “It must have rolled into that! Perhaps we should not say escaped, however, for Mr. Go m= é hig rat-hole—it’s not there, but I'll have it if I have to tear up! pers’ two unfortunate clerks found themselves prisoners - every board in the floor!” : the ruins and when they had a chance to collect their though: j ; and to realize what had happened there seemed to bares such 1 thing as escape. “This is my hom “Is there _We ae r CHAPTER IX... PRISONERS IN THE WRECKED HOUSE. . Dave heard this remark, for he came back to his senses at the same moment. He scrambled to his feet and faced Pedro, who whipped out an ugly looking knife and confronted him, hissing, between his set teeth: _ “No noise, boy! Quiet! ‘drive this thing into you!” Dave’s breath came short and quick. If he could only grab the knife, That is what he was thinking of then. - But before there was time to say a word, or before Pedro could make a move, that same mysterious sound was heard again, instantly followed by such a shaking of the old, house that Daye was almost thrown off his feet. Quiet! If you don’t keep still I'll + Pedro uttered a fierce exclamation in some foreign lan- guage, rushed past Dave and sprang out upon the fire-escape. Dave was frightened, too—thoroughly frightened. He thought the house was falling, and he was right. Instantly there came a frightful crash and the whole rear 3 wall fell, carrying the fire-escape with it and also part of the ‘floor of the room and the rest tilted so that the body of Gor- don Winstanley rolled over the edge and disappeared amid a cloud of dust. " Shrieks—yells—horrible eries broke out all around poor er "Dave, who, catching hold of the bed, held on for dear life, But the bed was slipping into the abyss. At the same instant the door flew open behind the ‘terrified boy, the bolt having lost its hold. _ Dave sprang back through the opening | into the hall. ; “Save me! Save me!” ‘screamed a voice behind him. 36 was the girl who had looked out of the adjoining room, : clutehed Dave by the arm, re with Fear... ppaee the boy. “Oh, —Isit your” tine t? ‘Save me, Dave! Ws falling ates ed. “For “ooh eg sake, how came you in The central portion of the house in which they happened t be when the final crash came did not fall altogether, b mained intact up to the second story. yt From these rooms the family which occupied them their escape at the first alarm, and when the final crash cam Dave and Adele fell down with a mass of rubbish, landing i a feather bed. . This saved their lives. The broken boards and beams a sort of pent-house roof above their heads, ready to and crush them at any instant, but firm enough a the t being. In the part of the room, which they could see i da in them by the light of a small lamp which stood on ata nothing seemed to have been disturbed, but hese buried in a vast mass of dust. How he scrambled up and got Adele off the bed Dave knew, for his head must have struck somewhere and b terribly confused. f “Adele! Oh, Adele! Are you hurt?” oe gasped. “on, ; is a terridle thing!” + “I’m not hurt, Dave,” replied the girl, more sah ing!” “No, no! It * nothing! We must get out of this | in or those beams will fall and crush us!” ; It was easier said than done. Dave caught up the lamp and flashed the light 3 There was no way, out; they were wcehen: off on all i and the dropping of odd bricks and bits of gee they were and here they were likely to stay. Then Dave t ht of poor Gordon, “Of course, he is dead!” he muttered, — dead!” . “Who?” asked ‘Adele. “Tell me, ‘Dave, vases : igo Dery leek. 0 white, | Wer $ seve Tay

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To _—., _. a ‘ ‘e-, = oe 7% 7; — oe —_ ee ae ee ee ’ oy DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. d 2=- = eee Se eee —_— a “Not me!” cried Dave. “You are wrong if it is me you are| Dave knew at a glance that it was Pedro. The recognition | talking about. I am no more mad than you are, Adele. You} was perfect. There was no chance for mistake. hayen’t forgotten the big diamond, I suppose?” “Do you know him?” asked the officer. _ “Forgotten it—no! How could I forget it when my troubles Dave’s mind was already made up. - - began the night it was brought into the store?” “No,” he said, “I do not know him,” and it was true, for er." And mine,” said Dave, hoarsely. “If it had not been for) what did he know of Pedro but his name, which was habe cers: _ that unlucky stone I should not be here now and—oh, Adele! | a false one? _ Look there!” To have gone into details would only have made it neces- Perhaps the excited boy actually thought he was going) sary to tell about the diamond, and this Dave was resolved mad at that moment, for there, over in one corner, against a not to do. _ fallen beam, lay something bright and glittering. OF sasemta The unlucky stone was safe in his pocket and he was de- _ “It’s the diamond!” cried Adele. ; oe termined that it should stay there until he had a chance And oog was exactly what it was. to think of the best plan of disposing of it. a or the Wee within reach of Dave’s hand, the unlucky Star) «jy; belongs to that boy from Brazil,” he kept saying to him- Ber” self, “and nobody else gets it until I am sure that he is dead.” ——— And in case he was able to assure himself of that fact Dave _ made up his mind that the Star of the West belonged to Rin, CHAPTER X. and he intended to keep it, too. A week passed. The papers were through talking about ™ DAN STRIKES A STREAK OF LUCK. . the house that had tumbled down in Laurens street. “nd Dave watched them closely, though, for he was answering yee though he was by the terrible ordeal through which| advertisements, trying to find work. - » had just passed, Dan lost no time in crawling under the| One day he saw a guarded advertisement under the head of erhanging beams and’ possessing himself of the diamond. “Lost and Found,” which he knew must mean Irene ‘Duche- ~ ; “Here it is, Adele! Here it is!” he exclaimed. “It’s the nelle. It read as follows: ; pac ar of the West. I'll tell you how it got here. It fell down f , rat-hole and when the building went to pieces it dropped 9 this room. I'll tell you the whole story, and——” at “Don't! Don’t!" cried Adele. “Throw the unlucky thing “Lost on Broadway, @ large, unset diamond of great value. Any one having found such a stone will do well to communi- cate with Messrs. Tumbrill & Oaks, attorneys, No. 88 Pine . 1 a be paid for reco way, Dave. It has brought all this trouble upon us. Oh, we sabe dioabreiciappadin nates - te er Ae * pods . k Pe’ 4 ' shall never, never get out of here. Oh, Dave, what shall we sees shed » do?” .... Dave laughed heartily at this “ad.” “Keep cool, Be said Dave; “we are sure to get out sooner or} “You don’t get it, anyhow,” he sald to himself. “Whatever } The police will order a search made—we shall be; else becomes of it the diamond don’t go back to you.” - found. Don’t worry about it, Adele.” And it never did, so right here we drop Miss Irene Du- — He slipped the diamond into his pocket and said no more/ chenelle. ou! it, for he saw that it troubled Adele, and during the At the end of a week, Dave began to Sena the big diamond half hour he kept close beside the frightened girl, en-|.as his own. “cou raging her all he could and answering the calls of those; Still there was the uncertainty, for Gordon Winstanley's wo king on the outside of the rvins who were endeavoring | body had not been discovered among the ruins of the orn: to save the lives of the few unfortunates who had been caught | house, oa in the crash. On the following Mesias Dave put an “ad.” in 7 papers rite And Dave and Adele were at last rescued with the rest. asking. for information about the boy. ~ 9 Tore z ped came out without a scratch, too, and Dave found him-| He waited another week and got no answer. 3 quite a hero among the crowd for a short time. Meanwhile, the diamond apparently had brought no eather "He was soon separated from Adele, however. The girl had} bad luck to its possessor. The sky had not fallen, Dave had F aunt living on the next block, who came promptly to the! not broken a leg or an arm; everything seemed to be going of the disaster and took Adele home with her. on just about the same and he concluded that it would now inwhile, Dave joined in the work of rescue, for he was be safe to go up to the Brunswick and interview Mr. Steen- anxious to learn the fate of Gordon Winstanley, but in| kamp and find out what could be done with the big pred he failed. Before doing so, however, he called on Adele. | ) ) trace of the boy could be discovered. Work was still} He had been to the house several times and Adele knew : when daylight came. Dave hovéred about the ruins| the whole story and was greatly interested in the diamond. — y all he could. . On this occasion, however, Dave was disappointed. To his d better give it up and go and get breakfast, my boy,”| great surprise, he. found that Adele had sailed for England; * * +," ne of the policemen, kindly. “You have worked well| with her aunt, the-day before. Nobody in the house knew why Rats pan be all used up. Leave your address A if your| they had gone nor when they expected to return. or = ‘ 3 ‘ ie found I will send you word.” Dave bought the morning paper and sat down on one of asl Dave was about to start, another officer eame hurry- the benches in Union Square to read ty and the first “ad.” his” coe Ms n eyes lighted on was this: Mia peers” = oa “wane, a young man who I tai ed ude of ae prerrgtes atyesiy Sa engin Ripe pens To th they have just uncovered a body in the rear,” he said. € the young fellow come around and see if he ean {dentity n. It’s pot Winstanley, though—it’s an older man.” Cee ahha ee

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By : DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. And so, indeed, it proved. ' Dave knew Lazarus & Wertheimer well and, what was better, they knew him as a young man in whom Mr. Gompers had felt perfect confidence. As soon as he walked into. the office, Mr. Lazarus threw be both hands. “By gracious, Dave, you are de very feller ve vant!” he cried. “Ve have been looking for you everyvere. Vill you go to Brazil for our firm?” “Of course I will,” replied Dave. “That’s what I came here for to answer your ‘ad.’ What are you willing to pay?” “A hundred dollars a month and expenses to you, Dave. Can you sail to-morrow?” “Certainly I can,” replied Daye, promptly. “And the terms?” “Are satisfactory.” “Den it’s a go, Dave?” asked Mr. Lazarus, eagerly. “Yes.” “Settled. I’l] explain your business on board the steamer. In the meantime, don’t ask me one question, for dis is a private matter. Go to de bookkeeper and he vill give you a check for five hundred. Dat vill cover your fare and give you something to spend. Ve can trust you, Dave.” Here was a streak of luck.* | How about the unlucky diamond now? Y Dave made sure that he was to be sent to the world-famous Brazilian diamond mines and to visit them had been the dream of his life. CHAPTER XI. OFF FOR BRAZIL. _ It was with the greatest enthusiasm that Dave went about his preparations for the voyage. _ * Mr, Lazarus was an old friend of Mr. Gompers’ and a de- _ cidedly liberal man, He had always liked Dave, and, being _ - ROw so pleased to have been able to engage him, he took the boy to his own tailor’s and ordered two suits of clothes, one of thick cloth for the voyage and one thin, for wear in Brazil, with the express understanding that they were to be ready the next day at noon. He talked a lot to Dave, as was his custom, but not one word _ did he say about the nature of the business upon which Dave was going to South America. ] Knowing the man to be very secretive by nature, Dave did ' mot ask him any questions, trusting to receive his instruc- tions before the steamer sailed. All that he knew was that he had, acting under instruc- tions, pesrebaee? a ticket for 7 at the mouth of the Amazon _ River. It was big Rhaseabesimans to Dave when he found that he was not going to Rio Janeiro, but that could not be helped. is “The steamer sails at three o'clock, Dave,” said Mr. Lazarus, when they finally parted. “Be on hand at two-thirty at least, . for I shall have a Jot to tell you. So long until then.” Next day, Dave went on board the City of Rio Janeiro at o'clock in the hope of meeting Mr. Lazarus a bit earlier. had engaged the best stateroom on the steamer and after ipa bat goon bis trunk tn lech he went om deck fo have 8 Took id. There were not many passengers on board as. yet—and, in- eed, we may mention right here sae there were only a few pea walled v0 one on grew | tired of pacing te meet | charming, ‘every star being out and the steamer now | Mr. Lazarus Coxsnanene Te The big diamond, carefully packed in cotton, was sewed into- the collar of Dave’s vest, under the coat-collar in the back. «ia 8 He had stood over the tailor while it was sewed in, the man never dreaming what the package contained. It gave both coat and vest rather a peculiar set about. the a neck, but still it was not noticeable and it was the best place. Dave could devise. In the bottom of his heart Dave believed that Gordon Win- stanley had stolen the Star of the West down in Brazil. When he found that he was going to that country it oc- curred to him that he might hear more of it down there. At — any rate, he could as easily sell the diamond in Para as in — New York, so he determined to keep his secret and take the © stone along. For the remainder of the hour Dave paced the pier with ever- increasing anxiety,. for Mr. Lazarus did not appear. 2 The steamer was now just about to sail, and, here was Dave with a pocketful of money and a ticket for Brazil, but with no sort of idea what he was going to do when he reached Para. si Certainly it was very strange. af If he did not appear by sailing-time, then what was Tia to do? He had already decided that point. He would go, anyhow; he had money enough for his return ticket and his _arenee could be cabled to him. “All ashore that’s going ashore!” shouted the mate from f the steamer’s deck, That meant al] aboard for Dave, and he was just starting — up the gangplank when a cab dashed furiously down the wharf and Mr. Lazarus sprang out. . He seemed greatly excited, and his face lighted up when he ie saw Dave. Janeiro sailed down the bay, carrying Dave and the diamond eo with it. oe Dave was on his way to Brazil, but what he was to do when © he got there he had no more idea than when he had first con sented to take the trip. #5 CHAPTER XII. IS THIS PEDRO OR HIS GHOST? Dave remained on deck until the steamer passed Sa Hook, and then went down to dinner. a Such a thing as being sea-sick never entered his” head, : although one or two passengers were at it already, and b to leave the table, Dave made a hearty meal. There was no chance to make acquaintances, as he + soon found out, for the passengers proved to be-all Brazil and not one of them could speak English, so Dave found ! ‘self pretty much alone. At nine o’clock he was still on deck, for the Od sight of land, cutting her way through the water with a motion which was very agreeable to Dave. . He had bought himself a steamer-chair and he w eran ems Lege g 0

