Diamond Dick, Jr.; No. 600

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Issued Weekly. By cndscription $2.00 per vear. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. VY. Post Office, bv STREET & SMitTn, 79-89 Seventa ofoe., MW. ¥, = i! ~ " = rT « . fzulered according fa Ae of Congress in the year 14008, tn fhe Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washingion, 2. C. ds No. 600 > = Se __NEW YORK, APRIL I, 1908 Price, Five Cents a ee __plitenaatdl 3 i ab o/s Ss Fe Cem Lk OU I Me SNS Dick had only half a minute, but he employed it to advantage. He dragged Al Burton to safety just as the maddened horses thundered over the spot where he and the boy had stood a moment before.

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=———— ee Issued "Weekly. By subscription $2.50 fer year. Entered as Second-class Matter at the N. ¥. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Ave., NV. ¥. | ae OR, | HAN. Entered according to Act ef Congress tn the year 1908, tn fhe Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. tn No. 600. NEW YORK, April 11, 1908. Price Five Cents. DIAMOND DICKS r SLASHING BLOW; OR. A CLOSE CALL IN THE BIG DITCH. By the author of “DIAMOND DICK.” x CHAPTER I. INTO A NEST OF TROUBLE, “Hev yer seed ther new superintendent yet?” “Naw. Whut’s he like?” : “A kid.” “A kid? Whut' yer givin’ me?” “Ther cold an’ clammy trooth. He arn’t old enough ter vote. Thet is, ef they ever do vote in this hvar be- nighted country.” ‘How d’yer mean? Oh, yes! I’d clean fergot. We air in Canady, by jing! Ain’t we?” “Shore! An’ I wishes we wuzn’t. I'd a sight sooner be breakin’ quartz in Nevada, even ef it didn’t yield a pinch o’ pay-dirt ter ther ton. This hyar cuttin’ out ditches ter bring water ter wheat-felds ain't no kind o’ occupation fer a gent ez hez been used ter minin’ an’ range-ridin’. It shore gits on my narves like stingin’ lizards.” “Waal, but about this hyar kid super, Carson?” “Thar ain’t nothin’ much ter tell?’ replied the man ad- dressed as Carson. “He's a curly-headed boy o’ about eighteen, His name is Al Burton, like his father, who hez ther contract fer this canal, an’ ther ol’ man hez app'inted him ter keep tabs on ther play, so’s ter mek a man o’ bizness o’ him ez soon ez possible.” “Waal, we won't do a thing ter him,” grumbled’ the other. “He don’t come no superin’ over me, or my name’s not Bud Crowle. You hear me lay thet down, Carson.” The speakers were two of several hundreds of la- borers working in a canal in process of construction in Alberta, among the fool-hills of the Rocky Mountains, and near the border of British Columbia. There have been several of these canals made in AIl- berta and adjoining provinces in the Canadian North- west, and much of the work has been done by men from the American side of the line. Bud Crowle and Carson were miners or cattlemen, as it might happen, when in their own country, but they had also taken a hand at teaming over the Big Trail, at lumbering in the forests of Washington, and it was whispered, at other pursuits not altogether regarded with favor by officers of the law. There were suspicions that they had been mixed up with gangs of masked ruffians who had stopped stage- coaches and solitary travelers from time to time, and it has been charged that they were not above commit- ting murder for the sake of robbery, when they thought the crime might never be brought home to them. Certainly they were not prepossessing in appearance. Bud Crowle was a red-necked, square-jawed, middle-

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= =, i “7 s 2 DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. sized fellow, who looked as strong as a bull, while Car- son was dark-headed and lowering, with beetling brows and long hair under the turned-up soft hat which he wore on the back of his head. They were employed at the steam-shovel, and their hands were calloused and knotted, like those of men wno had done plenty of hard work in their day. They wore rough trousers, high laced-up boots, ‘dark flannel shirts and sack coats, a handkerchief at the throat, and a belt about the waist. Neither of them showed a weapon, but the six-shoot- _ ers which they were accustomed to wear at their belts were just inside the pockets of their coats, and they could draw them with professional celerity if they con- sidered it necessary. “Hyar comes ther new super now,” said Carson, as he and Crowle shoveled and threw out some of the loose dirt scattered by the “steam Irishman,” as a steam- shovel is sometimes facetiously called. A yoting fellow, who did not look more than his erghteen years, in neat business suit, with high boots and a broad-brimmed hat, came striding through the excava- tion, looking at everything with the air of a boss. “Buttin’ in is what I should call it,’ growled Bud. “Shore! Thet’s his idee o’ showin’ ez he knows his biz,” responded Carson, in a low tone. “Let’s l’arn him somethin’,’ whispered Bud. “How ?” “Tip some o’ this hyar dirt on him. nothin’ abovt steam-scoops, I reckon, a He don’t know We kin fill him ~ full o’ grit an’ then purtend it wuz a accident.” “AJL right! T'll back ther play,” “Getting glong pretty well?” cheerfully. “All right, so fur’s ez I kin see,” a surly way. : “That’s right. We shall push this work through in a way that will astonish them at the main office in Winni- peg, I think.” It was apparent that this bright-faced lad wanted to be on friendly terms with the workmen, but neither Bud nor-Carson were at all softened by his approaches. Al Burton had had some experience with his father in managing enterprises of a similar kind, but this was his first time alone, and he was anxious to prove that he could be trusted. He believed that the first thing was to get on good terms with the men, and he made it a point to mingle with them as much as possible. grinned Carson, asked the young fellow responded Carson, 1n This was only his first day, and he could not make “out how it was that he did not get along well, in spite of all his efforts. The fact was there was a “ring” among the laborers, with Carson and Bud Crowle as the moving spirits, and this ring had resolved to make Al so sick of his job that he would be glad to retire, leaving the old superin- tendent, Jabez Welch, to take command again. ‘Steam-shovel working all right?’ asked Al Burton good-humoredly. “Waal, I dunno,” replied Carson. “It kind o’ gits hitched now an’ then like. I shorely reckons ther man ez fixed it up hyar must hev overlooked a bet when he done ther job.” “How?” The young superintendent went close to the steel sup- port from which the immense receptacle swung loose, just as it had scooped up a ton or so of earth, preparatory to ‘throwing it out. Carson winked at Bud, who returned the wink. It was Carson’s intention to release the lever which held the side of the scoop in place, so that the contents would fall on the lad’s head “Git a leetle closer an’ yer kin see,” advised Bud. “Thet’s so,” added Carson. “Thar’s somethin’ un- derneath what a4 He broke off, as Al Burton went forward, so that the whole weight of the scoopful of earth would come down on him, and Carson, slyly reaching up, had seized the end of the small lever which controlled the side of the great iron carrier. But he never got a chance to pull it down. Like a tiger springing on his prey, a young fellow in the picturesque costume of a cowboy came flying into the excavation, catching Carson’s arm just as he was about to let the ton of dirt free. There was a momentary struggle, as the powerful Car- son sought to throw off his unexpected assailant. But the ruffian might as well have spared himself the exertion. The cowboy—none other than our friend Diamond Dick—handled the burly Carson as easily as he would a child, employing skill as well as muscle in the work, and hurled him to one side. With a flop, the fellow sat down in a puddle of dirty water, while Bud, receiving a straight-arm drive in the chest, fell backward in the other direction, Almost simultaneously, Dick drew Al Burton aside, so that he would be safe in case the great scoop should give way, after all. Carson was the first of the two rascals to recover him- self. . “What's this hyar mean?” he snarled, as his right hand went to the pocket on that side of his coat. But Dick’s six-shooter was pointed: at Carson’s head before he could close his fingers on the butt of the re- velver in his pocket, while Bud, who had intended a sim- ilar move as his pard’s, saw that the young cowboy had an eye on him, too, and therefore restrained himself. “You two men will obey the superintendent, or you will go to Calgary and get your time. That is all,” said = cl i ——_ ee

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Dick, in a quiet tone, as his keen gray eyes flashed from, one to the other. “Air you ther boss?” sneered Carson. “T’m the assistant,” answered Diamond Dick. “When Mr. Burton requires help to control some of you gents, I am supposed to lend a hand.” “T didn’t know you wuz hyar at all,’ grumbled Car- son. “You wuz in Wyomin’ ther last I knowed anythin’ about yer.” “So were you, Carson. Don’t talk about that, or it might bring up unpleasant recollections,” replied the cow- boy. “I am a United States marshal, and I might be looking for extradition-papers to take you over the border if you become too exuberant. Come on, Al. I think we can trust them not to allow the steam-shovel to empty itself too soon, now.” Diamond Dick and Al Burton strolled away, until they reached the caboose, on the edge of the canal, where the offices and general living-rooms of the two had been established. In such a work as this, the laborers, as well as the managers and foremen, all ate, drank, and slept in_tem- porary wooden shacks right on the spot. | ‘Didn’t you think it was an accident, Dick?” asked Al as they entered the stoutly built wooden shanty which they shared as a temporary home, where they could over- look the ditch. “T am sure it was not,” answered Dick. “I overheard some talk among the meu as soon as we came to-day, when no one knew that I was concerned in the building of the canal in any way.” “What was it?” The cowboy stepped to the window and closed the heavy wooden shutter inside, and then fastened the door. This made the interior of the shanty pitch-dark, but, after saying that he would light the lamp in a few mo- ments, Dick whispered into Al Burton’s ear a few words that made him leap back in astonishment. “Do you mean that they will try to get away with the whole pay-roll, Dick?” “Yes. That is their intention. They have found out somehow that the money is here, although it has been announced that they will have to go to the Calgary bank to get their orders cashed. I hope we shall get through this night safely, but we are in for trouble unless [ am much mistaken.” | “But there are police in Calgary—a ees of the Northwestern mounted forcé. Could they not be brought here to help us?” “They have already departed for Regina. I found that out to-day when I was over there with you. While you weré in the company’s offices, getting your final in- structions, I’ was moving about the town picking up gos- sip, and I got it. No, Al. We must defend ourselves as well as we can.” DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 3 He lighted the two lamps on the wall, with reflectors behind them, which cast a comfortable glow over the large living-room, and then whistled in a peculiar way. A young man of about twenty, in ordinary laborer’s dress, came from one of the two adjoining’ rooms, but did not venture farther than the doorway, as he looked at Dick respectfully. “Everything all right, Tony?” “Yes, so far.” “Tt must continue to be so.”, “All right. Is that all?” The young fellow Dick had addressed as Tony had turned to go back into the gloom of the other room when Dick called him back. “Wait a moment, Tony.” “All right!” was the submissive response. “Al, this is Tony Rodero, a young man who has proved himself square and reliable. He will help us to protect that money.” | Al Burton nodded, but his face was troubled. He had been in camp only two hours, and now he found himself face to face with the possibility of a rob- bery which would practically mean his own ruin, because, if the money for the pay-roll was stolen as soon as he assumed the superintendency, he could not expect that his father would ever trust him again. At that moment the big engine which controlled the two steam-shovels in use stopped, and from the boil —~ —. came a whistle that could be heard for many miles in tI still atmosphere. It was the siren that gave notice of its being time for stopping work for the day. “Six o'clock, and sunset,” remarked Dick. “I sup- pose there will be nothing to occupy their attention but supper and a smoke for an hour or two. Is Aunt Lu- cinda ready to give us something, I wonder.” “Deed Ah is,” came from the kitchen, in the rolling accents of a Southern mammy. “‘Ah’m on’y waitin’ fo’ Mas’r Jabez Welch befo’ Ah serves it up.” “Then you can do it right away, Aunt Lucinda,” an- swered Dick, as he opened the outer door. “Here is Mr. Welch now.” : A broad-shouldered man with a nose which had been broken at some time in his life, giving a peculiarly sinis- ter aspect to his flat face, strode in, with a gruff, “Howdy!” and then, without taking further notice of Dia- mond Dick or Al Burton, walked past them to the large apartment beyond, which was used as a kitchen and di- ning-room combined. “He is not a very pleasant man, this Jabez Welch, is he, Dick?” whispered Al Burton. “No. But do not appear to notice his surliness,” ad- vised Dick, as he locked tl oxter door.

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* dies ee a 4 DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. CHAPTER II. CRIME AND MYSTERY. “Now, Mas’r Al an’ Di’mon’ Dick, de supper am pre- pared,” announced Aunt Lucinda, hospitably, at the door of her kitchen. “Dey’s some co’n-cakes dat am ez light ez a silver cloud, wiv maple sirup dat will sho'ly done set your eye bulgin. Dis is de bes’ supper Ah ever got ready fo’ three gemmen, an’ Ah’m hopin’ it will be to yo’ taste, ‘deed Ah am.” “T know it will be, Aunt Lucinda,” answered Dick smi- lingly. “I have enjoyed your cooking before, and I know what you can do.” “So do I,” added Al, Aunt Lucinda’s black face shone with gratification and pride. “Come in, den, an’ bring yo’ appetites wiv yo’. Mas'r Welch hez jest done been rinsin’ hisse’f over at de sink, an’ he’s ready ter sit down wiv bof of yer.” Jabez, with somé of the soil of the day’s work removed from his face and hands, sat down to the table in the kitchen, with Diamond Dick and Al Burton on the other side. Aunt Lucinda was as good as her word in the way of providing an excellent supper, and for ten minutes little was said by the three participants, because they were too much occupied with the viands, Jabez Welch glared at Al and Dick from time to time, but, altheugh the voung cowboy and plainsrnan noted cry glance and movement of the former superintendent, .¢ made no comment. “The men are not in good humor, Al,” broke out Jabez, at last, when he had taken the edge off his appe- tite. “They don’t like the change in superintendents.” “Sure?” asked Dick, “Yes, I am sure,” returned Jabez belligerently. “It isnt for me to say that I am any better than this young fellow who has taken my place, but I cannot help the men talking.” “Who are the men that do the talking ®” queried Dick. “All of them.” “Walters?” put in Al Burton questioningly. Jabez Welch sniffed scornfully. “No, not Walters. He’s only a kid. What would he be doing with men, anyhow? He does not’ say anything, one way or the other. But there are plenty of men work- ing on this job that do.” “Carson and Bud Crowle, for instance, eh?’ asked Dick, drinking his coffee with much enjoyment, as if he had asked the question without thinking much about it. But it stirred the bile in Jabez Welch, evidently, for he half-rose to his feet as he snarled: “No. Why should they have anything to do with it? They don’t seem to think of doing anything but their work. There are plenty of others who are not satisfied, however, and it is them we must look out for.” “What would you suggest, Mr. Welch? asked Al Burton deferentially. “T don’t suggest anything. I am not the superintend- ent now. I am under your orders. If you want me to do certain things, you must tell me, and I will obey. I only give you warning that, if you dop’t get these men looking at you with more favor than they have, you won't last here long.” Jabez lighted his corn-cob pipe and strolled out of the shanty to look about him, while Al turned his eyes upon Dick doubtfully. “What do vou think of that, Dick?” “He is trying to break up your nerve, Al,” was the reply of the young plainsman. “My opinion is that he is at the bottom of the conspiracy to get you out of this. There was some graft for him in the job, and he does not want to lose the chance to make money by crooked methods.” “What makes you think so?” “Instinct, perhaps,’ laughed Dick. “But, anyhow, we must look after this money. I wish Jabez had another lodging besides this one. “So do I. But it cannot be helped I came, and | cannot well turn him out.” “Where does he sleep?” “In this room. There is a turn-up sofa over there. He opens it out at night. You and I will have those two rats in the next room, where Tony is looking after the money. You know that this Tony is to be depended on, I suppose, Dick?” ‘ “T will answer for him.” “That is enough, of course. He will have to sleep in one of the bunk-houses, with the men, I suppose ?” “Yes. That ts all he can do. I would rather have him in here all night, until the pay-roll is distributed,” said Dick quietly. “In case of any attempt to steal it, he would be one more defender.” “That is so, Dick. But it would make Jabez Welch suspicious, and I do not care to make him more surly than he is,” replied Al, “Besides, we can .zep awake all night alternately. I do not want to say anything to Welch about the money or what we have heard about the chances of an attack being made on the shanty.” “The less you say to Jabez Welch the better,” quiesced Dick. He had it before dc- Al Burton was about to say something mote when Jabez Welch came in, and, knocking out the ashes in his now cold corn-cob pipe, sat down at the table to look at a week-old Winnipeg paper which he took from a drawer. The ex-superintendent was not a sociable individual, and Dick, with a shrug of his shoulders, turned to enter the bedroom in which he and Burton were to sleep, and where he had left Tony Rodero watching two locked leather bags in which were the bank-notes to be used in paying the men their monthly wages.

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Al Burton was close behind him, and hardly had they got inside the room when the latter uttered an ejaculation of dismay which made Jabez look up from his paper with a hasty movement. The two young fellows were out of sight of Jabez in the bedroom, and Dick clapped his hand over Burton’s mouth. “Tiush!” he whispered. “All—all right, Dick!’ “Hush, I tell you!” Dick closed and fastened the door, and then searched carefully under both cots. He knew before he did this that he would find nothing there. The two locked bags, containing, altogether, about forty thousand dollars, had been taken away. But——” The window, which had been closed and further se- cured by a wooden shutter on the outside, was wide open. Tony Rodero had disappeared, as well as the money! Dick and Al Burton gazed into each other's faces. “Not much doubt about how it has been done, Dick, eh?” remarked Burton, after a long silence. “T am afraid not.” “That fellow, Tony Rodero, has grabbed the two hai got out of the window, and made for the mountains with the swag. That is what I should sav,” wert on Al Burton. “Looks like it,” answered Dick absently, for his mind was working like a trip-hammer. The young plainsman stepped to the window and looked out into the gathering dusk. The scene was peaceful enough. It was a fairly warm evening, in the fall, and the sky was ‘clear, indicating that it would be a fine night, and the men who had been working in the canal all day were sitting about in groups or singly, most of them smoking, and nearly all chatting lazily. The bunk-houses were only a few hundred yards from the superintendent’s shanty, and through their open doors could be seen men playing cards on the rough tables or reclining on their bunks, smoking. Nothing about the place suggested lawlessness, and Dick could not believe that any of these men before him had been concerned in the robbery. “Well,” muttered Dick, “it shows that you cannot change the disposition of a person inclined to be dishon- est. Still, I did not think Tony was actually a thief. I ain hurt more to think that IJ was mistaken in my esti- mate of him than about the loss of the money, because I will get that back, but nothing can restore my faith in Tony. Too bad!” . “What shall we do about it?” asked Al. “Get on the trail as soon as we can. First of all, I'll put out\this lamp.” DIAMOND DICk, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 5 Dick turned down a lamp against the wall, which had been lighted by Tonv half an hour before. Hardly had he done so, when, with a smothered ex- clamation, he leaped at the open window, grappling with a man whom he had noticed peeping in, with his hand held over his face. The fellow slipped away, and, although Dick saw that Carson and Bud Crowle were both among the group of laborers moving about within a few yards of the window a few moments later, he could not be sure that it was either of the two who had been staring at him between his outspread fingers. An idea came to Dick, and he hastily opened the door communicating with the living-room, where he had left Jabez Welch reading the paper. The ex-superintendent was no longer there! The outside door was closed, but unlocked, so that _ there was no doubt about his having gone that way, espe- cially as Aunt Lucinda said positively that he had not passed through her kitchen, which had another doorway to the outer world, used in the course of her domestic arrangements. “What shall we do, Dick?” asked Al, nearly beside himself with anxiety and bewilderment. some move to recover that money.” Before Dick could answer, there was a deafening re- port in.the ditch, about a quarter of a mile away, followed by a shout frum some of the men who chanced to be on— an eminence so that they could see what had happened. “What is that, Dick?” faltered Al Burton. “The dynamite in the shed over there has let go. I hope no one was hurt,” replied Dick, as, followed by the young superintendent, he ran at full speed toward the scene of the explosion. When he had gone about half-way to the spot he over- took Carson, who was also running toward the ditch with half a dozen other laborers. “Was any one near that shed?” demanded Dick au- thoritatively. 7 “Yes. Jabez Welch, the super,” replied Carson, over his shoulder, as he continued to walk forward rapidly. CHAPTER III. THE CASE AGAINST TONY. “Tf that is true, it may save Al considerable trouble,” thought Dick. “But it is a shocking way to be relieved of annoyance.” That some one had met an awful death was proved when they got to the ditch, and saw the enormous hole that had been bitten out of one of the banks where the shed had stood. 3 In getting through the rocks which were inet with fre- “We must make

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a ee ee ee a et es Se ee st as i Ab 6 DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. quently in digging the canal, dynamite was an absolute necessity. There was considerable of it stored in the shed, and Dick well knew that men soon become accustomed to the presence of this compressed death, and treat it with the contempt which, sooner or later, may mean a horrible catastrophe. What had caused the blow-up no one knew, but the fragments of clothing which were picked up here and there, together with part of the outer case of a silver - watch on which were the initials “J. W.,” were regarded as proof of the identity of the unfortunate man who had been killed. “What do you know about the movements of Jabez Welch?” asked Al Burton of Carson, the question hav- ing been suggested to the young superintendent by Dia- mond Dick. “T seed him goin’ up thet way, an’ I heerd him say he wuz goin’ ter ther shed ter mek shore it wuz all safe,” replied Carson. “You didn’t see him at the shed?” put in Dick. “Naw! Ef I’d been nigh enough ¢er see thet, it ain’t so plumb shore thet I’d be hyar now.” . There was reason in that, and Dick turned to Crowle, to ask him whether he had any information to give. “On’y ther same ez Carson,” replied Crowle gruffly. “I seez Jabez nigh ther bunk-house, an’ I asked him whether he wanted anythin’. goin’ over ter whar ther dynamite wuz, an’ arter thet he reckoned he’d mek a bee-line fer his ‘blankets, ‘cause he wuz tired.” = “Waal, he’s rested now, all right,” commented Carson, with a grim nod toward the scorched and rended bits of clothing 4nd the brim of the soft hat, which had been collected from around the ditch by some of the men. Dick frowned at this heartless speech, but Carson took no notice of this evidence of disapproval, as, by the light of some of the many lanterns which had been brought ' into use, he saw that his fellow laborers were still search- ing among the débris for possible indications of more than ‘one person having been killed. “Was any one besides Welch in this part of the works before the explosion?” asked Al Burton, generally, of those around him. It appeared not. There was a general belief that Jabez Welch had been alone. After six o'clock, when the whistle blew to knock off, the men were disposed to stay about the bunk*houses, resting and amusing themselves until bedtime. With-the exception of the watchmen—who did not go on duty till it became quite dark, and who had not left the other men for their tours of inspection when the ex- plosion occurred—no one was likely to be wandering around in the canal at night. _ Jabez Welch, as assistant superintendent, was expected He said no, thet he wuz ~ é to watch the men to see that they attended to their work properly, and it was not at all strange that he should bé looking after the dynamite by himself. “What do you suppose caused the accident?” asked ‘Al Burton of Dick, as they went together into the ditch to see how badly the canal had been damaged. “Impossible to tell, Al. A jar of any kind would set it off. Jabez may have dislodged a rock from above without noticing it. When the boulder dropped upon the top of the shanty, as-it might, away would go the dyna- mite. Unfortunately, disasters of this nature happen easily.” | | They found that, with the exception of the big gap made in the wall, or bank, and which would have to be filled in, little harm had been done to the ditch. “T suppose the men may as well go back to their quar- ters, eh, Dick?” asked Al. “Yes. Send them home,” answered Dick. The men sauntered off, their lanterns flickering here and there like will-o’-the-wisps among the trees and rocks, while Dick and the young superintendent, each with a lantern slung upon his arm, continued to look about the ditch. : Suddenly Dick, who was some distance from his com- panion, in a dark corner, where a jumble of rocks had fallen out of place, revealing what had been a sort of cave where the men had put their coats and other. be- longings with which they did not care to be encum- bered as they labored, cried out in some excitement: “Al! Come here!” Al Burton stumbled over to the plainsman as rapidly as he could along the rocky ground, and made his way into the sheltered corner. “What is it, Dick?” “Do you know what this is?” asked Diamond Dick. He was holding out a large mass of mangled leather, with brass attachments dangling from it here and there. Al Burton took it and examined it hurriedly by the light of the two lanterns. “Why, it is one of the bags!” he shouted. “What bags?” “The bags that had the pay-money in them. There were two of them, you know.” “Are you positive this is one?” asked Dick. “Be care- ful, for there may be a clue to more than one problem in this if you can identify it beyond any question.” ’ “Of course I can identify it. It is different from any other bag I ever saw except its mate, which had twenty thousand dollars in it,” answered Al emphatically. “Look at it again,” insisted Dick. “Why ated “To make sure.” The young superintendent looked over the remnant once more, but only to satisfy Dick, for he knew it was not necessary for him to convince himself.