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Pat, “Dave! Is it you?” though he had seen a ghost. “Aft there, you lubber! sengers for?” roared the mate. ce Balle y Well be supposed. the boy’s diamord sewed into Dave's vest-collar. At first Dave was sorry—we must admit it. glad and he said to himself: “Well, it’s his diamond, anyway, and I don’t want what don’t - belong to me. i'm mighty glad he escaped.” _ He waited around for an hour, but got no chance to speak to the boy, for the mate was a regular driver and kept his men right at it. ; Several times Dave put himself in Gordon’s way, but the boy | -Mever even looked at him, so at last he gave it up and, going ’ - to his stateroom, undressed and crawled into his bunk, with his yest rolled up under bis pillow and Mr. Lazarus’ little box lying between the mattress and the wall, where he could reach out and touch it with his hand. es Dave soon fell asleep and the next he knew he was aroused ' by a tapping on the stateroom door and a voice calling, in sub- dued tones: Te “Dave! Hey, Dave! Then he was Let me “ ‘Dave sprang out of the bunk, half-dazed. The call was re- " Trated before he became quite conscious of what it meant. ___—-—-* Then he hastily opened the door and Gordon Winstanley, / with a wary look around, slipped into the statercom and closed the door behind him. in!” you. "+ -*It's the fits,” replied Gordon. “They have been terrible bad since that night. I know I am getting thin and that my "face is all screwed out of shape. I’m in a bad way, Dave. I _. don’t believe I am long for this world. Can I stay here if not ~ caught?” --*Dave got up and bolted the door, which, let it be under- _ stood, opened on the deck, as is the ease with all staterooms on the steamers plying between New York and the tropics. “Now we are safe,” he said. “How did you escape from that house? Tell me before you say another word.” “Well, that’s just what I can’t tell you,” replied Gordon. “An I remember is seeing Pedro coming through the win- ya» dow. The next I knew I was in the hospital again, with my head all cut and my body terribly bruised. They thought I had been beaten and I thought so, too, till I read about the ‘house falling down and then I didn’t know what to think.” “Strange!” mused Dave. “Where was it you were found?” i “You’re Dave, aren't you?” he whispered. “Say, you’re =>. Dave?" . “That's who I am,” replied Dave. “You knew me, but you _ have changed. Upon my word, I should have hardly known | Fixe Peat Dieg Pheolinastcn ts gettin Hee 'te Ge wenge thing for my money was all gone.” “You must haye fallen clear of the ruins and picked youar- up and walked off,* said Dave, and then he went on to _ tell Gordon all about the fall of the house. ‘ pote is unnecessary to say that the boy listened to his story h intense eagerness. “So Pedro ts dead—actually dead!” he said. ankfal! And where 1s the dlamond now, Deter” “Oh, I am 60 DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. They made considerable noise about it, too, as they took: | their places, but Dave was not aroused until suddenly a hand | was laid on bis shoulder, which brought him up with a start. ; | you till we get te Para?” ae “Gordon Winstanley!” gasped Dave, staring at the boy as; What are you talking to the pas-; “I'l see you later, Dave,” whispered Gordon, and he hastily ! withdrew, leaving Dave in a state of high excitement, as may | Here was the boy from Brazil, alive, after all, and there was! sliding window shutter attracted the attention of both the “And you are going to Brazil. Strange—very, very strange.” ie “Yes, Iam going down to Para on a little business,” replied = Dave. “Shall I give yon the diamond or shall I keep it for take it for anything. Jt would be as much as my life is — worth, The crew are a hard lot and if they once suspected that I had such a thing about me there is no telling what might happen. Where is the diamend now?” —- “Sewed up in the lining of my vest,” replied Dave, and he > had scarcely spoken the words when a queer noise at the 4 4 - + 2 “Keep it, keep it,” replied Gordon, hurriedly. “I wouldn't : boys. “What was that?” whispered Gordon. some one outside there!” Now, the sash was not closed, for the night was warm, and as Dave had neglected to bolt the shutter it was an easy matter to pull it aside and at the same instant some one did this and a dark, evil face peered for a single second into the stateroom. “Pedro!” gasped Dave. Gordon gave the same wild ery and fell ae the floor, face downward, in a fit, “Hush! There is CHAPTER XIII. : ss TALKING ABOUT THE DIAMOND. Dave found himself with his bands full once more. It was the same old business. Here was Pedro, or his ghost, looking in at the window again, and here was the boy from Brazil tumbling down in a fit just as before; so it is not at all surprising that for an instant Dave did not know what to do. “This fellow has come out of his fits every time, and I guess he will come out of this,” thought Dave. “If that was a dead man’s face at the window I want to know it—that’s all!” i He sprang over Gordon's writhing bedy and threw oper the stateroom door. ‘ It was a clear, starlight night—no difficulty in seeing the man if he had been there, but he was not—there was no one there at all. f oe Still it was not safe to say that no one had been there, for the man might have dodged into the cabin through a passage- way on the right or by another on the left, or he might have run around to the stern and got on the other side. There were a dozen ways of taking himself off in a hurry, either one of which would have worked. “ Fe The strangest part of it all was that Dave could not remem- ber seeing any such person about the steamer since it sailed. Unless he wished to draw attention to himself, there was no use in trying to make a search then, so Dave returned to — the stateroom and, carefully locking both door and window, gave himself up to the attempt to bring poor Gordon Win- stanley back to himself. : = Being altogether a level-headed fellow, Dave went about it in a sensible way. ; : Gordon was writhing and twisting and foaming at the mouth. a Dave lifted him up slightly and got a pillow under bis head, * Then he unbuttoned his shirt, took off bis coat and pulled the “4 shirt off over his head. Taking a towel he ‘saturated ‘it with water in the 1 pitcher and rubbed the boy’s face, back and chest “Vigo: This stopped the twisting and the moaning. erdos lay perfectly still and apparently dead. Dave threw aside ws. tors Winaennaiok down, ;

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Eee DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. business, for all at once Gordon sat up and began staring! “You don’t, but I do. If you had been in my place and had — ~ ‘about the stateroom. ‘that man Pedro following you about the way he followed me ~ Dave said nothing. He had once been told by a doctor that you would understand.” $e rubbing was the best way to treat an epileptic, and that great}. “Ah! now we are getting down to business. This is where ‘so ; care should be observed to keep perfectly quict and not to Pedro comes in,” exclaimed Dave. “Go on, Gordon; Tm talk much when the patient first came out of the fit. i getting interested now.” ; Gordon did not say a word until after he was fully dressed. | aa 3 o Then he sat down on a stool and stared at Dave. . : aS “I thought you told me he was dead,” he remarked. “I/ CAP eae J thought you told me he dead?” | THE POISONED CIGAR. >a es i a3 . pias yak 4 Gordon’s story about Pedro was rather a long one, and not e So I did. Pedro is dead. I saw his dead body in the yar by any means as interesting as Dave had hoped. 2 ~ back of the house in Laurens street, and I saw it again in; appeared that the English sailor boy tried to sell eer — the station-house. I know he is dead.” diamond to a Jew in Para, who offered him such a smal’ sum “Do you believe in ghosts, Dave?” | for it that he immediately got out of his store and made up :} “No, I don't.” Jhis mind that he would net try to sell the stone until he ~ ag 3 “Well, I do. I believe that was Pedro’s ghost. Don’t give reached New York. =, 4 me back that diamond. I wouldn’t take it for anything. I; That night he was pounced upon in the street and the clothes — tell you what I'll Ge with you, Dave.” iat torn off of him in the search for the diamond, which “What?” he had left in his room. =. “You keep the diamond. You know all about diamonds, The man who attacked him was Pedro, and five different — anyway, and I don’t. Keep it until we get to Para, and then times he was attacked again in the same way, and all within a ; try and sell it for whatever it will fetch, and whack up with week, ay. me.” | At the end of the week Gordon saifed on the Anglo-Saxon, — “f agree to that. On vege terms?” i Naturally, he supposed that he had left Pedro behind him, — “Halves.” ; and he was terribly startled when he saw the fellow’s ugly — “Liberal, and all right. It’s a bargain, is it, Gordon?” i | face looking in at him through Mr. Gompers’ rear window in “It's a bargain.” | New York, oe “Then look here, don’t you Worry any more about Pedro. This ended all Gordon had to tell, and did not explain 2. _ If he’s alive and on this steamer I'll take care of him. If Pedro's pcesition in regard to the diamond very clearly. eer. _ he’s a ghost and haunting us, I'll take care of him, too, so. ‘After Gordon left the stateroom Dave lay awake until morn-— _ don’t go tumbling into another fit if he happens to look in ing, thinking about it all, but he did not get much light on “on us again. And now I want you to tell me your story. I the mystery, nor did much come to him during the days. heh __ Must know in what mysterious way you got this diamond? I followed. - Want to understand, if I can, what all this means.” ; One thing seemed absolutely certain. There was no man in ey “Why, there is nothing mysterious about it,” replied Gor- any way answering the description of ‘Pedro on board- the den, “I'll tell you how I got the diamond if you want to steamer, but there was a man who gave Dave a good deal of palate : concern, just the same. “You bet I do.” This was a tall, slim Englishman, with tow-colored pr - “Well, then, it was this way: When I was in Para last time whiskers and a blond mustache, who occupied the stateroom _ FT was taken down with the yellow fever and was sent to the next to Dave. : eae ’ hospital. After I began to get well, as T hadn't paid any- | His name was Mr. J. Herbert Stukely, so he sald. : ~thing, they made me put in two months’ work there. One day’ He was going down td Para to buy rubber, so he declared. & man was broéught in very low with the fever. He was an’ He was extremely near-sighted and rather deaf, 80 _ he - Engtishman aud a sailor. He told me his name was Charles asserted. Thayer, and that he had been up into the Paruno River coun- Byt Dave did not believe one word of it all, for he caught “try, north of Para, on a native boat efter 2 load of eocoanuts, My, Situkely listening at his window and peering through a er and there he got the fever. He was a decent sort of fellow, crack in the partition which divided the two staterooms, And and I did all ! could for him, but he was too far gone to be at al] times, in season and out, he persisted in trying to saved, and the night he died he gave me the diamond end force his company upon Dave. _told me that an Indian gave it to him first, and then, just aS One evening, when the City of Rio was supposed to be well he was going, be opened his eyes and said: ‘Boy, I lied to yon. gown on the coast of Brazil, and rapidly nearing her d "ok 7 stole the diamond out of an Indian temple or joss-house, or tion, matters came to a climax between Mr. Stukely and | Day : _ whatever you call it. It was tie eye of a big wooden {do}, and Jt pad been intensely hot all day—such heat as is preic “a - Bothing but bad luck has followed me ever since, Look out at sea in the tropics—and now that night had fallen the’ eat - you don't get your share of it, for, as true as I live, that big stij! continued, and the sky wore that peculiar greenish shi zs eiamond is an unlucky stone.’ ” | Which means @ hurricane to the eyes of the old salt, ee "Is ‘that all?” asked Dave, as Gordon paused. | At ten o'clock Dave was lying wants in his steamer bas on : “Well, he died then, and did strike bad luck for fair.” 4 deck, half asleep. *How?” : ' He was waiting up for Gordon to be relieved, intending { Oh, every way. I was sent away from the hoghttal and go down into the stateroom with the boy and have a talk, § couldn't get a ship. I came mighty near starving to death At quarter-past ten Mr. Stakely came along and pl , Shyer in Para” himself In a vacant chair alongside of Dave, as he oft _ “What else?” | “Pine evening, Mr. Hartwell?” he said. i “Well, I fell down in a fit and broke my arm and had to go: “I don’t know,” growled Daye, sleepily. “I heard the mati to the hospital again. 1 got a ship pretty soon after I say a while ago that we were runuing on an even line Ser tt t that time and came to New York.” . Dig storm.” — : og ypclowecty 7 hg A Spa asada eg A “So? Well, let her come. By the way, what hotel a diamond.” — ni ; * bp rites co = Seteeaarat SP grerte: hs soe Pie +

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DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. Amazon River now. We pee to be in by daylight. That’s | at once he turned and pounced on him, clutching him by the the captain’s talk.” _ | throat. 4 “Yes,” said Dave, closing his eyes. “All right.” : “Where is the diamond?” he hissed in his ear. “Where is “But you didn't mention your hotel, Mr: Hartwell,” con-| the diamond, boy?” y tinued Stukely, in a very offensive way. ; a “No, I didn’t,” said Dave; “and, what’s more, I don’t in- 3 tend io.” : pee CHAPTER XV. '“Beg pardon!” : “I said I didn’t intend to!” » erted Dave, raising his voice, | THE TIDAL WAVE. ' “Dear me! How very rude you are!” drawled Stukely. “If| : : ‘I have said anything to offend, I beg pardon, I am suah!” ‘This was the critical point in Dave’s dream. x x Dave sat up in his chair and faced the man, saying: It seemed to him as though he had to’tell this man, just as — ~ ‘ 2 “Mr. Stukely, you have been annoying me the whole voyage ___by trying to pry into my business. Now, ? “Hold on!” exclaimed Stukely. “Don’t get:-mad. It’s too ‘ = hot altogether to get excited. I’m sure I didn’t intend any offence, young man. Won't you join me in a cigar?” S ~ This, perhaps, made the twentieth time that Mr. Stukely i had offered Dave a cigar. But our hero was not much of a smoker, so he had always if some strange power forced him to obey. If Dave had known more of poisons than he did he won have understood that the cigar had been doctored with a wale : known East Indian drug, the effect of which is to destroy the will and blunt the senses. =F It is said that a nian under its influence will do whatever a he is told to do, providing the one who ead the command is 3 a person of strong will. a Dave had got a full dose. He was completely under the influence of the drug, the effect of which is but short-lived; in fact, he was over-dosed, ‘and ss is just —— the man made a mistake. : “Confound it all! I loaded the cigar too strong,” he mut tered. “I’ve put him to sleep. No help for it now but to wait a bit. The boy can’t answer me, and that’s right.” It was indeed so. Dave's senses had completely left him, 5 He was not even dreaming now; he was sound asleep. The man, with another wary look around, began esone him ¥ all over. ' Evidently he suspected the truth and thought that the on a mond was concealed somewhere about his clothes, = = ay Meanwhile, something was going on out on the ocean and in the air overhead which was causing the officers and crew of — the City of Rio Janeiro the deepest concern, = 9 It was an old-fashioned Brazilian hurricane of the kind. “ee ee CL pen The captain was on the bridge roaring to the mate, and t é “his thoughts upon what the man was saying it seemed to Dave} mate was roaring to the men, and the few passengers ¢ > ssa was asleep and dreaming as he lay there in the chair. | board were all asleep, either on deck or below, except the - Such a strange dream, too! . who had gone by the name of Stukely, and he was so | ~ Mr. J. Herbert Stukely seemed to be changing into the man! working over Dave that he did not realize why it Foe dark all at once, and what all this ns Sag spe: Now it seemed as if he could not do so without keeping up the quarrel, which he‘did not care to do. So he took the - offered cigar and accepted the light which followed - and dying back in his chair began puffing away. “There!” exclaimed Mr. Stukely, lighting a weed himself, “which he carefully examined before putting in his mouth. Wy “There, Mr. Hartwell, this is more like being sociable than a * “anything I have struck yet on this blessed old tub. Why, E. everybody seems to be afraid of everybody else and—how 5 does that cigar suit you, my dear sir? If it is too strong, try a> another. I have some milder ones in the other pocket of my - ‘ “It is strong, but I guess I can smoke It,” replied Dave, “He felt very, very sleepy. It had come over him all at once. Mr. Stukely chattered away about nothing, in the same drawling manner. His voice alone was enough to put anybody be e 3 if on + & ‘ S ® o & fo] i=] S ind § a ww i~Z oe i=] & i= eo co ve ee] a co fo} a & 5 i=} § a PEED Poastiesh pes § 6 gals oe ‘Dave saw him put up his hand to his face and there he was wh out the side-whiskers and the tow-colored mustache. as ‘Then he put up his hand to his head, and there he was with- out the flaxen hair which hung down almost to his coat-collar. ~ Tt seemed to Dave now, then, that he was looking at the man who had been shot by Pedro in the room of the bouse in ison place, - ! That was surely a mistake. - a: collar! One twist ot the knife and the Star ofthe West 4 mE mine!” : Se Sod 3 a sy Then he shot another look about the deck, = for or the aot time realized what was coming. jt pS The sailors were running this way and ‘ax pre , was bawling from the bridge and the mate ave, : deck. x “I daren't tackle him here,” Satta the mam. ~ “e he It’s going to blow in a minute! What tn the world's et wee a dream, of course, but what had become er Oh, if that stuff would only let go!” Pees “How did Pedro get tuto that chair? ; nvad seen teharasine “Atony Dave bad began te