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a : I a at DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 7 “This is one of the two bags—or all that is left of it. But it was cut open before the explosion. See! Here is a clean cut in the leather, made by a sharp knife, I should say.” “T noticed that as soon as I picked it up,” answered Dick. “Now the question is, how did it come here?” “IT kin tell yer somethin’ about thet,” put in the voice of Bud Crowle. Dick turned quickly, to find himself looking at Bud Crowle and Carson, who had stolen up silently. wo “You can, eh?” responded Dick. “I thought you had gone back to camp with the other men.” “Naw! We wants ter see ther right thing done ter Jabe Welch, even ef he is dead. Thet’s why we didn’t go wi thet others.” It was Carson speaking this time, and his endeavor to convey honesty and self-abnegation into his tones was something ludicrous, “Well, tell us what you know?” broke in Burton im- patiently. “Jabez Welch wuz tryin’ ter git ther feller ez stole thet bag, an’ he knowed it wuz hid somewhar about hyar.” “Indeed. Then he knew who the thief was?” queried Dick. | “In co’se he did. So do vou. It wuz thet maverick what come wi’ you fum Vancouver—Tony Rodero.” There was an insinuation in Carson’s manner that Dia- mond Dick was in the habit of associating with people of dishonest character, which came near to bringing the weight of the young plainsman’s hand upon him. Dick restrained himself, however, as he told Carson to make himself clear. “Thet’s what I’m aimin’ ter do,” snarled the ruffian. “Jabez Welch wuz outside ther house when he seed this hyar Tony pull his freight wi’ two funny-looking bags, all fixed up wi’ brass, an’ he got on ther trail o’ ther mav- erick right away.” “How do you know all this?” “"’Cause Jabez he knowed me an’ Bud wuz squar’ men, an’ he told us what he wuz goin’ ter do. He said ther bags hed a lot o' dinero in ’em, an’ thet he wuz goin’ ter git it back, even though his job o’ super hed been snatched fum him wi'out no reason.” * “Well?” “He got up ter ther ditch, nigh ther dynamite-shed, an’ found ther bags, all cut open, which shows thet ther gent ez took ther money must hev stowed it about his clothes or cached it somewhar.” “He has not hidden the stuff,” muttered Dick. “He would not want to come back after getting away with it. He has it in his pockets or fastened to him in some way. If he took a horse he could put it in the saddle-bags easily enough.” “The horse Tony brought with him is gone. I noticed zs a a that when I came by the corral on our way to the ditch,” said Al Burton. : “T saw that, too,” nodded Dick. “I do not think there is any doubt that Tony has got away with the money.” “What shall we do, then?” asked Al. “Take up his trail without loss of time. We ought to overhaul him before he has got far into the mountains— certainly before he can cross the ridge into British Co- lumbia.” CHAPTER IV. INTO A THOUSAND-FOOT ABYSS. There was a grin on the face of Carson as Dick an- nounced his decision that the young plainsman did. not fail to observe, although he made no audible comment, Bud Crowle responded to Carson’s grin with another equally emphatic, and Dick saw that, also. “T’d like ter come wi’ yer ef I kin,” offered Carson. “So would I,” added Bud Crowle. i. “What about horses?” asked Dick, looking at Al Bur- ton. “There are nearly a dozen in the corral,” replied the young super. “We have to use them for surveying, you know. Besides, there is your own black thoroughbred and my horse.” He had whispered this to Dick, so that the other two could not hear him, although evidently they were strain- ing their ears to catch what was said. “T think we might as well have these fellows with us,” murmured Dick. “It will keep them out of mischief in the ditch. I believe they are at the bottom of the unrest I notice among the men,” “What did you say, Dick?” “Let us saddle up and go at once. ‘And, look here, Carson and Bud,” he continued, addressing the two dig- gers. ‘Don’t say anything to the other men. I don’t want to let it be generally known what has happened. We shall have their money for them to-morrow.” “Will yer?” 7 : There was doubt in Carson’s tones as he said this, but he said he would keep his own counsel, and there was no more talk. Fifteen minutes later, Diamond Dick, Al Burton, Car- son, and Bud Crowle stole quietly away from the corral on horseback, skirting the camp so as not to be noticed by the workmen, who were still hanging about the open doorways of the bunk-houses. , Diamond Dick took the lead, on his splendid thorough- bred, Major, equipped with a riata on the saddle-horn, and a rifle in its case, by the side of the stirrup leather. It was the horse on which Dick had ridden many a mile through the wilderness on his own side of the border, and well he knew that it never would fail him now.

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= 8 DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS' BEST WEEKLY. His three companions were mounted on useful, but rugged, animals, whjch doubtless would be able to do all that was required of them in the present expedition. The trail led through a dry gully straight into the mountains, where pines and scrub-oaks overshadowed them, so that the little light coming from the stars and slowly rising moon did, not penetrate to any great ex- tent. | ; They had ridden for three or four miles, when, as they. came to an open space at the end of the ravine through which they had been picking their way, Carson shouted . to Dick to stop. “What is the matter?” demanded the plainsman. “Signs,” «eturned Carson. “What kind of signs?” “Look hyar.” The fellow rode to the side of Diamond Dick out of the shadow, holding something in his hand. | “What is that?’ asked Burton. “Look fer yerse’f.” Dick snatched the object from Carson’s hand and held it up in the struggling moonlight. It was,one of the bags in which the money had been stowed when it was stolen from the shanty occupied by the superintendent. . There could be no mistake about it, Al Burtorrdeclared, as he looked it over carefully. “You see,” he went on, holding the bag close to Dick’s eyes, ‘that it has the same patent locks and private marks that were on the other bag. They were made to order by my father, and the manufacturer guaranteed that there should be no others like them in existence.” “Where did you find this, Carson?” asked Dick sharply. “ “In that crack in ther rock,” replied Carson, pointing to a small crevice at the side of the trail. “Ah! That looks as if Tony Rodero did not t tlie money out of the bags before he left the ditch.’ Dick said this musingly, as he examined the bag closely. “Reckon he didn’t hev ther time,” said Bud Crowle, ‘Perhaps not,” acquiesced Dick. “At all events, it is fairly good proof that we are on the right trail.” “In co’se. It c’u’dn’t- be any other way,” declared Car- son. “Better ride on. We mought ketch him afore sunup.” “You are so lucky in finding signs, Carson, that I think you and Crowle should ride ahead,” suggested Dick. “Oh! I dunno these hyar mountains at all,” objected Carson. “Ez fer this hyar Tony’s trail, I ain’t seen a mark 0’ his hoss’ hoofs sence we left camp.” “Haven't you? That’s strange.” “Waal, I’m more a range-rider an’ miner than a scout, yer see,” explained the fellow. “Gittin’ on ter a trail e all ¢ ain't in my line altergether. Still, when I sees-a bag hangin’ on a rock, I’m not likely ter overlook it.” Dick indulged in an inscrutable smile. “Exactly. Well, I don’t mind saying that I have been going it blind so far as the actual foot-marks are con- cerned,’ he admitted. “The only thing is that there is no other way across the mountains from where we are put- ting in the ditch than this, so that it was not possible to make a mistake. | am glad you found that bag, because it is the first positive proof we have had that we are not on a wild-goose chase.” “IT dunno nothin’ ’bout thet,” growled Carson. “I on’y know thet I seed ther bag, an’ kinder thought I oughter gi’ yer ther long yell tharupon.” “Shore!” coincided Bud Crowle. “But who is going to lead? That is what I want to know,” put in Al. “We are wasting time.” “T don’t think we are,” rejoined Dick. “However, I will keep in advance, since Carson is doubtful of his own ability to lead us to the man we are seeking. (ome on, Al.” Al obeyed this hint, and he and Dick rode in the van of the little procession, Carson and Bud some tweniy r -yards in the rear. Al Burton soon noticed that the two diggers were lag- ging behind at a greater distance than before. ‘What is their game, Dick?” he whispered. “T will tell you later,’ was the cautious answer. “Do not look back, nor let them know that you suspect them of treachery.” “T don’t understand.” “It is easy, too. That bag was not on the rock tll Carson put it there. You know that, don’t you?” —— Al Burton’s open mouth and surprised expression gen- e } , erally told Dick that he had not supposed anything of the kind. “Why, Dick! What fs “Never mind if you did not know it,” laughed Dick, as he continued in cautious tones: “I examined the rocks closely as we came along, and that particular crev- ice attracted my attention so that I actually leaned over my horse’s head to give it a harder look than I had to the rest of that particular stretch of wall.” “The bag was not there?” gasped Al. “Tt certainly was not.” * “But why should Carson take the trouble to put it in that place, Dick? What object “The object is plain to me, Al. He wants*to make us think that Tony has ridden this way with the forty thou- sand dollars, and, to clinch it, he hung that bag on the rock.” ‘Midn’t fool you, though—eh, Dick?” “Altogether too clumsy a device,” answered Dick quiet- ly. “It only made me more suspicious.” “You think they were concerned in the robbery ?” | | "I | a |

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“I do. I have thought so from the first. But you know, Al, when you want to ‘catch a thief, the best thing to do is to keep your eye on him so Sra that he is never out of your sight.” “But why are you riding into the mountains when you do not believe the thief-has gone this way?” “You will see in good time, Al. One thing I want f6 know is what has become of Tony Rodero. He may have riddenthis way, on some such false trail as we have. I should like to satisfy ny eer on that point before proceed- ing in another direction.” Al Burton did not reply. He had the greatest confi- dence in Diamond Dick’s ability to work his way through the tangled threads in which the theft of the money was obscured, and he did not want to.interfere with the young American’s plans by saying too much. They had ridden out of the gully, and were new mov- ing along on the brink of one of those terrifying preci- pices which are to be met with at every turn in the great mountain regions of the far Northwest. On the left was a sheer descent of three hundred feet, while on the other hand the wall of brick rose perpen- dicularly at least a thousand feet. The moonlight did not penetrate far into the abyss, but Dick knew the locality, and understood that in the valley, at the bottom, a branch of the Little Bow River mean- dered along lazily. Dick had just imparted this bit of information to his __ companion, when a yell rang through the solitude, acconi- panied by the galloping of hoofs. Ere the young plainsman could turn in his saddle, something struck his thoroughbred behind, and he found himself leaping into the awful vacancy, horse and all! CHAPTER YV. AL BURTON’S EXCITING HOUR. Al Burton had received alice of the shock which sent Diamond Dick over the precipice into the cafion, but it chanced that his horse was facing up the trail, so, that he did not go into the abyss after his companion. The horse, frightened by the sudden concussion, went tearing madly up the narrow path, however, with Carson and Bud Crowle after him. None of the three stayed to look into the chasm, to see what had become of Diamond Dick. That he had gone to his death was so certain that they did not feel as if it would be worth while to peer after him, even if their horses would have allowed them to do so. ‘As a matter of fact, the animals were so excited that it was hard to control them, and all three galloped at full speed. “Poor Dick!” thought Al Burton, as soon as he had -what made Dick go flying into that cafion. DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. D - “To think of his I could not have supposed gained. a little control of his horse. meeting such an end as that! it possible.” The trail led steadily upward, but the horse ridden by Burton was young and strong, and he made nothing of the difficulties of the path, especially as he could heanthat other horses were coming dfter him at headlong speed. © “Where am I going?” muttered the lad. “I am lost, now that Dick is not with me. I don’t know whether I ought to keep on like this, hunting a man who may be going some other way for aught I know, or whether to turn back and see whether Carson and Bud can give me any advice.” | The clattering of the hoofs of his two men were some distance behind, and Al realized that, unless he soon slackened up, he would leave them far in the rear. With some difficulty he succeeded in making his horse slow down to a walk. ” he said to himself. Perhaps they can tell I am sure I “That’s something, at all events, “Where are those two fellows? 3? cannot. > Al Burton supposed that the accident had occurred through the falling down of a boulder, which had struck Dick’s horse behind and sent him tumbling over. “Hello, Carson!” he shouted, as he stopped. There was no reply in words, but the two men came on at a rapid trot, their horses not having enough energy in them to gallop up-hill. \ It was very dark, and only by the sense of hearing could the youthful superintendeft tell where the two la- borers were. He reined his cayuse up close to the wall—the path being wider just there than it had been—and the two diggers came on. Evidently they were at fault with regard to his posi- tion just then, for they stopped within a few feet of him, while Carson growled in a low and surly tone: “What do yer think come o’ thet yearlin’, Bud?” “Can’t be fur away.” “Waal, but we’ve got ter know whar he is. We ain’t goin’ ter hey him come pirootin’ inter camp in ther morn- in’ breakin’ up all our schemes. An’ thet’s what he’ll do ef he ain’t stopped.” “Thet’s whatever, Carson,” agreed Bud. ¥, “Didn’t he gi’ us ther yell a leetle while ago?” “Shore !” “T thought I heerd it, but my ho’se wuz mekin’ sech a racket wi’ his hoofs I c’u’dn’t be sartin.” “T wuz sartin, Carson.” “Waal, then, he ain’t so fur away, ’cordin’ ter my cal- c’lations. We'd better git on.” “All right! Say, thar ain’t no doubt about this hyar Di’mon’ Dick, is thar?” . ——— ee eee em :.-_ Nee ee ,

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10 | DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE POYS' BEST WEEKLY. The derisive laugh that came from the lips of Carson made Al Burton actually shiver. ““Thet’s ther answer, Carson,” chuckled Bud. “When you gi’e one 0’ them thar silv’ry laughs 0’ your’n, I know thet ther other gent hez got his, ez shore ez shootin’.” “Yer right, Bud! I jammed ther shoulder o’ my pinto right agin’ ther haunch of his black critter, an’, ez he wuz already on ther edge o’ ther rocks, what c’u’d he do but jump over?” — Al Burton shuddered again as he listened to this cold- blooded story of murder. “T reckon yer right, Carson,” answered Bud Crowle. “But yer can’t allers tell in ther dark.” “Waal, yer c’u’d tell about thet thar, ef yer wanted ter tek it inter any kind o’ consideration. Hyar wuz a spo’t on a spirity hoss, standin’ on ther edge 0’ a preci- pice, when somethin’ come along an’ gi’es him a jolt be- hind.” aa 5 “Thet thar jolt wuz hard enough ter sfart any kind 0’ critter, whether he wuz excitable or not. This hyar black thoroughbred what he allers rode wuz a animal ez ev’ry- body knowed ter be full o’ ginger an’ ‘lectricity. What is likely ter happen when sech a one is bumped over ther outside edge o’ a narrer trail like this hyar?” Al Burton could stand it no longer, With a half-articulate shout of anger he turned his horse toward the voices of the unseen rascals, and tried to ride them down. It was by the merest luck that he did not head straight over the precipice. Only the sudden swerving of his horse saved him, send- iag him plump between the two men who had just ad- mitted themselves to be slayers of Diamond Dick. In an instant there was a mix-up. Horses are proverbially nervous when they do not know just where they are or what strange things there may be in their vicinity. The abrupt charge of Al Burton between them sent the other two horses out of their wits. The next moment all three were racing at headlong speed along*the narrow path—where they did not know! “You scoundrels!” shouted Al Burton. “You killed him!” . | “Aw! Git out o’ our way!” snarled Carson. yer gun, Bud?’ The response to this was the roar of a six-shooter, and a bullet whistling past Al Burton’s ear. By the flash the boy saw that Bud Crowle was on his right, with Carson on his left, so that the latter was on the precipice side of the path, and might easily fall over f he were forced in that direction. | “T’ll ride him over if I can,” thought Al. But Carson had anticipated such a move, and he al- “Whar’s lowed his horse to drop back, at the same time letting drive with his own revolver at the youth. Again Al Burton’s life was saved by a mere shave, but he decided that he was tired of acting as a target for two men who might possibly shoot accurately sooner or later, and, bending down low over his horse’s neck, he called to him to hurry. As has been said already, Al Burton’s horse was the best of the three, so that he was able to get a little away from Bud and Carson in a few moments, but still well within pistol-shot. The darkness had become so dense since starting on the journey that Al Burton felt sure a storm was pending. The moonlight, which had been trying to help them at the beginning of the journey, had vanished entirely, and even before Dick was hurled into the canon it had been almost impossible for any of the three fellow travelers to see each other. . “Look out! He’s gittin’ away!” yelled Bud. “Git arter him, then!’ was Carson’s rejoinder. don’t shoot. Ther flash would on’y gi’e us away.” “All right!’ The two rufhans had conceived a decided admiration for this lad:who had been sent by his father to manage the affairs of the irrigation ditch, and they knew he would be quick to take advantage of the light of their revolvers if he should make up his mind to shoot. It was not Al Burton’s intention to shoot, however, if it could be helped—for the very same reason that they had for abstaining. He did not want to make himself too easy for their shots. For half an hour they rode on, with Al Burton gaining on his enemies, who kept after him, however, as steadily as bloodhounds after an intended victim. The trail led downward after a while, but still on a narrow ledge, which wound in and out in a seemingly erratic fashion. Al Burton continued to ride almost mechanically, his one object being to keep clear of the two murderers until there should be a little light, which would enable him to know what to do. He found himself going down a pretty steep path after a while, with boulders in the way at frequent intervals, and jagged projections which almost forced him into the canon. Then, before he knew how it was, he found himself in a thicket of cedar-trees and shrubbery, which extended for some distance, and was so thick that he could not “But _ force his horse through, in spite of the combined efforts of the animal and himself. The two rascals who had been behind him ever since he had dodged their bullets, far above, on the trail, were a few hundred yards in the rear, as he could tell by the sounds of hoofs. He was sitting still, trying to think out his situation eee

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aaaaeoeE_—_— et EE, Se ‘ DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. ° II and resolve what to do—whether to go back or wait for the others to ride up to him—when a voice close to him called, in a loud whisper: “Al! Is that you?” It was Diamond Dick! CHAPTER VI. HOW AL FOUND HIS PARD. To leap from his saddle into the mass of shrubbery was the work of a moment for Al Burton. “Dick!” he whispered eagerly. “Hush! Where are the others?” “Not far away.” “I thought so. Don’t speak loud.” “But—Dick! How did you get here?” “Luck,” replied Dick tersely. “I thought you were killed,” murmured the boy. “So did I, Al—at first. Then, as I found myself still in the possession of my earthly faculties, in a nice soft bed of shrubbery, I came to a different conclusion.” “It is hard to understand how you could have escaped death,” went on the youth. “The cafion is hundreds of feet deep!” “Precisely. But I did not go to the bottom,” said Dick. 7 “That is obvious, or you would not be here. But how was it?” “Better wait till we see what those fellows are going to do,” suggested Dick, as the sound of hoof-beats sounded nearer. “No. Tell me now. If you don’t, I sha’n’t believe it is you at all. I shall think I am talking to a ghost.” Dick seized the young man’s arm in a grip that made him shrink back involuntarily. “Does that feel like a ghost?” asked the plainsman, with a low laugh of supreme enjoyment because of his young pard’s astonishment. “Indeed it does not.” “Well, I'll tell you, Al. When Major took off from that pathway above there, I gave myself up for lost.” “T should think you would.” “Yes. But I wasn’t lost, you see. I was in the air when it came to me like a flash that the cafiort was very narrow at this point—not more than eighteen feet, or something like that, and that it formed almost a horse- shoe with the opposite side lower down. Understand?” “Perfectly.” | “Major has a good stride, and when he jumps he does it with all the vigor that is in him,” “Yes?” “So, when he found himself obliged to leap from the upper path, he went forward as far as he could. By the way, Al, there is something inspiring in a leap like that, do you know?” Diamond Dick’s voice was full of enthusiasm, and, al- though it was too dark for his face to be made out, Al doubted not that its expression agreed with his tones. “T should be scared to death,” confessed Al honestly. “Well, it is calculated to make a fellow think seriously, Al. I am not denying that,” laughed Dick. “However, to bring my story to an end—for I hear those black- guards coming—Major landed in a soft nest of bushes with hardly a jar, twenty or thirty feet below the other ledge, and there he stayed, with me still on his back.” “Not hurt at all?” asked Al, bewildered. “Scratched a little, of course,” said Dick. “But that is nothing, and [I had not thought of it till you asked the question,” | ‘Have you been here ever since?” eYes.” “T should have thought you would go on, or—or “Or what, Al?” laughed Dick, “What could I do bet- ter than wait for you to come?” “How did you know I would come?” “My dear Al, I have heard every movement by you and those rascals since I have been here.” “How?” ; “Did I not tell you that the trail forms something like a horseshoe? ‘To be more nearly correct, I should say that it’s like a mule’s shoe, for the two paths are parallel most of the way. ‘There is a rather sharp bend some dis- tance above, and then you return almost to the spot from which you started when you began to climb the moun- tain, only on the other side of the cafion.” “It is not clear to me even yet, Dick.” “Tl explain it in detail later, when conditions are more favorable,” answered Dick. “At present, those two blackguards are so close to us that we must prepare to give them a reception.” “What kind of reception?” “T will show you in a few minutes. Let us hear what they are talking about.” 33 Carson and Bud Crowle were in a fix, as could be gath- ered from their remarks, well mixed with profanity. “What do yer mek of it, Bud?’ asked Carson. “Seems ter be a blockade hyar. But, at ther same time, ef thet kid super got through, I don’t see why growed meh, like you an’ me, shouldn’t mek ther passage, too.” “How do yer know thet he got through ?” “Ef he didn’t, whar is he?” responded Bud. “He ain’t anywhar widin talkin’ distance, or we should hear him mekin’ a yip. A kid like him c’u’dn’t keep quiet.” “Waal, I s’pose we’d better git out o’ our saddles, an’ see what ther chances air fer gittin’ through this jumble o’ trees an’ rocks. This hyar is whar we med a mistek—comin’ over a trail what we don't know nothin’