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» FOE Pp OR mm. te. Se 4°) =. eee © + _.. we an err al reer .« Wh-was a wonder that both were not drowned. As it was, were enly seven of these all told, and no women on the. a they were thrown against the lower railing with fearful force. Thus Dave was deserted and did not know it. : Here was viclent treatment to counteract the effects of the The brave fellow had his hands full and was doing. Bis re doctored cigar! _ as he always did, a J It did it mest completely, however. é The water ran cf throuch the scuppers and left the All in an instant Dave was himself again. | comparatively dry where Dave stcod. a n S He sprang to his feet and staggered against the rail, wonder-, “1 must save them if I can,” he thought. “I baat we re pe _ ing what it all meant. sinking, though.” F . 7 The City of Rio Janeiro was now on her beam ends, the} He stooped down over Gordon aud oacinn “him to th ‘ “ . * water which had been shipped went rushing past Dave and it room and with a great effort got him into the lower berth. af r. _ swept the man Stukely hard against his legs. : Then he pocketed certain articles which he actually n _ “Great heavens! This is the end of everything, I guess!” and was ready for the stranger who had served him aa “a gasped | Daye. “Hello! Who is this?” ; bad turn. q He stooped down and, clutching the drowning man by the The diamond bie belonging to. ‘Lazarns & Werthein er collar, pulled. him to his feet. : : had already put in his pocket; for he had never allowed a _ “Pedro!” he exclaimed. eo out of his possession since Mr, ba saan gaye it to ‘him } “Dave! Dave! Are you there, Dave?” the pier. : _ It was Gordon calling. : -Hurrying back to where he had left the stranger, 1 : | But the shock of the storm had almost entirely : The brave feiloyw thought Dave was in his stateroom, and to his senses, and with their return he seemed ‘to he was determined to save him, even at the risk of his own recollection of what had happened while he was under mw : : _fluencé of the drug. . : ; be ; “Here Tam! Help me hold him!” cried Dave. “Tt's Pedro, | All he knew was that the cigar had made him v See bly shiiet, and-1 this fo to dead!” jand that now he felt all right again and was in the _ ©). ‘Phe: man’s head pecans: and he leaned a. dead weight, danger. The latter, fact was preity firmly impressed. ; against Dave. 7 e ya a Seis | mind as he bent over the man who so Strongly rese oan : - 3 Gordon gave a quick gasp, took a anaes step and yelled, in a the dead Peéro and tried to raise him up, _ = = fearful voice: ‘ sveas i And Dave had his hands full, but he was still e = yea It’s the siete’: work!" poems og x + ‘Then he came pitching down ‘the rest of the ‘stairs, head-' The man had partially. revived: he was ‘annie ; and landed at Dave's feet, all in a heap. t j Tere Was a terrible scalp zene Hey, ‘over the

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CPOE yf ae ee et eee Naa Gee = PES DAVE AND THE ‘DIAMOND. _ Altogether, it was a fine pair of patients that poor Dave naa! then he would most undoubtedly have gone with it, but, as” : on his hands! luck went, a few minutes later the storm blew over and the tee 2 > “Come to my stateroom,” he said. “You can lie on the floor; stars came out again. a _ * there. This way. Keep cool and I'll see what can be done.|; The wind died away as rapidly as it had risen and the sea s os Come on! Come on!” {soon became as smooth as it had been-when Dave first began iz: _ Supporting the man whom, let it be understood, he did talking with Mr. Stukely, which, was the beginning of all. not at all connect with Mr. Stukely, Dave led the way to the these troubles, and still the boy lay there at the foot of the a oc stateroom, and when he laid him down on the floor and put a stairs entirely unconscious of all that was going on around a { pillow under his head the brave boy started for the deck ae him until all at once he heard a voice calling in his ear as find ont how it stood with the steamer and what was best to. though it came from a great distance: » do. | “Dave! Dave! Dave! Dave!” e.. ace he nage to reach the stairs; the wind wed It seemed to bring Dave tack to life again, Serre ee pees Sealmee: Te partic, and wigs RE Sezer. Ae He opened his eyes to find Gordon bending over him shout- — deck he had to drop on his hands and knees or he would have’ : : . a jing his name in his ear, ie, been instantly swept into the heaving sea through the break! Bie the weait. | “What's the matter?” he demanded, sitting up. “What ze s Further on he saw three of the pasengers—all native Brazil- happened? Are we sinking? Where have I been?” on tap s—trying to let down one of the boats. Dave staggered to his feet. The first thing that caught his : eye was the stars shining, then he saw mountains rising in A The boat was hanging to the davits and they were in it “fussing” with the tackle, which they did not seem to under- | the distance, and right there, close to the steamer, was land lying long and low and covered with a dense tropica) forest. “There are three more to come!” yelled Dave. “Don’t; And this was the way that Dave got his first sight of Brazil), : eave us!” “No, you are not dreaming. It is really land. The hurricane ‘He had scarcely spoken when another fearful gust struck | 288 blown us in shore,” said Gordon, reading his ret : the steamer, laying her away over on her side again. ' “Is it Para?” gasped Dave. _ Dave got hold of the railing which guarded the top of the) “Para? No, indeed! Goodness knows what part at erste stairs and held on for dear life. ‘country we have struck. Are you able to go on deck, Dave? It, was so dark that he could not see the boat now, but it Can you Usten to me?” u : shape 2 - peemed to him that he could hear shouts for help over in that! “Sure! Why not? My head aches, but I'm all right.” xe _ direction. “It’s Iueky you are, and lucky that I came out of my fit” A moment more and the steamer righted. when I did, for everything else is all wrong,” Gordon hastily | ty “Dave canght his breath as he looked alead. baa tT yeplied “Dave, there’s a dying man in your stateroom, and . ; The boat was empty! The Brazilians had been washed there well be two more here in a minute if we don't get.a Boat a. away! | out. This old tub is sinking and may go down any ey: is _ “I must get back to the stateroom,” thought Dave. “I can do you understand?” ag ey ao pothing whatever here.” | | While speaking, Gordon had helped Dave on deck, Bae started to descend the stairs, and thts proved to be ‘The desolation was awful to look at; the steamer lay low a most dangerous matter, but he bad almost gained the lower jn the water, and seemed to be settling stil lower. * Dave _ deck when the next gust struck the {ll-fated craft. saw at a glance that Gordon's words were true. i rs “es 2 | Over she went again, and this time macts, smokestack, 3 _ deck-honse and everything above was carried away. As for Dave, he was off his fect in an instant and came Se ; : x wn heavily on his back on the stairs, tumbling to the deck’ “Gtve {t up!” sald Gordon, They are all gre 2 Except 5 and striking his head with such force that it was a ‘that, man and ourselves there isn’t a blessed soul ¢ ahh a a he bad not cracked his skull. ; ‘steamer, and I tell you again | we have got to get. of mighty It was all over for the time being. L sudden if we expect to live.” wend Fe eS Soapeeg left the boy, and when, the battered hulk’ “We'll let down Gat a er Beas pointing. to. the only | a « y righted, Dave rolled over against the guards, like one oat which remained. | Sane age? Ge te ‘ r] yi: Ween panes eas Pos he he Fr S| _ “Where's the. ceptain? are @re the crew and the | | pasen ee gers?” he gasped. . : 1 a “3 = Ss | “That's the talk; but bow will we get bim ints a , } “That man?” ; , bet be “Yes.” Sagi: i ae - CHAPTER XVIL. | “Pedro?” 3 “We : | *pedvo he hanged! “He's not Pedro! HE LAST OF THE STEAMER. nega sen ieceouet is | 1% Sree. sd ber oer ier :

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DAVE. AND “i Leorsianar te 2% + “who?” For a moment they rested him upon the rail, but they aia | “That fresh fellow, Stukely, who was always cruising around | not have long to wait before the boat was almost on a level. you.” “The water will be over the guards in two shakes!” cried “By thunder! You are right, Gordon!” cried Dave. “I re-; Gordon. “In with him, Dave! The old tub is going down member all now, It was he who gave me that cigar. It’s the| right now, and it will carry us with it if we don’t look spry! ni diamond! Has he got it? “No! Here it is!” No time was lost in getting aboard after the man was —— ea 3 Dave clapped his hand to his coat-collar and could feel the! in the bottom of the boat. : Re $e, lump. Then he felt of his inside pocket and found Mr.; Gordon cast off and, seizing the oars, pulled rapidly a away Lazarus’ box all safe. from the sinking steamer. ' _ “We will drop the boat,” said Gordon, “and we will get him He was not one instant too soon, for they were scarcely well. * is into it. We will talk these things over latér on. What we! clear of her when all] at once the City of Rio Janeiro began» : Want to do now is to get ashore before this old tub goes to/ settling with great rapidity. m Sst+ Davy Jones.” “There she goes!” cried Gordon, and go she did, the eee Dave saw plainly enough that Gordon had good cause to be! almost carrying the boat down, too. ; anxious, The steamer had settled even since they came on} Then the whirling water grew quiet again and the boat, a deck. tage Dave and Gordon and the unconscious man, glided shore-’ Si -_‘The boys hurried to the davits and, with Dave's help, Gor-| ward, alone. 5 don was soon able to drop the boat, going down with it im-| self. 5 | | ) | Tie i, ’ There were no oars, for they had been washed away, so * i 4 Ueber Te. : Gordon broke out one of the seats and declared that he could CHAPTER XVII. , - paddle ashore with that, “I'll get round by the stateroom, _ Dave!” he called. “Throw me a line there and make the boat | “PULL AWAY QUICK OB WE 4RE Lost!” fast; then I'll come aboard and help you get him in.” ‘ Bee er di i. ss“ Bilest if I see how we are going to do it,” said Dave. “But Gordon was a splendid hand at tis cars. He pende> sg sin is your racket, Gordon. I'll do whatever you say.” great steadiness and never seemed to tire. During that ro _ He burried to the main deck, forward, where, as Gordon told; the boys discussed the situation and Gordon mace cir all that — ; him, he found rope of various kinds, and, as luck would have! Dave had to tell. , "Fa it, a spare pair of oars. was discovered, too, and with these; “j wonder who he can be?” he sald. “I suspected T = as _ things Dave hurried to the stateroom, where, glancing in, he} | first that he was after the diamond when you told me a out Sag could see the man still lying on the floor. . | bis looking in at you through that crack in the partition. Then I He was groaning as though in great pain. It was too dark | that disguise! Well, he did look like Pedro, we he ie —-% tor thee was Gordon and the boat to think of. | “Don’t have a fits,” said Dave. “You'll ki seiisatt -$ “Are you there, Gordon?” he sang out, looking over the rail, | day the way you fall, You came pretty near it when | Ss “Right here, Dave!" tumbled down those stairs. Tel me how: sas aay when . ; “Great Scott! We are almost on a level with the boat!” | are first coming on?” a : Welt, that’s what!” replied Gordon, standing up in the) “Why,” said Gordon, “all I can REE a of that one is his head projecting over the guards. geeing Pedro, as I supposed, standing there, and the nex ‘Hello! Oars! Bully for you!” he shouted, “Didn't think! knew I. woke up im your berth. It’s no use to pile tO ete were any down there. Give me the line! Make t’other | g.:ihe my feelings. I never could.” ss nd fast to the stateroom ‘door and have your knife ready to; “1 ean tell you how I feel, though,” sald a dsinian' it on the instant if she sinks all of a sudden, which she is! gown in the bottom of the boat. “I'm in pain from d to do when her time comes,” , ? ; | of my head to the: sole of wy: feet. I think I am ‘We are not — The prio ee Lotitan scat ” cried | gia” a ET ae Neos It was “Stukely.” “He had found his voice at la: fainly. piaa'e you" realize that ‘before? The water “Neithér Dave eat Gordon patter t ae oo" ne Tet: e ee ci and vaulted lightly over ft. re got to ‘lift that: fellow up and drop him Into! ar “Lend “Toe ‘& hand, Dave. He's a ‘crook, leo y. J ‘ S28, a of me, Dave Hartwell?” Sainasidn the n ‘you needn't be any longer. Pm past alarming you shall never get the: diamond. The Star of the Wi [ } from. me there sewed fn ‘the oie of your coat as | a thousand ‘ene