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I2 about. We air like two lost pups in a hog-pen,” grum- bled. Carson. “Jest ez yer say,” agreed Bud carelessly. “Ts your gun ready, Dick?” whispered Al. “Certainly. It is always ready. How about yours?” “IT have it close to my hand, but it is in my belt.” “Well, keap it there,” advised Dick dryly. “Why ?” “Best place for it.” “Won't we have to shoot, do you suppose, Dick?” “T don’t anticipate any such exercise.” “They are desperate rascals.” “T know it. And, for that reason, I do not want any gun-play, if we can get along without it.” “Going to hold them by main strength, eh, Dick? All right! I’m willing. Which one am I to tackle?” The courage expressed in the tone of the boy pleased Dick so much that he patted Al on the shoulder. “You are all right, Al. That’s the kind of talk I like to hear. They are two husky rascals, and they will fight for all they are worth—if we give them a chance. But they haven’t got you scared. I can see that.” “There does not seem to be any use in being scared at this stage of the game,” responded Al Burton simply. “That is true. But being scared is a state of mind we cannot always control. That is why I am proud of you. But feel these. Then you will understand how I purpose dealing with these fellows.” In the darkness, Dick placed in the hands of Al some ~culd metal objects, which he recognized, by the feel, as’ handcuffs. “Going to take them prisoners, eh?” “If they come near enough,” answered Dick. events,-I do not want to shoot.” “Why not? They tried to murder you a little while ago. You know that, don’t you?” “I suspected that they made my horse jump off that path above there, but I have no proof. It was done so quickly, that I did not know whether it was a loose rock tumbling down the mountain, or even misstep on the part of Major, you know.” “Well, I can tell you. I heard them confess to each other that they pushed your horse. It was Carson who actually did it, but the other scoundrel was in the job.” Just as Al Burton reached this stage of his recounter, the two ruffans fell into the arms of Dick and Al Burton. So suddenly was the maneuver accomplished that Dick had no time to get the handcuffs on the wrists of either of them. | The darkness favored the ruffians, and, as they were desirous more of getting away than of staying to fight, they had broken their way through the maze of bushes and got to the open ground on the other side almost im- mediately. “After them, Al!’ shouted Dick, “At all DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. “Where are they?” “Straight to your left.* “Which is my left?” cried Al Burton, completely be- wildered by the darkness and the sudden coming of Car- son and Bud. “Follow me!” was Dick’s response, “T will if I can find you.” Al had unfortunately lost his head, so that he did not know where he was, and by the time he had recovered himself he heard the mingling of Dick’s voice with those of Carson and Bud Crowle, and then, after a scuffle, the sound of a horse galloping away. “Where are they, Dick?” he yelled. “Gone! And they have got my horse, too,’ answered Dick, in indignant tones. “What, Major?” “Yes, Major. Confound them!” was Dick’s angry an- swer. CHAPTER VII. DICK LEADS IN A HARD CLIMB, Diamond Dick wasted no time when he realized that the two rascals had actually made off with his splendid black thoroughbred. “Come on, Al. Their horses must be over here some- where,” he shouted. “Likely enough. But they are not to be compared even with my nag, much less to a thoroughbred like Major.” “I know that,” answered Dick shortly. “But we must make out to do with what we have. They will ride = = — straight into camp, and we will nab them when we get — there.” “How do you know they will go to camp, Dick?” “Because they cannot go anywhere else if they keep on this trail.” “Did you know this path led back to camp?” “Certainly I did.” © “Then——” “You need not finish your question,” laughed Dick, his temper, which had been slightly disturbed by the loss of his horse, restored entirely. “It was my intention to bring them back this way.” “T can’t see through your intentions half the time, Dick, and this one is as much of a puzzle as any of them,” con- fessed Al Burton, as he and Dick went toward where they expected to find the horses belonging to Carson and Bud Crowle. “Tt will all be explained later, Al. We are going to find that stolen money, and I intend to help you to main- tain discipline among the men working on your irriga- tion ditch, at the same time.” The lad said no more just then. In his short experi- ence with Diamond Dick’s ways, he had learned that it

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‘= / DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. | 13 was entirely safe to trust to the common sense of the young American cowboy. Diamond Dick had a better idea of the fate of the forty thousand dollars than his young companion, but he was not saying anything just now, because he meant to be sure first. | The two horses were found, in fairly good shape, with their saddles, riatas, and other equipments all in place, waiting patiently until they should be called into activity again. | “Two of our horses,’ remarked Al, as the clouds moved a little way from the face of the moon,.enabling him to make out the general appearance of the animals. “Sound, I should say,” commented Dick, looking them over with the eye of an expert. “Yes. But not so fast as I should like. Will you take mine, Dick, and let me ride one of these?” “No. these, and lead the other. an hour and a half to get into camp. have got there ahead of them.” “Them?” queried Al Burton. and Bud?” “Yes. I don’t want them to take their tale into camp until | have had an opportunity to look things over.” Dick was speaking musingly, half to himself. Sudden- You take your own horse. I will ride one of It will not take us more than I wish we could “Do you mean Carson ly he straightened up, slapping his lee with an expression of pleasure. “What is it, Dick?” “Well, to think that I had forgotten that! That comes of being away for a while. I had not been in this part of the Canadian Northwest for two years until I got here the other day, and I had forgotten some of the trails, These horses are all sure-footed, I reckon?” “Very, Dick. I know, because my father is particular about his stock, and he told me in Winnipeg that there was not a horse in camp which could not be depended on.” “That is all, Al. I need not ask whether you are will- ing to ride over a rather risky trail.” “You are right, Dick. You need not ask,” rejoined Al Burton promptly, as he cinched up the saddle a little tighter on one of the cayuses and adjusted his bridle- rein. If there was anything on which Al prided himself, it was his ability to ride any kind of horse over the most awkward road. “Mount, then, Al!” With this brief order, Dick swung himself into the sad- dle on one of the pintos, and touched the other with the quirt which had been hanging to the saddle-horn. Al took his cue from Dick, and was in his own saddle, The moon was shining brighter every moment as the clouds rolled away, and it was easier for the pards to find their way among the trees and over the shrubbery than it had been. The two rufhans who had so nearly caused the death of Dick and Major were out of hearing, and it made Dick clench his fists in anger as he thought of them both on his thoroughbred’s back, urging him along ruthlessly under the double weight. He did not say anything about it, but kept steadily on, a little in advance of Al and the riderless horse, which trotted along calmly, as if quite contented with the state of affairs. “If Tony Rodero is riding into the mountains with that forty thousand dollars, Dick, how are we to get the money back by returning to camp?’ asked Al Burton, after a pause, during which he had been turning the situation over in his mind. “What did you say, Al?” Diamond Dick had been absorbed in his own thoughts, and caught only in part what the youth had remarked. Al Burton wished, on second thoughts, that he had not ventured to criticize his pard’s course; but it was too late _ to draw back now, and he repeated his former observa- tion. : Dick indulged in one of those gentle laughs which al- ways indicated that he felt sure he was right in the course he might be following at that particular time. “How do we know he is in the mountains, Al?” he asked quietly. “Don’t you think he is?” _ This replying to a question by asking another is a com- mon device to escape from an embarrassing argument, and Dick smiled as he saw Al’s bewilderment. “He may be in the mountains, Al, and he may not. Another thing, while he may be going over the Rockies, there is the possibility of his not taking the money with him.” “Ah!” “Still another possibility is open to us, Al,’ went on Dick. ‘That is that Tony did not steal the money at all.” “T don’t see how we can doubt that,” returned Al. Diamond Dick whistled softly, as if he were thinking deeply. Then he shook his bridle-rein and quickened his pace a little. Al Burton surmised that his pard did not care to con- tinue the conversation, and, wisely, he held his tongue. Just then Dick pulled up abruptly, looking about him, as if seeking something that he felt ought to be there, although he did not find it at once. “Now, Al,” he said at last. “We’ll do a little climb- ing. Sit tight!” : “Very well!” The cafion had widened considerably, and the rocks on either side were rather more lofty than they had been some distance back. The wall was rugged on the side of the chasm where

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————— ee ee” — ee lr eee —— 14 DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. they were riding, although, at first glance, it did not look as if even a man could climb it with ease, much less a horse. But Diamond Dick had a different idea from this, as he soon proved to Al Burton. Settling himself firmly in his saddle, he whispered to his horse, giving to him that mysterious confidence which some men can impart to the lower animals by their voices. The cayuse began to run up the side of the wall al- most like a mountain-goat, in an oblique direction. Al Burton gazed in astonishment for a moment as the horse made his way steadily upward, while Dick sat firm- ly, but ever watchful, as if doing what he could to make the task easier. “What a wonder this Diamond Dick is Burton to himself. Dick stopped abruptly when he had climbed about fifty feet, and, looking downward, he called out: “Come on, Al!” The invitation was as calmly given as if he had been asking the lad to play a game of tennis, although it seemed ‘as if it would be impossible to go up that moun- tain wall all the way without mishap. The youth would not take a dare, as he might have expressed it if he had spoken at all, and, turning his horse to the spot where Dick had begun the ascent, and where there was a slight opening in the rocks leadin “to what appeared to be a rude flight of steps, he found him- self ten feet up the wall before he knew he ‘iad started, The next surprise he had was the sound of hoofs bc- hind him, indicating that he was pursued. Involuntarily he urged his horse upward, while Dick, some distance above, was also moving toward the summit of the mortfntain, but still the hoof-beats followed. The loose horse was coming up of his own accord! bes gasped Al CHAPTER VIII. DIAMOND DICK ON TOP ONCE MORE. Dick was only a few yards in front of Al Burton when he reached the top of the ridge, and the riderless horse was actually by his side as he rode to the level plateau on the summit. “Well, Al! We have cut off a big corner. low,” said Dick, as his young pard joined him. They were looking into the valley on the other side of the mountain up which they had made their way, and lights in houses could be made out in the shadows, not more than two miles away. “Which way will the others have to come?” asked Burton. “About twelve miles. They will not get there till near- ly an hour after us, and in that time we can do a lot of business,” Look be- Dick’s teeth were set hard as he looked down into the valley, as if he had resolved on a bold move of some kind. “Keep close to me, Al. But don’t make any move without orders.” | “All right! But what are you expecting will hap- pen?” “IT am hoping that the restoration of the stolen money will happen, Al. That’s all.” \ Dick evidently was nqt in the mood to be questioned, and Al said no more as they rode toward where the bunk- houses were wrapped in slumber, while the house in which Dick and Al slept when they were not trailing through the mountains was in equal gloom, Dick rode cautiously down the well-beaten roadway near the ditch which they struck as they came down from the mountain, and then, when they reached a clump of pines, he dismounted. “We must tie the horses, Al. I don’t want them to come out of this thicket too soon.” Al Burton had no idea what it all meant, but he quickly fastened his horse by the tie-rope which is always at- tached to the bridle of a horse on the Western plains, hitching it to a tree. Dick did the same with his cayuse, and the loose-footed animal was also secured in similar fashion, “See that tool-house over there, Al?” asked Dick. “Yes. We have not used it lately. It is too: away from where the work is going on.” “Exactly. Do you keep it locked ?” “Yes. There are some shovels and other tools there, kept in reserve, in case they are needed. I have one key for it. The other was in the pocket of poor Jabez Welch,” answered Al. SESees Dick said this in a dry tone which he sometimes used, and which always puzzled Al Burton, “Do you want to go there?” asked the youth, “Yes. But quietly.” They made their way into the ditch, and walked along in the shadow toward the tool-house, which was beyond the point where the watchman kept guard. The tool-house was usually fastened, and Al began to use his key to get in. To his astonishment, he found that the door was not locked, although it seemed to be firmly held in place by something. “I can’t open it, Dick,” he whispered, “Come, quick!” was Dick’s unexpected response, as he pulled the youth into the deep shadow, and then moved several yards away. “I don't understand,” whispered Burton, “No, but you will.” There was the ring of authority in the young plains- man’s voice which Al Burton had learned to respect, and he kept quiet, while Dick waited for some move from