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DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. yay suffering man, and perhaps, as you say, a dying man, so ad break with fearful force; no boat could live in them for an i = %, there is anything that I can do to make you more comfortable | instant. We have got to land right ahead here in that cove.” f : Tam ready to do it, and——” : If Gordon was addressing his remarks to Dave it was all “And you have already done it, my boy; you have already| right, but if he expected the detective to hear them he was done it, in spite of what I did to you,” replied the man, in a making a big mistake, for when they came to look at the man steadier voice. “Se you don’t know me? Well, it is not | they found that he had fainted dead away and he was entirely _ Strange. You have seen me before, but you have never seen | unconscious of his surroundings for the next ten minutes. 7 my face undisguised since we met on that infernal steamer. “I don’t understand what he was tafking about, Gordon,” * I am no more Stukely than I am Pedro, but I am the man ha said Dave. “Do you?” q Saw you in Mr. Gompers’ store on Maiden Lane on the day! “No, indeed, I don’t. I never was in this place before,” re- the Star of the West was changed for a piece of glass right! plied Gorden. “Still, it can’t be a great way from Para wf under my very nose by that slick thief, Irene Duchenelle.” “It wouldn’t surprise me if this was the mouth of a river. a “What!” cried Dave. “Is it you? You are the man Pedro! See, the cove does not end here, as I supposed it did. It keeps shot in that house in Neilson place, then?” ght on up into the country, and there is a regular current.” “Tam. I've been hunting the Star of the West for ten years, “That’ s what there is,” replied Gordon. “I wonder if it ‘Dave. It is hard to have the prize snatched out of my hand | can be the Peruno River where the diamond came from?” ; age as it is within my grasp.” . “It wovldn’t surprise me. What did he mean by calling _ “Who are you?” cried Daye. “Tell me your name! Tell me| out ‘the House of the Diamond God?’ I see no house at all.” ee" “Nor I. Is he coming to, or is he dead?” + “ “Why I was so anxious to get hold of that fatal stone?”| «oh, 1 don’t think he is dead,” safd Dave. “He'll come to x "broke in the man. “Well, that’s my business. I am a detec-| all right again. Shell we pull right inshore in spite of what tive. My name is Percy Howard. I am in the employ of the he said?” mo ty 2 King of Holland. As I said before, for ten years past I have had no other business than to hunt for the Star of the West. = ; a a , ~~! Oe ‘rc ras a stickies 4 a 1 B\Aag poe Pirek ” = & Tee YF, ae “We have got to. We can’t help ourselves. If we get caught in one of these rollers we are gone, . “ I know I would never succeed. I felt it from the first, and now “do right ahead, then. Tay" not geing to let what he said > 3 me is coming. true. Wall, I have outlived Pedro, anyhow, and) scare me. We have been Serougn too much, I think the a Sad as _ who knows but I may pull through. Where are we now? ia Off ‘his base” © Raise me up, boy! I know this coast well. though : nae baggand ee ee tI was! 5. Gordon pulled away until they had passed at least halt _ unconscious, but I wasn’t. I knew what was going on all the ‘cere tall vive, tort ao okeer Escuela Oe al h I could not k. ¥i : 2% ; time, adie baat SERS see ae * edhanius Percy Howard revived, but he seemed to be quite "fellow, Dave Hartwell, and you will be rewarded. Boy, . < . ek ice - out of his mind again. He paid no attention to what the boys put you in the way of getting full valve for that stone.” a3 3 : “re : eens ." said to him, but kept up a constant.moaning. Dave came to < It's his; not mine,” replied Dave, pointing to Gordon. shin casblatia’ hod he sera pahaaee coiee tres : _ “I wouldn't touch it with tongs,” muttered the sailer boy. sites Be Tin Decors ed Dp y going e. : ae g “n will get us into trouble yet.” : ; It was intensely hot, now that the sun was beginning to get _ . S. *Raine me-up, Dave! » Raise me up!” repented thé detéctive, high, the river was narrowing down, both banks were lined ~ _ “I want to see where we are. It’s getting lighter now and we with the dense tropical forest for which Brazil ts 20: famous; ee ma ‘ almost inshore.” | great palms grew close down to the water's edge. Enormous trees of unknown species towered far above the rest here and — | there, but not a trace of human habitation could be seen. — ‘reg cf \t ¥ Dave got his arm under the detective and, with some diffi- Sd ep: a ee Se ) St nds were all around the boys as they rowed om. _ Morning was just dawning. The beach lay right before EnaS AO 7 af ig “them, and back of that stretched the dense, tropical forest, ex-; Monkeys chattered and parrots screamed, and there Were shrill ria ae 54m both directions as far as the eye could reach. whistling cries and every now and then flerce ce aa 5 There was not a break anywhere, as far as Dave could see, | ameng the trees. banat - ou for all that there was something about it to startle the “Sounds as if there was a perfect menagerie in there,” said sctive, for he gave a sharp cry, exclaiming: Dave! “What a wonderful country! Is Brazil all like this? " “The House of the Dinmond God! Heavens! this is indeed; “Pretty much wherever there is no settlement. You ou , Pull away, boys! Pull away quick or we are lost!” have to look a good while to find a place where there wasn’t — monkeys and cocoanut trees; but say, Dave, we want to get “ Ae WEN {this man in out of the sun as quick as ever we can; : a +} don’t he is going to die on our hands.” ae ; CHAPTER XIX. ie ei “I don't see any place Where we can make a plied Dave. ED Oe oe we eee make cut." | 4 Pee. ~ ; ~ | “Let’s pull on around tha point abend on there. at avay sow” sid Goren. “tao a th re get 3 Pa Mae ys TT ;

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Fie ry . i DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. . ae aes $ if - OS Re SES SS ER ne RE a Or mE ween = = =. | how to handle them, and it seemed as though he would never Reaching the building, the boys ascended the steps = = H tire. pushed open the bamboo door. : In a few moments they rounded the point. aud both boys| An immense empty space opened before them. , broke out with exclamations of surprise. It was so dark inside that for a moment the boys could not = ® They had run right into a native town. make out what was there, but as their eyes grew accustomed” 4 ‘Scattered along the shore was a row of huts large and small, | to the dimness they saw that at the back of the long room a — with one big frame building larger than all the rest put to-| sort of platform rose four or five feet abovt the floor. “a gether rising in the midst. That was all. Pema | Im front of the town a rude wharf projected out into the| If this was really the house of the Diamond God, then it Sad b fiver, and moored to it was a small steamer with “Amazonas | W@S an empty house, like all the rest. Migr f Para” painted across her stern. Surely there could be nothing to fear in a town which they a “The old Amazonas!” cried Gordon. “I know where we are | had all to themselves. a now!” | “Let's get back to the boat and take a look at the steamer,” xy | “Where?” demanded Dave. said Dave. “Of all the queer freaks the diamond has played Fe _ Before Gordon could answer the detective suddenly raised | US Yet this bringing us here to this deserted town is the queer- ie "himself and sat up in the boat. _ | est.” ‘ : os 5 “It is Paruno!” he cried. “You would come here. . Well, * well, it can’t be helped. It is fate! There it is! There's} : te Bee . aw here I stole the Star of the West from the eye of the idol! | | »* CHAPTER XX. a a ‘Tha 's the house of the Diamond God!” ; is 7, 4 ae He pointed to the big building which rose above the rest, THE OPENING OF THE SEALED PACKET. ae vod he kept on pointing at it, muttering to himself, and no : , : : - intelligent word could be got out of him. He did not seem When Dave and Gordon went aboard the Amazonas they © te aoaniae who the boys were. At last he lay down again and | found everything in good order, but, as was the case with the Re, , ed to drop off asleep. ; town, there was not a soul to be seen, cabin, engine-room, | Be: ‘There’s going to be trouble, Dave!” said Gordon. “The | captain’s quarters and galley being, all alike, deserted, oe pemond is at its old work again.” It was certainly a queer state of affairs, but the boys wags a “I believe you! What do you say if we give it back to these disposed to make the best of it, and they immediately returnet®’ bie re to the boat and, rousing up the detective, managed to get * life enough into him to go ashore and walk to the wharf, from which, with some difficulty, they succeeded in getting him on ie people?” ‘ Blest if I care if it comes around right. I’ve had enough | -. All I want to do is to get away from the old thing; it say, we must go slow or we will find ourselves in trouble beard the Amazonas, where they laid him down in one of the s we know it, These Paruno Indians are eafd to be ter-| deck berths and threw a big fly-net over him, then si cit if : rible fellows; they are not Christians, you know, and don’t him there to continue his sleep in peace. _ ) ackno ledge the authority of the Brazilian government. They During the walk, Perey Howard said but Iittle, but from” have their own king and ‘still worship thétr idols, just as | the way he stared about he seemed to know the place. the used to do in old times.” Once he waved his hand toward the big house, exclaimi: g: "oe Ta like to see some of them once,” said Dave, “There| “That's it! That’s it! That's where the diamond came: ees from, and it will go back there, too.” Sc Then, just as he lay back in the bunk, he suddenly asked: % \ oo n’t seem to be a living thing about except the monkeys, the trees are chock full of them.” Indeed, it proved to be just that way; the village was quite serte |, and it was just the same with the steamer. etm ran she boat close alongside and shouted, ate I remember! “He's dead. He used to live here.” ~~ ) “If he could only speak out we would soon know all about aa the diamond,” said Gordon, when they went out on the deck. Z “Yes, but he can’t, and I don’t believe he ever will again,” oa replied Dave. “Gordon, sit down here under the awning. eae in a quandary. I don’t know just what to do.” — i “Well, what I was going to do was to look for some grub,” replied Gordon. “I’m as hungry as a bear.” d median: lnskinak at the detective, who was still ping. “Shall we leave him “here?” 8. T’ll threw my coat over him to keep the files off his re. tell you, there’s no one here. Do you suppose if there , of the people would not have been down to see = ““It’s too hot to eat. I'm fearfully dry, though. I ae % 4 re this?” there’s no chance of getting anything to drink.” “5 ‘ d the boat high up upon the sand and walked | “It we explore a bit we may find that there fs.” br ng th oe ake ng big building, now at no great dis-| “Not now! Not now! I want to have a ‘little talk shout A nee awa y ; Sh {my affairs, Gordon. Bit veal, Sypenet ay sel ores ret te “not 2 soul was ‘to be seen anywhere. Para?” ee ae Ss Pare

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Se PRE a ie we DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. the Para steamer. If we can only stay here we shall fetch! shaped like a man eight feet high or more, carved out of ‘ up sooner or later at the mouth of the Amazon, sure.” solid tree-trunk, as the boys afterward learned. “Well, it may be so, but I think I’m justified in opening this; There were dozens of naked children rumning alongside the box Mr. Lazarus gave me now. I ought to know what my in- | cart, and the oxen and the idol itself were decked out with rib- structions are, for no one can tell what may happen to us. | bons and little green flags. I'm going to do it, Gordon, and I want you to be a Ae icce| As this strange procession came nearer the sound of wild in case trouble comes.” J music Was heard, and the boys could see that a native band = “That’s all right. I'd open it blame quick if it was me,”! led; they were beating drums and blowing on tin horns, kicks ~~ replied Gordon, to whom Dave had fully explained the situa-| ing up a horrible din. 4 tion during the voyage. Behind the ox-wagon followed several men in white suits and Dave had the box with him; he had never let it get far! cork helmets, but the natives wore nothing but cheap cotten ss a} away since they took to the boat. undershirts and drawers, with big straw hats on their heads — iF Now, with some reluctance, he broke the seals and tore off and in some cases it was just the straw hats and a string of “2 =. the wrapper. It was an easy matter to open the box then,! beads. Re for it was not fastened in any way. : “There they are!” cried Dave, “Those are the oathaga pie a a es Inside were two smaller boxes, and a sealed letter addressed | hind the cart, We must get down to meet them, Gordon. 1 2 a to Dave himself, and another one besides. don’t doubt that Captain Marques is there wit® the rest, and — ; Dave tore open the letter and read as follows: this other letter is for him.” , or 4 Tying up the box the boys hastily left the steamer ar “Dave:—I meant to tell you all about this business, but 1} walked boldly toward the advancing crowd. - = ___— have been delayed, and if I catch you before the steamer sails | They soon had reason to wish they had stayed where they. * _—s-I shall be lucky, so I can only write. were, for no sooner did the leaders of the peng a Fa “Take these two boxes and deliver them to Captain tionitint sight of them than a wild shout went up and the pro 7 Marques, of the steamer Amazonas. He will give you a acsitel went to pleces, like a flash, ‘ rs WG for them. That is all you have got to do with the matter.| It was every man for himcelf now, and every man ¢ ca : _ After that, report to Messrs. Heilburger & Hentz, No. 80 Mad-| running pell-m mell toward the boys, brandishing Baca {gon street, Para. They will supply you with ali the money | hooting and yelling and raising a fearful din, ada Fe mt you need and give you every instruction. You are then to; “To the boat!” cried Gordon! “To the beat! Those ow = rs proceed to the diamond district back of Pernambuco and buy} mean mischief! They'll spear = before those white men ¢ Ee) for us stones as follows: ” : interfere!" ‘Here came a long list of shapes, weights and dimensions of : " — x Se? ___ @iamonds which the firm desired Dave to purchase on their | CHAPTER XXI. . ss Recount. | ; aa -__ Dave was thrown Into « great state of excitement. It raised GoRDON HAS A FIT JUST AT THE WRONG TIME, himself in bis own estimation a hundred per cent., for that. ; al _ -Mr. Lazarus should consider him possessed of a good enough, Instead of running, Dave just stood still. ___ kmowledge of diamonds to make these purchases was a “com “I'm not going to do it,” he said. “It's just like r pliment indeed. pack of dogs. If you run away they will tear you. : % “Let’s have a look at the diamonds, Dave,” said Gordon,| The only way is to stand our ground and show “th; who had been waiting patiently while Dave read all this. | are not afraid. Say, Gordon, can you speak Portugu : _ Dave opened the first box, and there, lying in cotton, was au) “A little,” replied Gordon. “Enough to eases object which made Gordon jump off his seat. derstood.” few 3 ; “The big diamond!” he cried. “It is the Star of the West! | “Then talk to them, Ask for Captain Marques: How in the world——" ~ | are six white men altogether. I don’t doubt | hat “Hold on!” said Dave. “That’s no diamond. It’s rothing The men in the cork helmets seemed. to ‘realize t but a plece of glass.” . 7 the boys were in, for they came running fo _ “You don’t mean it!” to the Indians in the native language. ee AT. ¢ certainly do. Strange that my orders should be to de-' In a moment the boys found themselves. “right "iver tt to the captain of this very steamer. It is Just as the| The Indians proved to be leas dangerous than” detective says. It ts fate.” | threatened to be, however. BAS _ “Hello? Look! look!” cried Gordon. cee come the} They came crowding about Dave a abb : like # of of menkers, but not @ man sd 9 hand m, women es children were ing dove the ‘de ot a Sane

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DAVE: AND THE DIAMOND. dians which most strangely resembled that of the dead man. As though they had been one man, the Indians ais a rush “Brace up, Gorden! Don’t have a fit now, for heaven’s | for the unfortunate sailor boy. a ; : Sake!” said Dave. “Here come the sailors! They will set us| Dave was pushed aside, and four Indians picked Gordon up, right.” bodily, held him high above their heads, and ran with his ae % “Capitao Marques! Capitao Marques!” Gordon kept shout-| writhing body toward the temple of the Diamond God. ae - ing out, and in a moment a dried-up little Brazilian elbowed | “Bartamente!” cried Captain Marques. “He is as good as aS _ his way through the crowd, followed by six others. dead!” ee » The Indians stood back and let them come up to the boys. tetera! ra _ “Who are you?” he demanded, in broken English, “How * ame you here?” CHAPTER XXII. 4 “Is this Captain Marques?” demanded Dave, with all the calmness he could assume. PRISONERS OF THE DIAMOND GOD. : _ “That’s my name.” ’ x. a * “My name is Hartwell. I’m from New. York. I was sent! The startling announcement made by Captain Marques, as a to see you by the firm of Lazarus & Wertheimer. I——” the Indians bore Gordon away toward the house of the Dia- . _ ‘The eaptain gave a sharp exclamation, and flung up both | mond God, drove Dave half wild. “ 2 “Let me get to him! Let me get to him!” he cried. nee _ “What fortune!” he cried. “Was there ever anything like | shan’t kill that boy!” But what wind blew you in here to Paruno just at this “Hold on!” said the little captain of the Amazonas, throw- i ing his arm out, catching Dave under the chin and forcing him I expect it was the hurricane,” replied Dave; “but here is| back. “You won’t do any good that way, boy. The only — 7 package for you and a letter from Mr. Lazarus. I will! chance to save your friend is to listen to me.” ee xp! But Dave was not in that mood at all. oe “Net now! Not now!” cried the captain. “I suppose these He resented the captain’s interference and started to push pee ao e the diamonds?” | him aside and run after the Indians, who were now crowding : toward the big house. >. a a “You are just in the nick of time, Heavens, but it is won-| But he did not get far. : dae ul! I expected you down on the last steamer, but as you} Captain Marques was a man accustomed to being obeyed. ae, Se ne i not come I thought—no matter! Give me the package,| He said something in Portuguese to his men, and ina mo- ‘We will talk business later. Is the big diamond in} ment Dave found himself flat on his back, struggling with 24 half a dozen*stout sailors, while the captain walked off coolly eh toward the temple. A ; “I'll see you later on, young fellow!” he called out. ee 5 & do my best to save your friend!” ; ‘ vi ; There is no sort of doubt that Captain Marques meant this kindly, but Dave was very angry about it, just the same, aid |). 2% he kept on fighting and “said things,” which resulted in his sa being dragged unceremoniously to the Amazonas by the sats Brazilians, none of whom understood a word of English, or aa pretended that they did not, which was just the same. — ae Dave cooled down by the time he got on board the steamer, _He saw that he had made @ mistake, and he tried to eer ee: it now that it was too late. f¥ ae ‘The officers of the Amazonas either could not, we would ‘not, understand him, and ad hipesae not allow m3 ~ ahem pany god.” | on. sea : - : pie Be | the chief looked back, shouted something, and the pro-|* nm marched on toward the big house. e boys were not to be let off so easily, the Indians made cei and were = to seize Yes," replied Dave, with a peculiar twinkle of his eye. “Ah! Say nothing,” whispered the captain. “Many of se fellows understand English. They go to Para; they have id it up there. Be careful or they will understand. Fall tie nd the sepa with my men. You will see what g shouts went up all around them. ‘The Indians 0 o dance and yell, and one who seemed to be the chief ppen did happen then and there, “back as the rush came, flung up sis spoil ents tel whow 96 we 33 il Snore air mesg || understand that he wanted to go down into the cabin. ne vd : 8. The mete did n : ‘Fofuse bie, 'but. did not go bh