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—_ DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. an unseen opponent. At least, that was what Al Burton supposed. Nothing happened, and at last Dick returned cautiously toward the shed and seemed to be considering what next to do. It was evident that the door must be secured within, since it was not locked, and there was no outer bar to hold it shut. . “There is some one in this tool-shed, Al,” he whispered. “Of course. Have you any idea who it is?” “I have an idea,” answered Dick. “It may be an in- correct one. But we shall soon know.” He took from its place in his belt the heavy bowie- knife which he always carried, and inserted it at the edge of the wooden shutter which covered the winda-pet: ing. There was no glass in this window, and the shutter was not often moved, because, when the door was open, enough light entered the shed to enable any one to find such tools as might be required. Sometimes, however, extra light was needed, and then the shutter wes flung open. Dick conjectured that the person hiding himself within this shed had probably not considered the window when he made the door fast, and that most likely the shutter could be pried open, even though the door resisted a‘tack from without. He knew how to use his bowie effectively, without noise, and it was almost in perfect silence that he got the point of the well-tempered blade into a crack and began to press upon it. If he made any noise at all, it was no more than might have been caused by the gnawing of a rat. Al Burton was in such a state of mystification that he could only stand back, with his gaze on the dim outlines of Diamond Dick, waiting to see what would be the out- come of it all. The fact that some one was hiding himself in the shed, with the door secured inside, was strange enough in itself, but it was still more singular that Dick should have come straight to it, as if he had expected to find that it held a person whom it was incumbent on him to bring forth. Still, Dick had told him that he should know all in due time, and the only thing was to possess himself in patience while the work of forcing open the window went on. At last, with a slight noise, the shutter race and Dick felt it come forth a little. He kept still for at least a minute after this, so that, if the inmate of the shed had heard a sound, he would probably lay it to the uneasiness of a rat, and not be- come suspicious, Dick saw that the shutter was in such a shape now that it could be opened wide at a single tug, and he knew that the most ticklish part of his task had come. Moving away from the shutter, his bowie-knife in hand, he went to Al and whispered: “Be ready to seize the man who may come out of the doorway after I go in, Al.” “What do you mean?” Dick shook his head impatiently. He had figured it all out in his own mind, and he wished Al could have fol- lowed his plans without demanding that they should be explained. “I am going through that window, Al. Now, do you seep” “But, Dick The plainsman clapped his hand over the youth’s mouth as he whispered pleadingly : | “Don’t argue with me. There is no time. you what to do.” Al realized that it would not do to discuss matters with Dick any further, and, stepping toward the door of the shed, he answered, in a low tone, which was full of resolution, however: “T will obey orders.” “ “That is all I want.” Dick went to the window, placed the point of his knife in the crack, and pried the wooden shutter a little farther away from the casement. Then, getting his fingers inside, with a lightning move- 3 I have told ment he swung the shutter wide open and vaulted throug the square opening to the dark interior of the shed. Instinctively he crouched as low as possible upon the rough wooden floor, There had been no sounds except what he had made himself, If there was any one else in the small shed, he had the ability to keep himself wonderfully quiet. Dick listened intently for a few moments, as the shut- ter, released from his hold, swung back into place, ma- king the shed absolutely. dark. “There is some one here, I know,” he told himself. “T have the feeling that I am not alone, although I can- not hear or see anything to suggest human presence,” He continued to listen, and then, from a distant corner, came a long-drawn) sigh. It was as if some person had been holding his breath until he could do so no longer, and had been compelled to empty his lungs with one portentous wheeze. Dick waited till the sigh had come to an end, and then, catlike, he crawled toward the corner where he knew some one must be hiding. It did not astonish him when he found the corner empty, however. “Tt was not likely that fellow would wait for me,” thought Dick ; “he could not help seeing me come through Ne at. "

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ae ee ee ee 16 DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. the window, and, of course, he had plenty of opportunity to get out of my reach. But I'll corrier him.” With this the young American began to slip across the floor, avoiding the piles of shovels and pickaxes in- stinctively, until he was near the closed and fastened door. Just as he got there he found himself in the grasp of a powerful individual, who tried to catch him by the throat, evidently with the charitable intention of choking him to death. Dick turned on his unseen assailant with the speed of a cobra, and the next moment was kneeling on the chest of the stranger and forcing his head down relentlessly to the floor, fH CHAPTER IX, BILL JAMES’ LUNCH. “You can’t get away!” said Dick, in his natural tones, to his squirming prisoner, “Can’t 1?” came the snarling rejoinder. “We'll see!” “That is right! We shall,” cried Dick, kicking hard at the door as a signal to Al. “Hello, Dick!” shouted the youth. “All right, Al! Kick open the door!” “With pleasure!” But it is not likely that Al would have been able to ~ force the door easily without assistance from Dick. This assistance was forthcoming, for the plainsman ac- cidentally thrust one of his feet against the sloping length of wood that held the door inside, so that it fell down. Instantly Al Burton pushed the door wide open, re- vealing Dick on top of the man he had found, and who had tried to choke him before being overcome himself, “Why, hello!” began Al, That was all he had an opportunity of saying, for the man whom Dick was holding growled a request to be informed how long he was to be held in that position, The voice was evidently disguised, and Dick could not. tell whose “it was, although he had a pretty strong sus- picion. It was because he had such a suspicion that he relaxed his hold, allowing the fellow to rise to his knees, “Who are you?” demanded Dick. “The watchman, of course. Who did yer ois I wuz?” growled the fellow hoarsely. “What were you doing in this shed?” put in Al. “If you are the watchman, why were you ng patrolling, a as you are paid to do?” “A man gets tired once in a while, I s’pose,” snapped the man. “Thar warn’t no likelihood o’ nothin’ bein’ done ter ther ditch, an’ my pardner is down at ther other end. So I jest turned in hyar fer a snooze, when you two come along, an’ ther first thing I knowed wuz this stranger surgin’ in by the winder. I thought he wuz tryin’ ter steal some o’ ther shovels or ~omethin’, an’ mache I grabbed him. Thet’s all thar wuz ter it.” ‘“What’s your name?” asked the young super. “James.” “James what ?” “Jest James. Onless yer wants ter call me e by my first name, too. Then I’m Bill James.” “Oh! Well, come out here and let me see you by the moonlight.” “All right!” . The man straightened up and sidled out of the door- way, but in such a position that his face would have been concealed even if it had not been almost entirely covered by the hat-brim pulled down over his brows, and a big woolen scarf covering his mouth. “T can’t see your face,’ complained Al Burton. “Why not?” growled the man. “My face is hyar. Anyhow, yer hev seed me afore. I told yer my name— Bill James. Yer hey it on yer books.” “That's so, Dick. There is such a man,” whispered Al. Bill James, as he called himself, suddenly darted into the shed without a word, and Dick went after him. In a moment or two James appeared in the doorway, carrying a parcel in one hand, while something bulged under his coat on the other side. He seemed to be in a hurry to get away, but Dick obstructed his passage at the door. “What have you there?’ demanded Al Burton. “My lunch,” snorted the fellow. “Yer don’t s’pose a man kin work all night wi'out eatin’ somethin’, do yer?” Before Al cou'd reply Dick had snatched the parcel from under his coat, and knocked the other out of his hand, An oath came from Bill James, accompanied by a significant movement of his right hand to his hip. But he was not quick enough. Diamond Dick’s six-shooter was pointed straight at the head of Bill James, as the young scout ordered him, in sharp tones, to go. “Don’t waste any time, Bill James!” he cried, with a sarcastic inflection on the name. “Go to the other end of the ditch and keep close watch. It will be healthier for you than hanging about here.” “Why should 1? Who are you?” demanded the baffled watchman. ‘‘Give me my lunch.” “No. I want that lunch. If it is the kind of lunch I like, I will pay you well for it in the morning,” answered Dick. “Mr. Burton, the superintendent, will back me up in this, Won’t you, Mr. Burton?” As Diamond Dick thus addressed him, Al, who saw that the whole proceeding was in accordance with some plan of his friend’s, answered immediately in the affirmative. “T want thet thar lunch,” insisted the watchman, ma- king a dive for the package on the ground. — I ie ee ee

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wht DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. re Diamond Dick’s pistol was pushed against his face, as the scout said, in tones whose deadly meaning could not be mistaken; “Stoop to touch that package again, and, as sure as there is a moon in the heavens to- -night, I’ll send a bullet through your brain. Now, get out, and get out quick!” Bill James gave Diamond Dick one swift look over the top of his woolen scarf, and then, with a shrug of his shoulders, strode away into the darkness without another word. “What do you make of that, Dick?” whispered Al, as the man vanished. “He is an obstinate rascal, is he not?” “Very,” answered Dick sententiously. “I think I shall fire him in the morning.” “T would.” “Bill James,” muttered Al reflectively. “Some one told me he was not a bad sort of fellow, and always civil- spoken. He seems to have got over the habit of courtesy thoroughly, from what we have just seen of him. By the way, why did you insist on keeping his lunch, Dick?” “T wanted it.” “Seem to have a tremendous appetite,” continued Al. “There is enough in those two bundles for half a dozen hungry men, I should ve “So it occurred to me,” said Dick, as he picked up the package from the ground and retredted into the shed. “Come in here and shut the door,” Al obeyed, although, as was generally the case when he did something by Dick’s orders, he did not know wast was going to be the result of his compliance. “Close that shutter, Al, and fasten the door. light this lantern, will you?” “With pleasure!” ‘ Dick had taken a lantern from among a score that Then * were piled up in a corner of the shed, all glittering, as if lately cleaned, and each one well supplied with oil. Al Burton closed the shutter and then placed the piece of wood against the inside of the door, as it had been before aMEK kicked it away—doing all this in the dark. “Strike a match,” directed Dick. In another minute the lantern had been lighted, casting a bright glow over the interior of the shed, and ‘enabling them to make sure no one was in it but themselves. “Well, Dick, what next?” asked Al. For answer Dick opened one of the packages of sup- posed “lunch,” and showed that, instead of bread and butter, sandwiches and pie, prepared by one of the cooks of the camp, it consisted of tightly stacked piles of bank- notes, tied with string and labeled as to their amounts on pieces of white paper on top of each! - “Dick! What is this?” cried Al Burton, as he snatched up one of the stacks of bills and read on the piece of white paper, “Five thousand dollars.” Diamond Dick opened the other package, showing that it, too, was made up of money, and then answered calmly : “It is the stolen forty thousand dollars, intended for the pay-roll of the men at work on this ditch!” Al Burton could not reply. He was too astonished ‘ to utter a word, - He stood fingering the packages of bills and counting ; them over and over, trying to comprehend the unexpected 1 recovery of the money. | “Dick!” he said at last. | “Well ?” - “Did you know the money was here?” “I did not know it, but I suspected that it was some- where in this neighborhood.” | “But why did we go on the trail of Tony Rodero?” “Did you never hear of following one trail, to hide the fact that you might really be on another ?” Al Burton whistled. It was gradually forcing itself through his head that Diamond Dick was not the kind of person to be caught by tricks of the enemy. Dick suddenly turned down the light in the lantern and blew it out. “Hush!” he whispered. Slowly the shutter of the window, which had not been fastened, swung wide open. Dick had already disposed the whole forty thousand dollars in various inside pockets about his person. a Sif is X. DICK’S FIST IN THE DARK, 4 i The head of a man outlined itself in the square open- ing where the shutter had been swung away. Dick stooped to the floog of the shed, and, picking up = a handful of oily cotton waste from a heap in the corner, he let fly full at the face of the stranger at the window. A muttered oath, and the head disappeared as if it had been pulled away by a spring. Instantly Dick reached for the shutter and pulled it into place, fastening it with a hook which he had observed by the light of the lantern, “Where is the money, Dick?’” whispered Al. “In my pockets.” “Who was that at the window?” “Carson.” “T thought so, but I was not sure,” responded Al. “What are we going to do? Is he in league with Bill James, do you suppose?” “Not much doubt about that. We will open the door and see what he is about, Al,’”’ decided Dick, after a few moments, during which no sign hac\tome from without. “Very well. I have my gun ready,” answered Al. “That’s right. We may need it.”