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a, i 3 ae = ‘ « aie in the hope that he would be able to speak in Portuguese, but, to his horror, when he laid his hand upon Perey How-' after it was all over our young diamond expert was most ard’s forehead he found it cold. There was no help to be had there. It looked very much as if the diamond had done its work! for the detective, He was dead, and had evidently been dead for some time. The greatest excitement followed. The mate called several of the crew down to see the body. All seemed to have known Howard, and such a chattering in tain. Portuguese began that Dave was nearly deafened. While all this was going on a loud shout was suddenly heard | on deck, and the mate and all hands made a rush up out, of the cabin. There was trouble on shore for Captain Marques. a They could see him running away from the house of the Diamond God, followed by the Indians, who seemed all of a sudden to have turned enemies instead of friends, for they were throwing spears at him and yelling in the most savage Manner, mediately thrown into the greatest excitement. If the chattering had been bad in the cabin, it was worse’ ‘out. Was the steamer captured by the ere! r couldn’t = now. EX\very man drew a revolver and, leaping ashore, ran to the rescue of their chief. No attention was paid to Dave, and he ran with the rest, for ’ it seemed to him that if Captain Marques was killed all chance of rescuing Gordon was at an end. _ Before they could reach the captain a spear struck him and ‘the fell forward on his face and was in the hands of the Indians | in an instant. Two naked savages carried him away toward the temple, while the rest separated and made a rush to surround the crew, which they very nearly did. The shots flew in lively style. Several of the Indians went down, but whether wounded or killed Dave had no means of knowing, for when the mate sounded the signal to retreat to “the steamer, which he promptly did when he saw that it was too late to do anything to aid his chief, the Indians closed around him and Dave was captured before he knew it. His revolver was taken from him, and in spite of his strug- gles he was dragged away toward the hguse of the Diamond . CHAPTER XXIII. THE STRANGE STORY OF THE DIAMOND. "Hello, young man! Is it you?” Dave little imagined that the voice of Captain Marques eaget ever sound so pleasantly to his ears as it did now when _ this question was put in the darkness of a damp, foul-smelling Dave was shee) ea on _ fest ne vat ete td ia feet Hen of. DAVE AND THE DIAMOND — ’ k =. Dave went up to the bunk, determined to wake the detective, | Daye had been tumbled into the vault without ceremony and — . . Of course, the mate and the crew of the Amazonas were im-| life was spent in your city. But we must talk business. We the door shut and barred against him, and, to tell the truth, — mightily relieved to find himself alive, and then came that - call out of the darkness: “Hello, young man! Is it you?” “Well, it is! That you, Captain Marques?” answered Dave. — “It is. what there is left of me,” growled the captain. 3 “Where are you, boy?” 7a “I don’t know. I’m here somewhere. This is a bad job, cap- — I thought you were solid with these Indians, but it doesn’t look very much that way now.” me, “Thought so myself,” growled the captain, groping his up to Dave by aid of the wall, “but it’s no use to try to pl : roots on Chief Miguel. I’ve heard it said before that he was sharp, and now I know just how sharp he really is, and — a peg too much for me.” “You speak just like a New Yorker,” hardly belieyve——” : “That I’m not one? Well, boy, practically I am a Ne i Yorker, although I was born in Brazil, for the best part of m a yy - said Dave. are.in a bad fix, both of us. And the question is, how to g see.” belt “And I didn’t see, either,” replied Dave. “They had me- down before I knew it; they dragged me into the temple, o whatever you call it, and then down into this hole here.” . “Yes, I know,” said the captain, “and I suppose you | bh it is all my fault, but it isn’t, quite. Listen to me, box, I will tell you a story that will explain some things apogt, a situation that you don’t understand. = “What about my friend? I wish you would explain t first,” replied. Dave. ; : Ps a. “I can’t tell you anything about him. Is he mages to like that?” |.” Yes.” i “Well, he could not have chosen-a worse place to ies in, then. These people are very superstitious. They : any man who has fits is possessed of a spirit anc cen be i into a prophet. They have another temple like this up Imountain and they keep a dozen or more boys and g | there who all have fits, I haven't the least doubt your fr ‘has been taken there, and, while they won't kill him, | never get away.” ict Dave sighed. He would have questioned the captain further but the man went right on talking. - i _ “Hew did you fellows get here?” he asked. ~ about it before I begin with What I have to tell you.” "Pave told his story then. Although he could not si tain’s face, he knew by his eons exclamations t ba ly. listening. ’ | x i» Ms Aud that man lies dead on my steamer?” ne” ~~ Ae."

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= Not a word had Dave said about the big diamond, but he felt that he was going to hear something about it himself now. “Listen,” said Captain Marques. “Do you know what was in that box you gave me, young man?” “Diamonds,” replied Dave. “Did you see them?” “Yes.” “Were they all diamonds?” “No. One was a piece of glass. That was the big one.” “Ah, ha! You know! That piece of glass came near costing _me my life. Listen! That big image you saw is called the _ Diamond God. These people are rich, although you might not think it. .They own this land; they sell rubber; they have got barrels of money. They worship that image and they cover _ it with diamonds at one of their festivals, which occurs to-day. . They carry it up into the mountain temple and back again in ¥ solemn procession, and then they heap diamonds upon it in ; this temple. That is what those small stones are for. I ordered them for Chief Miguel. Strange, isn’t it? This is a _ strange eountry, though. Listen now and I will tell you something stranger still.” “TI am listening,” replied Dave. all mighty interesting to me.” “To get back.to the idol,” continued the captain: “years ago it used to have a big diamond exactly like the piece of $s you brought me, sticking in its forehead—that was the | , oa © ee “Go on, captain. This is Mo ARE By rE Re pye. ‘ra her traded for it. How the trader got hold of it I’m sure 4 don’t know, but I have been told that it was stolen from the § ng of Holland and was known as the Star of the West.” “Exactly,” said Dave, “And it was stolen from this temple ‘the man who now lies dead on your steamer.” “Tt was?” cried the captain. “How did you know?” ' “Never mind. Go on.” a “Well, he came here and lived months with the Indians, ching his chance, and finally it came. He stole the dia- ‘mond and disappeared. He was followed by Miguel's half- other, a helfbreed named Pedro, who spoke English as well ou or I. Never heard what became of them, but I did hear Howard was a detective trying to recover the diamond the King of Holland, and that in some way he lost it, and he and Pedro went. to New York together, both still the stone.” true,” said Dave; pw do you know?” : nish your story, capiain, and then I'll tell mine” the end of my story is that I thought.I could fool e Indians,” continued the captain, “so I got Mr, Lazarus A e the diamond duplicated in glass, Its shape was well ; there are a dozen fac-similes of it in existence. I it on. You brought it down to me. To cut my story _apaeet detected the fraud instantly and—well, here I r % And ‘I rather think they mean to take my life in eon, . “to-day. i tse about it,” said Dave. a aye bat knocked around this. hot count ‘EK ~~! Wi “a D cking “all true, every word of it.” wen 7 ‘ «elt * DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. Chief Migvel’s father bought it of a rubber trader, or| Indians came trooping into the vault. replied Captain Marques; “but listen. I am not quite through yet. Strange how these things came about. One of those fit- throwing prophets up at the mountain temple prophesied not long ago that the diamond would come back, and it would be brougut back by two white boys, one of whom would prove to be a great prophet and, what is odder still, that it would be brought back on this very day. So you see when you two sud- denly turned. up these stupid fellows made a rush for you, thinking that the prophecy had come true. That was bad enough, but when your partner suddenly went down in a fit | ae it made it a great deal worse. They lugged him off to the temple at once, I told them I had the diamond and—well, it’s a wonder they did not kill me on the spot when they dis- covered my little game; but they still believe in the prophecy. They think that the diamond will actually come back to them to-day, and I have no doubt they have sent up to the moun- tain temple now to consult their prophets and find out what oy to do. Why don’t you say something, boy? Have you gone ee to beat ‘ Ns ‘ , “a d ” said Dave. “I am only thinking—wondering what. tt A all means.” - “Well, well! What do you mean? Of course, you pe heard of this diamond until I told you this story.” ‘of. » Dave got no further. At the same instant the door was thrown open and a dita Chief Migue] was in the lead, and right behind him came e three men carrying blazing torches, “Come!” he said to Captain Marques. “The Diamond doa is waiting for you. He says the diamond is here. Then youmust __ have it. Come! he will decide your fate!” Os . Pk “iat ie CHAPTER XXIV. CONCLUSION, ’ | think our fate is pretty well decided now, boy,” whig- % pered Captain Marques in Daye’s ear as they were led away “il out of the vault. “I never expect to see the old Amazonas — again. I came up to Paruno once too often, I’m afraid.” ; a “Wait and see,” answered Dave. “I don’t give up yet.".) Secretly, Dave om: lost in amazement at the strange tam affairs had ‘taken. 4 - ; He knew that he held the key to the situation—not sewed up in his coat-collar, either, but right in his pocket, for while Captain ‘Marques Was talking to him Dave chad been work cing in the dark and took the diamond out, so as" to have % for instant use. if As the dead detattive ted and ences Vous one seme to be fate from first to last. 2 mt = Tega AG = sao ns more ee tt of he Daan Cod . ih Ses SN BUS SEARS

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> ~~ 2s The bare interior of the big inclosure was changed now from the way it had looked when Dave and Gordon first saw it. | in the procession outside. But the big image was no longer decked out with flags. serted into holes in its bulky body. barcus setting. There were huge diamond earrings suspended from the ears and the breast was studded all over with the glittering stones. There were no eyes to the image, properly speaking, but in the forehead was a hole, where Dave saw the Star of the West must once have been. The prisoners were led upon the platform where the idol stood. Here were several Indians, all old men, and Chief Miguel, who was the living image of the dead Pedro, took his station in.front of the idol and made a long address of which aot ~ could not understand one word. But Chief Misuel could speak English, too, wherever he had learned it, and he now turned to Captain Marques and said: “The time has come. The prophecy of the Diamond God must be fulfilled or you must die. You have tried to deceive me. You have given me what is false. There is no help for ‘you. Your men are under guard. Any one who attempts to leave the steamer will be instantly killed. Look! Here is the prophet that our prophets said would come to us, and he tells me that the eye of the Diamond God will be returned to-day.” Chief Miguel clapped his hands and Gordon stepped out from behind the big image, very pale, but perfectly calm, _ He gave Dave a meaning look, which was enough to let him know that he had told the chief the truth. But Captain Marques never suspected. _ He threw up his hand and rattled off an appeal for mercy in Portuguese, “Return the eye of the Diamond God and you shall all - leave Peruno safely,” said the chief, in a dignified way. “The _ prophets have told us that the eye of our god shall come back . | qo Us at the hands of two white boys om this day and at this he dat saw the dig Ginmond inthe hands of the boy w =~ hour.” dgna the prophecy has come true,” said Dave, taking the es | diamond out of his pocket and laying it in the hands of Chief . : ‘A peculiar smile passed over the old Indian’s face. _” He did not appear surprised. Hastily examining the stone, - be held it up before the crowd and called = PGES, ‘in which threatened to raise the - _Heame again, jouder and Iouder, when Chet Miguel reached A wild shout rang out then wi DAVE AND THE DIAMOND. From one end to the other it was packed with Indlans, men, ' women and children, and all were staring at the great ugly | wooden image which the boys had seen carried on the ox-cart | ; Instead, a hundred tiny torches blazed about it, being in Around the neck hung a great string of diamonds in bar-— | Gordon shipped on a Liverpool rubber steamer and “a eC haan eas St * he said, in English, and he took Gordon’s hand and led him — up to Dave, saying: “Boys, I thank you in the name-of the Diamond God.” (4 * * * s * * * * 7 * Now this may seem a strange ending to a somewhat singular story, but as the story happens to be founded upon absolute ‘facts We can only state what actually occurred. a From that moment all trouble ended for Dave. 7 Captain Marques was allowed to return to his steamer, but ~ Dave and Gordon remained that night in the hut of Chief — Miguel—not as prisoners, but as his guests, and there was not a@ man, woman or child in the tribe who did not visit them and ‘bring them a present of some kind. The thanks of the Diamond God proved to be rather valuable, Chief Miguel was a very intelligent man. And he turned — ' out to be a liberal one as well, for when the boys sailed away on the Amazonas next morning they carried with them Bra- ' zilian gold equal to five thousand dollars of American money. Of course, this was nothing like what the diamond was — worth, but it was a very substantial reward, , tilt ii Strange things happen in these wild countries, and it was | | eertamly: very strange that circumstances should have so — shaped themselves as to make the propane, come specs’ ‘but such indeed was the case. oom Detective Howard was buried at sea at Dave's request, for! felt that the man’s body would not be safe from inset; i636 its presence on the steamer became known, Captain Marques had a great many dicmakiclia to ad course; in fact, he was not through asking ae won when the Amazonas reached Para. eae > : Here Dave and Gordon parted company. Dave went down into the diamond country anit was successful in his purchases for Lazarus & Wertheimer. | - ae » home. yt ; In due time Dave returned to New York and 1 the firm we re ‘so much pleased with his work that they sent him to Brazil several times, and later to South Africa, ae Today Dave is a member of this big diamond house idly advancing on the road to fortune, <i So to one person at least the Star of the West Ou; oh g luck, for the foundation of Dave’s life success was "trom Brazil, t Next week’s issue will contain “THE BOY MA OF BUILDING UP A TOWN.” By. Richard ‘R. Mont: om ‘SEND POSTAL FOR OUR “FREE 6 i sPRcrat, NOPICHEAI backs ambers of this we Pare yy EERO In ate 45 to to to | 84 to 86, 88, 89, 91 to 94. 98 to 100, 105, 11 16, 119, 122, ide: to 126, 182, 139, M4. 143 16 79 to 181, 186, 192, 212, 213, 265, 268, 272; 277, 284 If from any newsde:

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“MISERY ISLAND. By John Sherman. 3 4 . “All hands aloft there, lively! Clew up the. foretops! | | Brace the mainyard! Lively! Lively!” ~. Thus the trumpet-like orders flew thick and fast from >the lips of Commodore Haines, of the U. S. S. Sumner, six hundred miles off the South American coast. A storm was coming, a regular typhoon, peculiar to - those tropical seas, and which was capable of doing much * damage unless the ship were put under bare poles in the _ quickest possible way. So the sailors went aloft like monkeys, and worked like beavers. The Sumner spread a tremendous amount of canvas, however, and every inch was set, so that it re- ~ quired quick work on the part of the crew to obey the ; orders of the captain. The Sumner was one of the old type of frigates, and _ had seen her best days, being, in fact, a fit subject for ~ condemnation. j .. She carried forty-four guns which had barked lustily in / the War of 1812. Small wonder, then, that when -the ' deadly typhoon struck her she-went over on her beam . ends, while a tremendous sea swept completely over her. ~ Officers and men were swept overboard like puppets. _~ With that first tremendous onslaught over, the old ship “tried to right herself, but all her heavy guns had broken loose, and crashing to port, held her listed there. ~ Rolling in the trough of the sea, she soon opened a seam, and the surviving members of the crew realized that the - fighting and cruising days of the Sumner were over. - The storm was over almost as quickly as it had come, “but the old ship could not last much longer. _- Lashed to the lee rail were two young middies. Their 5 were blanched, and their teeth chattered at the prospect before them. . _ “My heavens, Joe!” gasped one of them. “This is the ~ last of the old Sumner! Are we the only ones left of the ‘crew >” ‘So for a moment it seemed, but the exclamation had “been heard by a third middy, Hal Porter by name, who had escaped ihe fury of the waves by lashing himself to ‘one of the masts. ‘ _\ *Oh, no, Ralph Shaw!” he cried, cheerily. “Tin alive _ and kicking, yet. But it seems as if you and I and Joe 2 Emerson were the only ones to answer to the call to quar- ” ~ “Not much!” cried Joe, as he released himself from the ropes that held him. “There is Denny Halpin, as I live!” A man was crawling from beneath a pile of wreckage the deck. He was one of the seamen, and was a stout ww, with a fringe of whiskers under his chin. © more men showed up; Ben Hollis and Dan Hall, whole complement of one hundred and twenty men ard the Suumer before the typhoon struck her, only were left. It seemed hardly credible. ate, PLUCK AND LUCK. ey nae 12S oe yg a Se ee ee ee less expanse of water. They were in’a part of the South Pacifie frequented but little by ships. j with the old hulk. Life is dear to all of us. i fifty yards from it the Sumner went down. ‘ship’s carpenter and boatswain, respectively. Out of and terror-struck they all stood silently on of the sinking ship. The full horrors of wning upon them one and all : Cob an easly, About as far as the eye could reach was one vast bound- Ralph Shaw, the young middy, was the first. to arouse and in tones of alarm cried: “Come, this will not do, boys, We will go to the bottom We must save ourselves,” The others looked blankly at each other. “That is all right, shipmate,” cried Dan Hall, the bo’sun, despairingly. “But how are we goin’ to do that? Can you make the reckoning?” “Why, we’ve got to cut adrift from the ship,” cried Ralph, impatiently. “Yes, but how?” “Why, take the long boat.” “Tt is stove.” “Then make a raft.” ‘Ao rete j Instantly the hope was revived in the breasts of all, Life was dear and nothing must be left undone to save it. With the inspiration most supreme jn their breasts they set to work. In an incredible short space of time, with | the ship carpenter’s help, they had constructed a large raft capable of supporting all of them. Provisions were placed aboard the raft and then all clambered on to it. They were none too soon, for scarcely Adrift in the vast waste of water upon a frail raft. Such was the position of the six survivors of the ill-fated frigate, We will not dwell upon the weary days and weeks of aimless drifting upon the raft. Fortunately they encoun ered no gale. : ¥ But a fearful peril now presented itself. They had ex- hausied their stores of provisions and hunger was gnaw- ing at their vitals. The desperate horrors of starvation _ ~ were upon them. Ths. In this fearful state, an idea one day suggested itself to Joe’ Emerson. : i ue Yor a week a number of ravenous sharks had -followed the raft. Joe was watching them when the idea oceurred © “a to him. es = A shark will always turn upon its back and rise to the © surface for its prey. Joe suggested that one of the com- pany throw himself over the cdge of. the raft and tempt _ the sharks to make a grab for him, and then get back on ~ the raft, while the others would stand by to help him on ‘- board again and kill the shark if he came near enough.© Shark meat is not the worst kind of food: At any rate, — in their present predicament the castaways could not af- ford to be fastidious. © < eho a The plan was hailed with enthusiasm. te a Hal Porter was to steer the raft, and keep it steady. : Joe and Ralph were to hold Dan Hall over the edge of. the raft. while the other two mep, with knife and ax, were to remain ‘Wpon either side, im readiness to strike the mon-- sters when they should rise. SY 0,5: . The scheme worked to perfection. ties. “Two of the sharks made a dive for Dan in the water. Joe and Ralph, with all their strength, pulled the be’sun out of the way just in time.- The ravenous monsters rose out of the water entirely, and os their shovel-shaped nose ¥ , y Fy 5 x +s

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PLUCK AND..LUCK. ; Se ee ae a SS ‘came up, Denny and Ben gave them fierce blows with knifé [ Two. days were consumed jn the ineffectual ie ‘and ax. jand tlien, worn out with their labors, the castaways threw There was a tremendous commotion in the ‘water, cay themselves upon the sand to sleep. the waves were red with blood. 3 ' Now. that it became impossible to leave the qeland, fre Hal sculled the raft nearer to the iets fish, and soon horrors erowded upon them. ~ they turned belly upward on the water... ‘The shark meat soon putrefied, rendering it unfit foge R- But they had hardly towed the dead sharks’ alongside food: There was absolutely nothing of an eatable nature ~ when a wild ery escaped from Joe. i on “the island, not even shellfish. . ; “Look! look!” he cried, excitedly: “There is land! |» The Situation was a desperate one, and the outlook ing f Saved! saved!” ‘he® future was gloomy indeed. : A wild cheer burst from the lips of the castaways. Sure| A week passed, and then the horror of their position enough, there was a long strip of sand, nearly a mile long, | crowded upon them. 4 and perhaps twenty feet in height above the sea-level.| The days were sultry, and almost unbearable, and the — Not a sign of vegetation of any kind could be seen, nor nights damp. The castaways crept about the little island | life of any kind. with staggering steps and emaciated forms, vainly search- _ , It was nothing but a righty sandbar, an islet of deso-| ing the horizon for a sail. : lation right in the midst ‘of the mighty waste of waters: Misery Island was the name they gave it, which it well . There seemed to be a strong current which bore the oad deserved. ; swiftly down upon the islet. To add to their troubles, Ben Hollis, Dan Hall : _ . In a few moments the raft had grounded upon the | Denny Halpin were: stricken’with a fatal. disease, and in “3 = white sand. fe -|a:few hours were dead. ey % seg aa the — to spring ashore, For some ‘time no- While nursing Halpin i al. Porter felt cick... Taro! anya _ _ body could spea ‘ eee! “Well, this does beat me!” eried Ralph, finally. “Did a Joe Emerson sand Ralph Shaw ssid the rie ones Sy you ever see anything ike this, abipmigteat This i is not on Th ret ibiek bh Ao the bodies of that fr a. es any chart.” e two survivors burie é pas ; ag é t ary ; comrades, with hearts Liled with gloomy forebodings. But it ought to be,” vowed Joe. Besos Sa some “Arfew days later, while Joe was on the highest rid “oe hes should run around her the island, doking for a sail, his heel struck som “No danger of that, ship peed put i in Dan Hall. “It metallic»in the sand, ‘and glancing down he saw the ever a ship comes this way in ten years, we can’ eonaiden line of an iron-bound chest. Shouting to Ralph; a s aa artes was brotight, and the ehest dug out, as well as five o The spirits of all took a decided drop as they: riethaa it found - What a barren place it was. To be sure, it was more of Ny ge a hate peti bein ae es be 4 a.certainty than the raft, but scarcely wanted in time of What a fortune this me rould he 40-43 we were hom a storm, for it was more than likely that a high sea. would Ralph?” “soa +. sweep over the island. = he pa ‘Yes,” replied his tend “but how valueless 4 Bs. eae there was nothing to do but to wake ‘tie best | vould give it all for a square piven? ‘es Be sc t friend with Yon > — ~*I tell you what,” said Joe, “we: can camp..here: for para eal ped hig Arlen - meee a ression of _ ->a day or two, and then, if we choose, resort again to —_ en hy if ‘ his lit the. fae xt n ie raft. >» : pa, i = oe up ; e “vib te = ' sp ee This met with the approval of all, and they set to ‘a Spe Pomoc canes re ea Ag ae sii oe me life if the goddess of chance so wills ‘it. Are you v to draw lots, the loser to die that the fortunate one: live?” Ralph hesitated for a moment. The idea of 1g upon his comrade’s body was not so repugnant in the in sanity of his suffering, but he could never take hi - to make themselves comfortable. Enough eanvas was on __, beard the raft to make a tent, and they had the shark meat i. ‘for food, but it could not be cooked, for there was sos _ fuel with which to make a fire. _ Two days the castaways remained upon the island be- fore making a move. ' Then it was decided to trust to-the|' we a: taft again atid the ocean curreiits, “Yes, we will settle it that way, the loser to Ey ; i 4 “We shall Starve if we remain on this Ba nest island,” | knife into his own body: declared Joe Euierson. “Me may-as well starve aboard} Joe<won. Ralph, lifted the knife for the fatal but with a gasping ery, Joe seized his arm. det. ; They tried to lgunch. the raft, but every time it was| ‘Stop! Weare saved! A sail! A sail!” — é __ pushed aw ay trom ihe island it would be hurled back by | Their signals of: distress were seen, and for . : Cpe current. No matter from what quarter they | time in many years a ship hove to off islar 5 ed, the strange current. would bring them. a to | two castaways were: taken off, together with - the starting point, ¢ite2 $a). and in due time arrived home to ~_ ih babs