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_ a 18 DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY Making sure that his own six-shooter was handy in his holster, but without drawing it, Dick quietly moved the piece of wood that kept the door fast, and threw the latter wide open. He was greeted by a whinny from his thoroughbred, Majot. With a cry of pleasure, Dick ran to the head of his favorite and ran his hand all over its sleek form to make sure that he was not hurt in any way. “He’s all right, Al,” he shouted, “Who? Carson?” “No. Major!” | “Qh ” For the moment Dick was so overjoyed at finding his thoroughbred that ne forgot everything else, “This proves that it was really Carson who was here at the window,” said Dick. “Help me find them.” But Carson and Bud Crowle had recognized the pres- ence of Dick and Al Burton in the shed, and both of the precious rascals had disappeared, “What are you going to do now, Dick?” asked the young super. “I am going to bed,” replied Dick coolly. Al Burton laughed heartily. , “That is a good thing, I believe. You have the money safe, of course?” “Quite.” “Then we shall have to keep quiet till daylight, I reckon. Isn’t that it, Dick?” “That is how it seems to me,” Dick and the superintendent found their three horses where they had left them, and, without more ado, each lifted hinfself into his own saddle and cantered over to the corral, The horse-keeper—a dumb sort of man, who had been mildly puzzled by the disappearance of three of his charges—was glad to see the horses again, and took them away without question or comment. Dick’s own thoroughbred had a stable to himself, for the young American always insisted that Major be prop- erly housed wherever he happened to be unless’ actually on the plains. Having seen his pet comfortably fed and disposed of for the night, doing all the work with his own hands, Dia- mond Dick locked the door of the rude stable and went into the shanty, where he and Al intended to snatch a few hours of sleep. They unlocked the door and entered, noting that it was comfortably warm after the chilliness of outdoors. “This place seems a little stuffy,” whispered Al, “T think so myself,” answered Dick. “Let’s turn up the light and see haw things look.” The superintendent lighted one of the lamps against the wall, with a reflector behind it. As the light went up slowly, Dick had difficulty in re- pressing a shout of astonishment. The sofa-bedstead was opened out, and on it, fast asleep, lay no less a personage than—Jabez Welch, the ex-superintendent |! Al Burton rubbed his eyes, as he looked hard at the face of the sleeper, whose flattened nose looked even less prepossessing as he slumbered than when he was awake. “It’s he, sure enough!” he muttered, © “Undoubtedly,” agreed Dick. “You don’t,seem surprised, Dick.” “IT am not—very.” “But he was supposed to have been blown up in that explosion of dynamite over there.” “Some persons supposed so. I had my doubts,” de- clared Dick. “What do you think about it, then?” asked Al Burton. “There was an explosion, was there not?” “No doubt about that. We saw the effects of it, after hearing the noise it made.” oF “Some one was killed there, too. We had proof of it. That piece of watch-case we found indicated that the victim was Jabez Welch.” “Indications were that way,” conceded Dick. “But here is some one fast asleep on this sofa-bedstead who is either Jabez Welch, or his double. What are we to do about it?” “Shall I wake him up and ask him what he means by this kind of performance?” suggested Al Burton. “He has no right to play tricks like this on us. If he was blown up by that dynamite, he should stay blown up.” Al Burton was talking somewhat hysterically, and Dia- mond Dick, seeing that the incidents of the night had been rather too much for the young fellow’s nerves, led him to the other room and closed the door. No sooner were the two young pards out of the living- room, where Jabez Welch lay, than that individual, sup- posed to be deeply slumbering, opened one eye and tried to make out in the darkness—for Dick had taken the lighted lamp out of its holder and carried it into his bed- room—whether any one was near him, “They've gone,” he muttered, as he sat up in bed. “It is easy to fool them, after all. But I have to get that money. That is as certain as that Iam here, Well, I have worked hard, pretty hard, for that forty thou’, but I must have a little more patience.” He threw the covers of the bed off, and, if it had been light in the room, and any one had been there to see him, it would have been noticed that he was lying with all his clothes on, under the blankets. “T wonder whether poor Bill James will be blamed for that game at the tool-shed,” he murmured. “I guess ' not. It will be easy for him to prove an alibi. I didn’t think, however, that Diamond Dick, smart as he is,

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DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 19 knows that it was Jabez Welch who came near putting his light out over in that place.” A few moments’ pause, and then Jabez crawled over to the door separating his room from that occupied by Dick and Al. “That blow-up of dynamite was not a bad thing for me,” he went on, to himself. “I don’t know what made it break loose, but it enabled me to keep gut of the way just when I did not want to be chased. I lost my silver watch, it is true. But I could afford to do that if I had the forty thousand again.” He peeped through the keyhole, and, even as he tried to make out what Dick and Al Burton were about, the light went out, telling him that the two young fellows were in bed. “T reckon they are tired, too,” muttered Jabez. “It won't take long for them to get to sleep. Then I will see what I can do about getting back my money.” _ He went back to his sofa-bedstead and lay down, with the blankets pulled over him, to wait until he supposed Dick and Al Burton would be fast asleep. At last he arose, and, taking from his pocket a bent wire with which he had provided himself while waiting for Dick and the superintendent to come home, he turned the lock of their door swiftly and noiselessly. The two sleepers were breathing easily and naturally, and Jabez stood within the room, thinking. “It is probable that Diamond Dick has the money somewhere. I'll go through his clothes first.” From the deftness with which Jabez Welch examined pocket after pocket of Diamond Dick’s raiment as it lay upon a chair, it is fair to presume that this was not his first experience of the kind. “Not there—that is certain,’ he muttered. have to try something a little more risky.’” He moved toward the cot where Dick lay, breathing easily in his sleep, and gently slipped one hand under the pillow. His fingers came in contact with something hard, and the next instant he had begun to pull toward him one of the packages of money wifich had already caused so much disturbance in the neighborhood of the big irrigation canal. Then, there was something very much like another explosion, as Dick’s fist shot out in the darkness, and Jabez Welch went flying backward through the open doorway, landing finally flat upon his sofa-bedstead. “I shall CHAPTER XI. AL GETS ANOTHER LESSON. Perhaps Jabez never got into bed and covered himself wip so quickly in all his life before as he did now. Dick, in the middle of the floor, turning a shaft of white light in every direction from the pocket electric lamp which he always carried, could find no one in the adjoining room but Jabez Welch, stretched upon his couch, seemingly in a calm and virtuous slumber! Shutting off the light of his electric lamp, Dick cogi- tated in the darkness, while the ex-superintendent kept still, except for his regular breathing, wondering what would take place next. “He knows it was me that came into his room, of course,” thought Jabez. “Why doesn’t he tackle me about it?” But Diamond Dick had a different idea of the situation, and, after a silent wait of nearly two minutes, he moved quietly back to his own bedroom—where Al Burton had slept through the slight disturbance—and fastened the door on the other side. The window was carefully shuttered, and Dick made sure that there were no means of entry from without, aside from the door and window. He used his pocket electric lamp to examine the apart- ment in every quarter, and then, with a smile of satisfac- tion, slipped into bed and went to sleep. 7 Diamond Dick had a sound constitution, and although his training as a scout and cattleman made it natural for him to awaken at any alarm, no matter how slight, he slumbered deeply while he was unconscious, It was well after sunup when he stirred, after making certain that the money under his pillow was all there. The room was quite dark, because the wooden shutter kept out all the light from outside, but geen told Dick that it was well into the morning. Slipping on some of his clothes, he touched Al Burton to awaken him, and threw open the heavy shutter, allow- ing a stream of bright sunshine to fill the room, “Hello, Dick !” “Hello, Al! Have a good sleep?” asked Dick cheerily. “TI certainly did. I feel as fresh as a mountain tulip this morning,” answered Al, leaping out of bed. “Sit on my pillow till I come back,” directed Dick, moving toward the door, with his flannel shirt open at the neck. “All right, Dick. J understand.” “Wait a moment. I guess I'll put my belt on before I go out. You cannot tell what will happen when things are so shaky as they have been in this camp since our arrival,” added the young American. He buckled on his cartridge-belt and took out his six- shooter to look it over, “That’s better,” he continued; “I always feel dressed when I have my gun touching my hip. Don’t let any one come into this room unless you know he has legitimate business with you.” “Very well.” Al Burton had no idea of danger at that moment, and

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20 DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY, he replied to Dick with careless confidence, as he ran his hand under the pillow to feel the money: “You can trust me, old man.” Dick strolled to the kitchen, where Aunt Lucinda was alone, fussing about her stove, and preparing to get break fast. He had noticed that Jabez Welch was not in the big room, and that his sofa-bedstead was pushed neatly against the wall, with all suggestions of a bed out of sight. “Good mawnin’, sah!” was Aunt Lucinda’s greeting. “Ah sho’ly didn’t t’ink yo’d be back by dis time. Dey wuz a ’splosion las’ night, wiv one man done killed, dey tole me.” “Who was he?” asked Dick. “I sho’ly doan’ know. Dey t’ought at de fust go-off it wuz Mas’r Jabez, but he come home all right, an’ done take him breakfuss dis mawnin’ ez slick ez eber. I reckons yo’ an’ Mas'r Burton will be habin’ a invester- ingation tuh find out wha’ wuz de cause ob de cataraso- phy tuh-day.” “Most likely, Aunt Lucinda,” replied Dick, as he went to the back of the kitchen, outside, and washed himself in the bowl on a bench, It took Dick some little time to pour cold water over his face and neck, for he had not had as much sleep as he would have liked, and he believed in the efficacy of cold water as a freshener, “Goin’ tuh hab breakfuss now, Mas’r Dick?” asked Aunt Lucinda, as he stood in the kitchen knotting at his throat the handkerchief he had brought out with him. “I hab some co’n-cakes an’ fried po’k, an’ some real maple-sirrup. I done laid mahse’f out wiv breakfuss tuh-day,*’ca’se I knowed yo’ wuz out ridin’ las’ night, an’ dey’s nuffin’ laik a good plate ob fried po’k an’ co’n bread tuh gib yo’ strength arter dat kind ob ’sperience.” “Thanks, Aunt Lucinda,” laughed Dick. “I have no doubt we shall both do justice to the good things you have provided. What time did Mr. Welch go out?” “Two hours ago. He said he mus’ done go tuh de works quick, tuh see wha’ damage wuz done by de ’splo- sion. He done tuk a leetle breakfuss, jes’ coffee an’ sich, an’ den he wuz gone.” Dick nodded carelessly, adjusting the handkerchief about his neck as he stood near the stove, the heat of which was comfortable in the early morning in this mountain region, “Well, I'll tell Mr. Burton to hurry,” he remarked, at last. “Then, when he is ready, we will take breakfast together.” “All right, Mas’r Dick. It am ready when yo’-all are,” responded Aunt Lucinda good-humoredly. Dick opened the door of the kitchen leading to the living-room, and then, before opening his own bedroom door, something impelled him to Jet down the sofa-bed- stead part way, so that he could thrust his hand among the bedclothes. “Quite cold,” he murmured. “I reckon Jabez must have gone out pretty early, as Aunt Lucinda said. [| wonder what he will have to say about trying to take that money from under my pillow. He is a queer fel- low! I feel it in my soul somehow that we shall lock horns before I| finish with this business up here.” He restored the sofa to its former condition, and then went over to the door of his bedroom. It was empty ! “Hello, Al!” he called hastily. “Hello!” came Al Burton’s voice from outside the open window. “What's the matter, Dick?” The young plainsman went to the outer door, by way of the room in which Jabez Welch had slept, and saw Al coming toward him from the bunk-house. “What are you doing out here, Al?” demanded Dick irritably. “What made you leave the house?” Al Burton put up his hands deprecatingly, laughed at Dick’s angry manner. “My dear Dick, don’t be so savage,” he protested. as he “Some one called to me from the bunk-house, and 1 heard two of the fellows swearing at wage other and having a deuce of a time.” “Well?” “They were afraid there would be murder, and one . of the boys called to me to come. over and stop the racket.” “And you did it?” “Sure I did it. I found those two trouble-makers, Carson and Bud Crowle, rolling on the floor in a rough- and-tumble battle, and I was only just in time to prevent their killing each other. Both had knives, and were flourishing them in a way that showed they were used to them.” “Why did you stop them?” said Dick grimly. “Because we want them alive, don’t we?” replied Al. “They have got to explain why they bumped you into that cafion, and what was their idea in attacking me in the mountains. have answered to that, at all events.” “I reckon you are right, Al. It is a queer thing to me that they ventured to stay in camp at all,” muttered Dick. “I can only suppose they are under the control of some other rascal, with more brains than they have. Well, we will soon find out.” Diamond Dick and Al had been walking toward the half-open doorway of the house while talking, and now ‘ entered the big room, closing and locking the door after them. “It was not a wise thing on your part, Al,” insisted Dick, recurring to his original objection, “What ?” We don’t want them to die until they — | | * Eo eee EE Oe eee =-