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ITOH POWDIL. Gee whiz! What fun you .can have with this stuff. Moisten the tip of your finger, tap it on the contents of the box, and a little bit will stick. Then shake hands with your friend, or drop-a speck down his back. i a minute he will eel as if he had the seven years’ itch, It » will make him scratch, roar, squirm and make faces. But it is perfectly harmless, as it is made from the seeds of wild roses. The horrible itch stops in a few minutes, or can be checked immediately by rubbing the spot with a wet cloth. While it is working, you | . will be apt to laugh your suspender buttons ,omf The Hest joke of all. Price 10 cents a box, by mail, postpaid. | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St., N. Y. GOOD LUCK BANKS. Ornamental as well as useful. Made of highly nickeled brass. It holds just One Dollar. When filled {it opens itself. Remains locked until refilled. Can be used | as a watchcharm. Money refund- ed if not satisted. Price, 10c. a by mail. . L. SENARENS, | 347 Winthrop St., Brooklyn, N. ¥. ‘ CACHOO @E SNEEZING POWDEB. The greatest fun-maker ot chem all. A small amount of this powder, when blown | in a room, will cause | everyone to sneeze without anyone knowing where it air fer some time, and penetrate every nook Q@nd cerner of a room. It is perfecttly harm- os less. Cachoo is put up in bottles, and ene ‘ bottle contains enough to be used from 10 to | ’ 15 times. Price, by mail, 10c. each; 3 for 25e, | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th 8t., N. ¥. . X-RAY WONDER | This is a wonderful = optics! illusion. In use, you apparently see the bones in = your hand, the hole in a == pipe-stem, the lead in a pen- = cil, ete. The principle on which it Is operated cannot : be disclosed here, but it will afford no end of fun for any person who has one. “rice, 1§ Cents each; by rail, postpaid. — H. FP. LANG, lot5 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. 3 a SS SEA THE SWIMMING FISH Here is a fine mechanical toy. It fs an imitation gold- fish, about 4% inches long. compartment which will not i allow it to sink. To keep it ’- ‘{m a’ natural position, the lower fin is bellasted with jJead. To make St work, a spring is - Wound up. You then throw it in the water, - @nd the machinery Inside causes the tai! to _ ~~ wiggle, and propel It in the most lifelike man- * her. When it runs down the fish floats until 4 it ig recovered, and it can then be rewound. ] : Races between two of these fishes. are very interesting. Price, 25 cents each by maii, pest- | All dealers. J. KENNEDY, 56 Sedgwick Ay.. Yonkers, N. ¥. ; ~ LAUGHABLE EGG TRICK Ay aS trick ever exhibited and | ) always produces roars of | laughter. The perform- | er says to the audience | that he requires some! © eggs for one of his ex-/} periments. As no space | 2 tator carries any, he calls his assistant, taps him on top of the head, he gags, and an egg comes out of his Mouth. This is repeated until six eggs are | Produced. It is an easy trick to perform, onca | you know how, and always makes 4 hit. Dj- : rections given for working it. Price, 25 cents by mail, postpaid. It. ¥. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y, CARTER AEROPLANE No. 1. Will fly on a horizontal line 150 feet! Can be flown fn the house, and will not injure iself nor anything in the room. The most per- fect little aeroplane made, The motive power Is fur- nished by twisted rubber. bands contained within the tubular body of the ma- s chine. peas tac Bd ch end revolving in o ‘a Variation in height may be ob- Tr lecsed ioe fight. - Priva; OB Sant A EARS Oe ee ee , cemes from. It is very light, will float fn the FITS I Cured My Daughter. Doctors gave / , express to you on Free Trial, u it id $1; if don’t. Asth ita Giveexn rons office. te today. NATIONAL CHEMICAL —___________________________________ | last burns to ashes but the snake remains as | ee UMC Solidbreceli: | aso Hammerless 22 REPEATER SOLID-BREECH HAMMERLESS SIDE-EJECTING Sure Safe Shooting for Man or Boy—And a Simple Rifle to Care For The Remington- UMC .22 Repeater is rifled, sighted and tested for accuracy by expert gunsmiths. It shoots es you hold. The simple, im- proved safety “svice on every Remington-UMC .22 repeater never fails to work. Accidental discharge is impossible. The Remington- UMC .22 Repeater is easily cared for. In taking dowa, your fingers are your only tools. The breech block, firing pin and extractor, come out in one piece—permitting the barrel to be eleaned from the breech. ~ The action handles .22 short, .22 long or .22long rifle cartridges—any or all at the same time without adjustment. Remington-UMC—the perfect shooting combination REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO, 299 Broadway, New York City SNAEES IN THE GRASS , Something entirely new, consisting of six . large cones, each one f Nearly one inch in ra height. Upon light- i herup. Will send Free express paid; give Express Office. F. +. LEPSO, Milwauxes, Wis, @ HAY FEVER REMEDY sent ing one of these cones with a match, you see x CO., 437 Peplar St, Sidney, Ohio something similar to q a 4th of July exhibi- by tion of fireworks. Sparks fly in every direc- tion, and as the cone burns down it throws out and is surrounded with what appears to be grass; at the same time a large snake uncoils himself from the burning cone and lazily stretches‘out in the grass, which at WEIRD & NOBBY {5, ver Sniab; fas! red oF green eyes. esos neg od lserd te dees werk mee Wicca Beene. Be soll,” W. E. HILLPOT, Frenchtown, H. 3; & curiosity unharmed. They are not at all Ts OF hed ide 2 AE A SE dangerous and can be set off in the lor Ventriloquists Double Threat sevidbisjgrenusethingyee. | If placed on come metal surface that will not Astonish aad mystify yeur frlends. Neigh likes hersejwhinslitss | burn. An ordinary dust pan answers the pur- OE Pint tnt oe | pose nicely Price of the six edhea, packer ia forstt. OADS OF FUN. Wendertal invention, Thoue : . ) DP. toa welt Peat fe EES po spent ora er to emee sawdust, in a strong wooden box, only 10c., DOVOLE THROAT CO. DEPT. K FRENCHTOWN, N.S 3 eee 52 nace 1 dozen boxes 75c., sent by = ma! postpaid. : and contains a water-tisht - Wizard Repeating LIQUID PISTOL Will stop the most vic. lous dog (er man) with- Selsey safe voter richous souger ‘8 tS of leakage. tree a . j ne the trigger. Loads from any Liquid. No bet orderor U. 8. stamps. No coins. PARKER, STEARNS & CD., 273 GEORGIA AVE., BROOKLYN, M. ¥, at quite a distance, and receive his reply. This is the funniest —— M. O'NEILL; 425 W. 56th St., N. ¥. ~ WIRELESS TELEGRAPH A useful, instructive and amusing outfit. It consista 4 of two bog ae se instru- iF ments, one for each sta- tion, The stations must be within hearing distance of snch. ener A Mots code or alpha goes with each required. Over shots in one | set, and, once it is mags- , or by mail, SGe. Pistol with rubber coy- | tered, you can operate any telegraph instru- ister, S6e. Holsters senarate, 1c. Money | ment, and command a good salary. With our system you can send messages to your friend @nd recharges py Price, 15 cents by mall, postpaid. GLASS PEN.—Patent glass pen, with nice a!p, writes like any ordinary pen; each put up in wooden box. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th Bt., N. ¥. IMITATION GIANT DIAMONDS. Diamond rings or studs of | “—? beautiful plant, apparently in full aif-inch and one inch in bloom, In the pet. Full directions with diameter are heard of in each outfit, Price, 15 cents by mail, a ptcries py, We have them 7 postpaid. S : e ¥y proc ous s k- P: y ‘ ling stones which Svill pacnaee MOREL. 495. b6th Bt. = Ss the glance of any spectator. | ~~ : size, 25c. ench; large size, 25e. each. H. BP. LANG, 1815 Centre St.. B’kiyn, N. Y. the bili will. be found under straight bands. | @ttention by turning around. ‘This instrumient: How did it get there? That's the question. Price, 12 cents each, postpaid. J. KENNEDY, 56 Sedgwick Av., Yonkers, N. ¥. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 26th St, N. x. fea steer a J. KENNEDY, 56 Sedgwick Av., Yonkers, N. Y, % a a nea es Bae a STS Ny a WINDOO FLOWER-POT TRICK With this trick you can make a pant ey. «grow right up in a flower-pot, defore Moov the eyes of your audience. An ordinary a Negy empty earthen flower-pot is handed ta © _ “0% the spectators for examination. A } handkerchief is then placed over It, you repeat a few magic words, an wave your wand over it. When the handkerchief is removed there is @ Price, 16c., postpaid. Fs, LOOK BACKWARD. . The greatest novelty . Enjoy yourself! ee ‘ When placed to the eye, you can see what is ty 7 ing place in back and front = of you at the a Price by mail, postpaid, small THE MAGIC WALLET ar Lots of fun can be had with it, puzzllig- people, w’.ile being mused in a practical wuy to carry bank bijtls, letters, invoices, etc. jOpen with the straight bands on t eft, lay a bill 4 t - = banda Naas sdedians noe ae the can_observe ai} that occurs in that direction Jeft. and the bill will be found = ~ are you anxious to see faces in back of you or Waliet: Spon pe tte tent ee observe who fs following \ without attricting does the trick for you. Lots of fan in ow } a Seeback Scope. Price, lc. cach, in m 5 cr postage stamps. = : s

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=o Also known as @ Japanese butterfly. A pleasing novelty en- closed in an envelope. When the envelope is opened Fim will fiy out through the air iro tt -, for several yards. | Made of colored paper t to represent a butter- fe Price, 10¢, e..;, O'NEILL, 425 W. 56th St., N. ¥. an i ~~ 7 VANISHING CIGAR. . This cigar is made 4 exact imitation of yptee at. one. It is held by a rub- ber cord which, with the attached safety pin, is fastened on the inside of | the sleeve. When offered tiny to a friend, as it is about to be taken, it will jnstantly disappear. ~ H. FP. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. Y. JAPANESE TWIELER. A wonderful imported paper novelty. By «@ simple manipu- Jation of the wooden handies a combinations of magnificent colors. Price, 10c., postpaid. WOLFF NOVELTY CO., . St, N. —_—— SPRING TOPS Something new for the boys. A top spin without ae ee tains a werful spring and 9 an outer casing. The top of the a milled edge for winding it up. pe By 3 you merely lift the outer cas- ing, oa — —_ at such a rapid speed we nT balance rim keeps it going a long time. ‘OSyithout doubt the mest and | market. Dest top on the Price 12 cents each, by mall, post-paid HK. F. LANG, 1415 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y. s . LITTLE ACCORDEONS The smallest, cheapest, and best sounding mus- jeal Instrument for the price. This perfect Lit- tle accordeon has four keys and eight notes, a a complete scale, upon whieh you cap p! al- most any tune, t is it &x 2% inches’ in size, and iv not a toy, it @ practical and serviceable accordeon in every aged with ordinary care will last Anyone can learn to play it with th, very, little: little practice. cents each, by mall, post-paid WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 29 W. 20th St., N. ¥. THE NEW FROG JOKER. : Bushels of fun! May has got @ very co an ing yolce, and when 4 in the hol- low of the hand and made to An em ing joke can be piavet on iv ratchet- wheel of the frog Saotie thelr coat-sleeve or the back of their coat. The ripping, tearing ‘noise ves them a severe shock, and an ey heave a si of relict when Es they find that clothes are sound and whole as before. A good joke is Cae to @ @ gentleman's or lady's watch «@ Stem winder. With the frog concesied tn your and, you take the stem of the watch be- tween your thumb and finger, Same time allow the ball of your thumb to over the ratchet-wheel of the frog. when the company you will seem to be winding > the watch. but the nolsze will startle them. for "twill sound more Nike winding Barnum’s The posgeasor of one of Frog Jokers can have any amount of fun with it. It is mule of bronze metal and wi! Do not fall to send for one. Price, ong Sty ery tecetel one dozen by express, 7. Price, 10c. each by mail, postpaid. ; and at the! Ayvad’ s nee ae nas totale ye one. trial Price 25 cents, Postpaid i apradlhe asa bf take up no more roomthans pocket-haukerchiet. They weigh 3 ounees and sup- / are SC to 250 pounds. With a Vac page cun , end press to swim or tout, Foruse, ye haveo ahaa: oy wet | Sing marks under t) @ muout oa | them, blow them u two H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. Y. HUMANATONE. The improved Hu- manatone. This flute will be found to be we a gece c. ed, finely Bollshed;” ewe "pus sa ot Ne Price, Bp ih a box etion 18e., aon use them. WoL NOVELTY Y CO. Price 7 cents each by mail, They are made of durable colored cardboard, fold to the size of 6% x 3% inches, and are so handy in_size tha: they can be carried in the pocket. They contain 24 red and black checkers, and are } 32 st aes serviceable as the most expensive | boards made. The box and lid can be fastened | together in a moment dy means of patent joints in the ends. Full directions printed on each box. H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’kiyn, N. ¥. DOUBLE CLAPPERS They are haudsomely made of white wood, | 6 inches long, “ith carefully rounded edges. On each side a steel spring is secured, with flat leaden discs at the ends. They produce @ tremendous clatter, and yet they can be played even better than the most expensive bones used by minstrels. The finest article of its kind on the market. Price 7 Dale, POOP NEILL, 425 W? 66th #t., N.Y. cents @ THE FLUTTER-BY. This mechanical flying machine ts worked by a new principle. It looks like a beautiful butter- fly, about 9 inches wide. In action its wing move- like travel ments =e exactly t those of through the air about 25 feet, in the most As flying toys are all the) rage, this one should be a source of profit and amusement to both old and -young. Price. 18c. each by mal). : HM. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. a live butterfly. will natural manner. postpaid. LIGHTNING TRICK BOX. A startiing and pleasing Mlu- sion! “The ways of the world ere devious,” says a ig Bees beta but the ways of the died Trick Box when a handle are admitted to be puzzling and uncertain, You take off the id and show your friends that t& is full of nico candy. Replace the lid, when you can solemnly assure our friends that you can instantly en: Rey the ox in thelr presence without opent t and een of the Md again, sure enough t Te aad bh ppeared. Or the pnt into a plece of money by follow box, his ts neatest and Dp trick ever invented. Price, only 100.1 9 tor S50, mailed, post M. O'NKILL, 425 W. S€th &t., N, ¥- the most enjoyable | 29 W. 26th St. N. ¥. | ! crlwee aay ie teak aoa In each set there are ten pins and two bowl- ing balls, packed in @ beautifully ornamented box. With one of these miniature sets you can pla ten-pins on your dining-room table just | well as the game ie gan be played In a regular alley. Every game | known to professional bowlers can be worked ; with these pins, Price, 10c. per box by mail postpaid. 4, F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. Y¥. . FIGHTERS. | J A brand new ides for amusement. They consist of smal! card- diers, Indians, men, ete, and mounted on wires. moment you twist the wires between the lit- res, they instantly become animated, arge at ey other in the most aston- No end of fun with these " n, y LAY CO. 3) W. sth Bt., ¥. ¥. BUBBLE BLOWER. With this device, a continuous series ot * bubbles can be blown. It is a wooden, cigar- shaped blower, —— ing @ small vial, bel there is a Biece of #038 The vial filled with water, and a peculiarly cork is inserted. When you blow tn to the mouthpiece, it sets up @ hydraulic pressure through the cork perforations and causes bubble after bubble to come cut. No need of Sipping into water once the little bottle is Billed. Price, 10c, each by mail, postpaid. } Jd. KENNEDY, 56 Sedgwick Avy., Yonkers, N. ¥, (tle fi , and - | HALF MASKS. False-faces beaten a mile! There are 7 in a set and represent an Indian. a Japanese rl a clown,.Foxy Grandpa, an glish Johnny Atkins and an Automo- bilist. Beautifully Mthographed in handsome celors on a durable quailty of cardboard. They have eyeholes and string perforations, Price, Ge, each, or the full set of 7 for 25c., postpaid. . x. a cross nd ring in the hole are nickel-plated. The object is to get the small ring off the It absolutely , cannot be done by anyone not In the secret |} More fun to be had with it than with It is pro Pa vs if be carried Prloe ib ceate’ cache Ie aaah post-paid H. F. LANG, 1815 Centre St., B’klyn, N. ¥. % < TABLE BAISING TRICK . The most m + trick ever gan tk ‘ magician, The » former shows a pon top. The oo aliens | to his hand as {f glued there, He may swing it in the air, but the table will not . tenes his hand until he sets it on the floor again. The | table can be inspected to show that there are iH novelties, oft possible). Le < } down. An uwuneart | shriek from tho little round drum will your victim up in the alr, the most faned, ‘earth. Don ih werprice 29 cents each, by mail post-paid | WOLFF NOVELTY CO., 9 W. 26th St, 3,

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» necessity for making complete turns. —— — PLUCK AND LUCK NEW. YORK, OCTOBER. 23, °1912. ———__—___ TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS PMD CORNOS. £55 5 cas Fa) 15 ae ER OWN Ep vas Sabena eR der eyo One Copy Three aime oS One Copy Six eens rs SRE Copy Und Veer sss oi... ii cdcevecabcstvccncuasvescuses Postage Free. HOW TO SEND MONEY—At cur risk send P.O. Money Order, Check or Regiztered Letter: remittances in any other way are at your risk We accept Postage Stamps the same as cash, When sending silver Wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to ‘avoid cutting the envel- ope. ii rite your name and address plainly. Address letters to Frank Tousey, Publisher 168 West 23d St., N. Y. ~ Hasrovas, treasurer mas. 8 NYLanvks, Secretary ___ BRIEF, BUT POINTED. _ Sancta Touvsrr, President t “FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY. A chemist has made the Siasensey ee that California roses contain twenty per cent. more perfume than those grown elsewhere. - The names of street car lines are usually a source of perplexity to new arrivals in a’city, and the confusion is often increased rather than mitigated by the signs on the | Cars. _A consular report from Amsterdam tells us that in that city the convenient plan has been adopted of giving each car line a number. This number is suspended be- tween the arms of the trolley pole on each car, and is vis- ible several hundréd yards aw ay. The numbers are always referred to in directing inquirers. Most German cities haye a similar system, which works very successfully, -The English newspapers print a report from Madrid to the effect that some ledgers discovered at Palos, Spain, contain. interesting information on the cost of discovering America by Columbus. The sum total for which America was discovered amounted to $7,000, or 38,000 pesetas. This was distributed as follows: 14,000 pesetas for arma- ment, 2,000 pesetas for personal expenses of Columbus and his officers and crew, 22,000 for general expenses dur- ing the eight’ months for which the voyage lasted. The _ eum of $7,000 in 1492 represented $70,000 in 1912. ‘Because of the narrow streets in several parts of the city of London it has been found impossible to use the ordinary motor emnibus on account of its’ comparative length and the attending difficulties of turning the ’bus - around at the end of a trip. Some of the routes laid ont for the motor “buses are circular, thereby obviating the On some occasions it has been found impossible to map out circular routes, « and a new type of *bus is being tried out, which is rever- "ez. » sible, the same as a trolley car. It can be steered from her end, conductor and driver simply changing places. ‘Horns of the Rocky Mountain sheep, the ‘buffalo and é mountain goat are ‘made into dishes, ladles and spoons. be Set are carved, while others ‘are both carved laid with shell. ‘The decoration is sometimes’ geo- often peso cnstioch aperent nies ot animal = forms. This is especially true of the spoons of the Indians on the coast of northern British Columbia and southern Alaska. A few of these spoons are so Jarge, so wonder- fully artistic, and so well made from the horn of thé rare. Rocky Mountain: sheep that even a moderately good one may appropriately be called a “great horn spoon.” These are of a rich, golden yellow color. By far the greater number of horn spoons in this same region are made of the horn of the mountain goat, and these are black. A « '|few have black handles of goat horn and golden bowls of sheep horn. All these handles are usually carved to represent traditional or mythical men, animals or mon- sters belonging to the lore of the individual family, just as among our people silver spoons ged the family mono- gram. Ein pacers td we are ae orn Teaitred by by the Act rae ty yess cone ation Biectine Tovsey, 168 W. 234 at., New York, xx Touser, publisher, 168 W. 23d st., New York, Owners—Paank Tovser, publisher, 168 W. 23d st. Pen York; SINCLAIR Toussr, 168 W. 33d st, New York; Noxnma Hasrines, Le8 W, bai ft ha York. , Known bondi mort; and other secur- ity holders, 1 per cent or more bonds, mortgages, sud other securities —NONE. Sivctaim Tovser, Editor. OUR COMIC COLUMN. “Dad, what sort of a bureau is a matrimonial bureau?” “Oh, any bureau that has five drawers full of women’s fixings and one man’s tie in it.” W, 254 at, “T visited a spiritualistic medium the other day.” “Did she tell you anything that was true?” “Yes, one thing in particular—that I spent my money foolishly.” + ay “TY believe Mr. Blank will propose to our Edith to- night.” “What makes you think that?” “T noticed when he came in he had a sort of desperate look.” ch “Is your chauffeur an expert?” “Yes, indeed,” replied Mr. Chuggins. “He can explain in a most interesting way exactly why the car isn’t running most of the time.” Mr. Dorkins—Maria, why do you always interrupt me ~ as soon as I begin to—— Mrs. Dorkins—Because I al- ways know exactly what you are going to say. What’s the use of my wasting time by waiting to hear you finish? It was a faithful Swede girl who, when the wintargras coldest and the furnace was ‘not working right, was a ished by the mistress to take an iron to bed with he warm it. how it worked. most warm by morning.” “Pritty _ gude,” she said. “Ah ae a pe ae She was a bright girl, and her escort, who was also’ her : intended, was ‘delichted to find how quickly she the points of the game. She got on so well that he ven- : tured a light witticism on the subject. “Baseball reminds — me of the household,” he remarked. “There’s the plate, the batter, the fowls, the flies, e .” “And it reminds me of pnibtr ings, ” she retorted. “First the SaSeehs Belin e In the morning the kindly woman asked S

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>> - id od — PEAS Poe a an ie en Gi] The Liberty | Boys in ¥rog Swany: or, EE “THE LIBERTY BOYS OF 'T6” 604 The Liberty Boys’ Deep Game; or, The Folling the Redcoats. 617 The yitig Boys’ Pluck; or, Undaunted 697 The Liberty Boys Storming the Re Spy of Stony Poirt. General Marion's Daring _ doubts; or, A Week of Danger. 605 The Liberty Boys Saving a Patriot; or, | 612 The Liberty Boys on the Border; of, 598 oe, caberty | Bore a = Trattor; or, The Gunmaker's Plot. Exposed to Many Perils. — 606 The Liberty Boys ond Paul Revere; or, | 613 The Liberty Boys’ Nerve; or, Not Afraid oy CR iia: A Wild Mtide for. Irreedom. P| of the King’s Minions.' 800 The Ltberty oys at the aRock Bouse (00 The Liberty Bors Tricking the Torles; | 614 The Liberty Boys’ Defiance; or, Catch or, Holding Back Simon Girty : or, Saving G.neral Vutnam, and Hang Us if You Can." 601 The’ Liberty Boys and “Wild Nell"; or, | 608 The Liberty Pegi at Trinity Fire; or. | 615 The Liberty Boys to the Lied: or, A The Gypsy Girl's Plot. apturing a Dangerous Spy. Host Within Themselves. 602 The Liberty Boys Greatest Battle; or, | 809 The Tiberty Boys Helping Washington; | 616 The Liberty Boys’ Narrow [scape; or, A ¢ or, Great Work at White Marsh. Neck-and-Neck Race With Death. 603 The Liberty Boys’ Grief; or, Dick Slater [510 The Liberty Boys’ Young Scout; or, Missing. { Vighting the Kedcoat Kaiders. by “SECRET SERVICE” “05 The Bradys’ Endless Trail; or. or. The Mys (712 The Bradys and the Fire Fiends; of, €98 The Bradys’ Chinese Trap: oF, The oe Beas et the igo wed b cot zs Trailing the Tenement Gang. um Smugglers’ Revenge. e Bradys an e Missing Miser; or, . 699 The Bradys er Se a Brown; or, Ex- A Hot Fight for Millions. 718 bei Ee pg hat ginny ld PEN The posing An Army Mystery. 707 on Bradys’ Wireless Clew: or, The | 714 The Bradys and the Big Red Ruby; or, 700 oo ae eee Bao ig ET es Search ra a Missing Yacht. The Old. Pawnbroker's Secret. . 161 The Bradys and the Skeleton Club or,The| 708 The Bracys and the False Key: or. The | 715 The Bradys and the Stolen Despatch; oF, Secrets ci the Silent six. : Secret of the Sate Deposit Vault. On Special Secret Service. %02 The Bradys after the ridge Burners; | 7% The Kradys Held tn Bondage; or, Track- | 716 The Bradys and the Marked $1,000 Bill; or, Working for a Kallroad. ing a banker's Treasure. , The Mystery of the Marsb. 703 The Bradys’ Cycione Raid: or, After the 710 The Bradys and the Twin Doctors; », | 717 The * Bradys and the Bronze Idol; or, at tha Mooushiners. The Mysterious House at Highwooe. Tracking a Chinese ‘Treasure. : ' 704 The ive ta and the Chinese Detective; | 711 The bradys' Boy Verret; or, Atter'a De |718 The Bradys and the Sales Girl; or, A or, The Order of the Yellow Dragon. faulting Cashier. “ Six-days’ Search in the Slums. ee ty an ORK ND WE, akpred Fearnot and “Reckless” “Rob”; or, 719 “Fred_ Fearnot's “Post Season Games; or, rs 305 Fred Fearnots Curious, WIN” or, Get- & Backing a Boy Champion. _ Winding Up the League. = atts Z 713 Fred Fearaot and the Rowdy Player; | 720 Fred bearnot ard Eugineer Ed; or Onto New Tricks 706 Fred fearnot’s Sure Shot; or, The Aim or, Warm Work on the Diamond. Holding Up the Train Wreckers. > we That Saved a Life. 714 Fred Fearnot in Vaudeville; or, Heip- | 71 peer bg kent BR ieee . 707 Fred Fearnot’s Hard Hitting; or, Bat- ing Out an Old Friend. 722 Fred Veataot’ og Ciena’ country S pan Jon Poi ticornore Canoe Race: ay; Bix: Daye | Teas Fae ee pions; or, Great Sport ou ‘Track aud, at a Summer Cailp : 716 Fred Fearnot's Young Backstop; or, | 723 pean nia Boy Trappers; or, Lost 709 Bred Fearuot's Wet Ldap or, The ‘The Best Gaime of the Season. in the Biot Woods. ver r Fhe grote ot W a DO abies or, Fast | 717 Bred Vearuot aud the Tippler; or, Re-| 724 Fred Veartot's sootball Game; or, . 710 tpg eae eres tr forming a Drunkard. prt ess ag On the Gridiron, cal . ; Wild Man; | 718 Fred Fearnot’s Life Savers; or, Lively 5 Fred Fearnot and ‘Darin, "5 OF, i TP ee, The Terror of the W roods. | ‘Limes at the Beach. ; The Boy Who Could Do Do Things. er ~ BSA aE ER sh ae — As Ee : ST eT SS SS Seo : “FAME & FORTUNE WEEKLY” 357 Tom, the SPOR atice + 0 or, = gre Me 363 Dae tat ey or, From Cash Boy lator: ; or, Playing ‘the chaue Who Made His Mar F ei 1 fe pred Wall 3 Steet Markel 368 A Banker ‘at 1%, or, The Wall Street'| $* JUUMy, the Ofice Bay; ea Piade Se 853 A Showman, a The Boy Who Boy's Syudicate. 865 Always On ‘ime; or, The Perils Of @ Han a Circus. 359 The Mystic Chart; or, The Treasure of Young Maii Contractor. f B54 aed eat Golden fesse or, mrecking a the Big Caves. 366 ae Beatie - ae a or, A Lucky Boy In “Bucket-Suop” Combine. 860 Working the Money Market; or, The ee : Street Story.) ata shaking Deals, of a Wall Serest Boy. : 367 Hunting Sor Treasure : or, The Pirate's > Bound to be a nager; or, est 0. acy Money in Baseba . bas ick ve Lg Ripe oem Aiba The Greatest | 368 $1,000 Keward; or, The Fortune Of a ood a Boy Beaker Doliars: é of, ane Myeverd | gua A Young Broker's Money; of, Trapping | #60 Bought at Adctl The Bia vr Vaui. (A & o ourg Lroker > OF, oug: a ction; or, 2 7 &. a eu ~. the Suurpers Of Wall Street. Led to Riches. Fined Ss S——— eee SS ee cite. ane ———_—_——— = = ; wy , : “WILD EEKZ 812 Fone Wild West's Mexican Mix-Up; or, 518 igs wud “West Defending a Ranch; 5 wast Ww di | The Silver Mine Dispute. ec, #9 ssieged by Cattie yee 8 oe turd 607 oung W Lod Went coe = ss 513 as Ww ite et “ Lag raring: Ce 519 Youig Wd West and Ue Miuer's Trap; » aim; or, Arielta’s Lrave ‘euse. or, Aretta’s Great Shot.” ae 608 Young Wild West and “Innocent ike”; | 514 Youn Wild West aud the. Kange oss; y igh , a ¥ or, Trapping a ‘Tricky Kustier. oF, Crovked Work at the Sleepy J. 520 Bnd hich el pa Paty jee Fale CFs « 4 509 Young hate West's Prairie Pursuit; or, | 515 Young Witd West Caught by buvuges; . Arietta a Cuptive. of, Arietia’s Daring siescue. 521 Young Wild West's Kisky side; or, B10 Young Wild West and the Texas Cow-/ 516 Young Wild West und the Mexican Arietta and the Gulco Wang. . nape or, ‘The Scrimmage with the Deadshut; or, The Shovting Match| 522 Young Wild West's buckskin Band; or, | a a eden Out Gold ) S17 ¥ on aoe border. a a ee: ‘the Sherif?s sig Misuiae. . 611 aoe Wild. est ing Out Gold; or, oung Wild West at Har uck Camp; Wild West je X . 3 aA tta’s Lucky Discovery. wes or, Arietia and Lue Stream of Gol id = Pernice Sanity ‘aes erect. im For sale by ali newsdealers, or Will be sent to any address on recelpt of price, d cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, _ \68 West 23d St., ew York ——$— $$ s $$ eee 2 3 eer | IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBakS 9 of our Weeklies aud canioc procure taem irom bewsdeaicrs, wey cua ve vsuimed irdia cis odice uvect. Cut out and) ll iu the following Urder Blank and sed it to us with the price oi tHe weekhes you want aud we Wili sead ined to you by 5 PA 3eturn mai, rOsTaGy oTAMPsS TAKEN THW SAMH AS MUNuwY. 4 Ue POC Pete ee ee ee ee ee eee eee ee eee eee eee ee ee ¥ FRANS LOUSEY, Pustisher, 165 West 23d 51, New York. Se oo aan k gages Sea vee x Dag Sin—Enclosed find......cents fer which piease send me: ee: «+. copies e WORK AND WIN, NOB. +seeeeeserseeeteterececeeceeeeeesesseeeeeeseessseeeeeeteeeem sees “ FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY, FROM os n:ctvn waginle eaipcn at abahs been cia scatnne Dae Parts peoe WILD WEST WEEKLY, BGs ois pd ieh'nas annie ithcsupmins\ ooeah pk ee 4 THE LIBERTY BOYS OF se, POR bow Sat ag taxed 2 ee cca edaWs nominee ee tieaat ees ale PLUCK AND LUCK, NOB. ssesereeeeeeeceeseeseceseaeeetteeeereessnenesetetesersees gon SECRET SERVICE, Nos. pen ss SeNan aay tr uireeecs pes chew hd Eeings haantt hile eae nape . 3 Ten-Cent Hand Beoks, Reape Te fo IR ee z a ah é wei ‘ eee ertaee ‘gies adel aalial % hee ¥ ,? - Cea PN ORS ARIE AP SCE

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PLvVoICHE AND LUCE 738 333": or, The Boy Without a Name. ---LATEST ISSUES--- By Allan Arnold. : 9 Joe Jeckel, the Prince of Fi . By Ex-Fire Chief Warden. 722 His Last Chance; or, Uncle Dick’s Fortune. By Al! 5 Juck ; re AE Secod For = 128 Dick Dareall, the Boy Blockade Runner. Be Cant, Poe | oe one of lack | “ot, cEhe: Boy of Many Good Fortunes Be amas = 741 Dick Dareall, th : in the 724 The Kivai Nines: or, The Boy Champions of the Reds and Grays | 1” Phitippives: ‘By Gent das 's. Comaon: on Amen® . C. 742 Brak T ; i ‘s L . 725 heh an a Buffalo Bill; or, Two Years in the Wild West. este Pheotsies 6%, 3 Hoy eeu Aakers n cout. 743 The B $1 = y com- plete and useful little book, containing the rules and regulations of billiards, bagatelie, backgammon, croquet, dominoes, etc. No. 36. HOW SOLVE CONUNDRUMS. —Containing all the leading conundrums of the day, amusing riddles. curious catches and witty sayings. No. 37. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE.—It con- tains information for everybody, boys, girls, men and women; it will teach you how to make almost anything around the house, such as parlor ornaments, brackets, cements, “hea harps, and bird lime for catching rds. No. 38. HOW TO BECOME YOUR OWN DOCTOR.—A wonderful book, containing use- ful and practical information in the treatment of ordinary diseases and ailments common to every family. Abounding in useful and effec- tive recipes for general complaints. No. 39. HOW TO RAISE DOGS, POULTRY, PIGEONS AND RABBITS.—A useful and in- structive book. Handsomely illustrated. No. 40. HOW TO MAKE AND SET —Including hints on how to catch moles, weasels, otter, rats, squirrels and birds. Also how to cure skins. Copiously {fllustrated. _ No. 41. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK END MEN’S JOKE ee ge et @ great va- riety of the latest jokes used famous end men. complete without this wonderful little book. No. 42. THE BOYS OF NEW YORK STUMP SPEAKER.—Containing a varied as- sortment of stump speeches, Ni Dutch and Irish. Also end men’s jokes. Just the thing for home amusement and amateur shows. - 168 West 23d St., New Yor i] ©