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* f = DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. “Leaving the house, when I had warned you to sit on that bed until I came in from the kitchen.” “Oh, Dick! What is the use of bothering about that? I kept my eye on the house pretty nearly all the time I was away. No one could have got in or out without my seeing him.” “Sure of that?’ “Well, so nearly sure that it does not worry me. It isn’t likely that I would leave that forty thousand dollars unprotected, after all the trouble we had to get it back. No, sir!” “Well, we will get it out of that bed, and then I. think you’d better let us put it into pay-envelopes for the men, so that they can get their money at noon,” an- swered Dick. “That’s what I was going to say,’ agreed Al. “I'll get Walters to help. He is one of the men I can trust. I should have asked Jabez, only that he is not as pleas- ant to me as I should like. He’s sore over losing the superintendency, I think. I-guess I'll do it without him.” “T would,” advised Dick. “Now, Dick, just to show you how you called me down unnecessarily about going outside, here is the forty thou- sand dollars, just as it was left, in the bed, under the pillow.” As Al Burton spoke, he pulled away the two pillows of Dick’s cot, and then threw back the sheet, which had been drawn over the packages of bank-notes. } ~ They were not there! oF ek lw CHAPTER XII, MAKING FOR THE DERRICK. For a moment Al Burton stared at the place where the money should have been in silent horror. Then he uttered a shriek of despair. Striding up and down the room, he acted as if he were demented, beating his breast and tearing his hair. Diamond Dick looked from him to the bed and back again without speaking, and without anything in his ex- pression that could be construed as censure. He knew the youth felt badly enough, without his saying anything to increase the agony apparent in his countenance. “Jabez, of course,’ muttered Dick jto himself. only question is, when was it done?” This was something not easy to answer, for, if it were true that Burton had not lost sight of the house while adjusting the differences of the rascals in the bunk-house, it seemed to have been practically impossible for Jabez to go in, seize the money, and retreat without being seen. “Tll ask Aunt Lucinda if she saw Jabez or any one “The / come in or out,” he decided. Going to the kitchen, he saw that Aunt Lucinda was 2I not there, and, stepping to the open back door, he heard the voice of the cook trolling a Southern camp-meeting hymn behind a clump of trees growing at the foot of a big rock from which gushed an ice-cold spring. She was out of sight of Dick, but he knew she was procuring water for her kitchen, He waited for several minutes until she came from behind the rock, carrying a tin pail in each hand, and singing at the top of her voice: “Ah’ll be a Mefodis’! Ah’ll be a Mefodis’! Ah'll be a Mefodis’ Till Ah die! Oh! Ow! Ah! Halleluyah—ah-ah!” “Aunt Lucinda!” called out Dick. “Yassah !” “Who passed through your kitchen just now ?” “No one done passed t’roo, Mas’r Dick.” “Sure ?” “Ah’m possertive, Mas’r Dick. Ah wuzn't out o’ dat kitchen fo’ mo’ dan half a minute. So how c'u'd any one done go t’roo?” “All right, Aunt Lucinda. Is breakfast nearly ready 2” “Yassah. Ez soon ez Ah git in dar tuh done pour out de coffee an’ gib yo’ de co’n-cakes. Yo’ an’ Mas’r Bur- ton come right in an’ sit down! Ah’ll be a Mefodis’ till Ah——” ty Aunt Lucinda was in the kitchen by this time, and, having put~dewn her pails of water, became so busy——_ about the stove that she could not sing any more of her camp-meeting hymn just then. Dick was satisfied now that the thief had come in the front doorway, and gone out behind. Aunt Lucinda’s idea of the length of time she had - been absent was evidently very much confused, for she had said that she was away only half a minute, although Dick had waited for her at least three, and he did not know how long she might have been absent before that. “He went through her kitchen with the money, of course,” muttered Dick. “He must have been hiding under that sofa while I was feeling the bedclothes. There is plenty, of room for a man underneath. I wish I had peeped under. Still, there was nothing to make me suppose any one was there. Jabez Welch, you are the thief! Ill nail you before you get away, too. But I am not going to lose my breakfast on your account, I can assure you!” It was not altogether his healthy appetite which made Dick resolve to discuss Aunt Lucinda’s corn-cakes, fried pork, and coffee before going after the ex-superin- tendent. He had a good business reason, as he had for most things he did. It might be thought that he was taking long chances by waiting for breakfast at that juncture, were it not

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—_ ~ wooed i: me yy a Aes? alia le ; x Sf Ty ae 22 ht DIAMOND ote JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. that he had seen something which gave him assurance that he could afford to do so. ¢ What he had seen was nothing more or less than Jabez Welch walking deliberately across the open space toward the edge of the big ditch where most of the men were already at work. | There was no suggestion of undue haste in Welch’s movements. He seemed to be entirely at his ease, as he swung along, a pipe in his mouth and his arms hanging loose. Dick watched him, in the hope that the ex-superin- tendent might betray himself in some way before he dis- appeared altogether. Surely enough, just before he went down the rude steps leading to the bottom of the trench, where was the en- gine controlling the steam-shovels, he turned and looked at the house. Dick was far enough inside the kitchen to be invisible to Welch from that distance, and the ex-superintendent, yielding seemingly to an uncontrollable impulse, shook his fist at the house ere he vanished down the steps. “Thank you for that, Jabez,’ muttered Dick. “It proves I’m on the right trail.” “What are we going to do, Dick?” It was Al Burton, and his agcents were lugubrious enough to awaken sympathy in any bosom. ' “We are going to have breakfast first, Al. will go after that money.” “You talk as cheerfully as if the money were locked up in a safe at our disposal, where we could get it by merely turning a key or two.” “Perhaps it is as easy as that, Al. You never can tell,” smiléd Dick. “Sit down!” He forced the youth into a chair at the table, which already was spread invitingly with a white cloth and some smoking coffee and corn orear and Al submitted quietly. There was something in Diamond Dick’s demeanor that made Al feel as if everything would come out all right, although he could not see how it was to be done. The meal was consumed with a display of appetite on the part of both of the young men Which pleased Aunt Then we Lucinda exceedingly, for she felt that she had served a - good breakfast, and that it should be treated as such. “Now, Al, we'll see about getting back that money,” remarked Dick, as they rose from the table and went into the big room. “Got your gun?” “Ves. > a “That’s right! [I doh’ ’t know that you will have to use it, but this is where we get to the bottom of the con- spiracy, Or my name is not Diamond Dick. Keep cool, and do not be surprised at anything that may turn up.” Al Burton nodded, as they left the house by the front door, and walked around, so as to head straight for the steps down which Jabez Welch had CiSBUREAEES a short time before. Work was going on busily in ‘the ditch. ’ The two steam-shovels were in operation, and tons of earth were bitten out each time one of the enormous scoops descended. Al took care not to go too near to either of them, for he remembered his narrow escape of the day before, and he feared that some of the traitorous laborers who sought his death then might still be on the lookout to turn the great machine loose on him unawares. Horses and wagons were moving up and down the ex- cavation, and everything suggested peaceable industry and contentment. -- Diamond Dick knew better than to trust to appear- ances, however. He saw that Crowle and Carson were both at work near one of the steam-shovels, and that Jabez Welch was directing the operations close to them. All three of the rascals were apparently intent on their duties, to the exclusion of everything else. “We will go to the office, I think, Al,” suggested Dick, “Then we can decide whain next to do.” ~ “Very well.” What Dick had referred to as “the office” was a small wooder™structure in the excavation itself, where the su- * perintendent could watch things, while at the same time provided with some privacy and the convenience of a+~~ desk and=stool. : 4 It was not more than eight feet square inside, and there were windows on three sides, like a signal-shanty on a railroad. Dick and Al Burton were walking swiftly along the bottom of the big ditch, keeping out of the way of the laborers as well as they could, when they were startled by a roar behind them, which became louder and nearer immediately, y The two friends looked back, and in a flash it was apparent to Dick that they were in deadly danger. Two teams of great horses, each team attached to a wagon, were thundering along straight toward them. _ As the horses came on they occupied practically all the space between the two walls of the excavation, which at this particular point were blasted from the rock and were absolutely perpendicular. “We can’t climb there! shouted Al Burton. “Run for that derrick ahead of us!” replied Dick, as What shall we do, Dick » he took the young superintendent’s hand and dragged ? him, at full speed, along the rough bottom. Dick had seen that there was only a single chance of. escape, and that not a particularly good one. A hundred yards ahead of them was a derrick, whose great arm swung over the ditch twenty feet overhead.

< - - ~ %

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ad a =" — 7 a 1 ' | ) ———E * i he ale ' DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. ! f To reach this arm it would be necessary to climb by a rope hanging from the end, and which probably was secured to the projecting timber. “There is our only hope,” muttered Dick. “It is a slim one, but any chance is better than going down under the feet of these horses and the wheels of the wagons. Hur- ry, Al!” The four great horses seemed to be hastening their speed, as if in mockery. “Dick!” panted Al Burton. “What?” | “I am giving out! I am fainting!’ gasped the lad. CHAPTER XIII. SAVED BY A QUICK SWING. For the first time, Dick was really alarmed. If Al Burton lost his senses now, how could he be saved, with the two teams, frenzied with terror, rushing upon him? Dick did not know what had started the horses, but it was evident that they were utterly beyond control, and would be until they either ran into something or ex- pended their strength by galloping a mile or two away. “Keep up, Al! Don’t let down!” besought Dick. The encouraging words, and the knowledge that Dia- mond Dick was by his side, seemed to put new life into the youth, and he straightened up to some degree. “How far is it, Dick °” “Only a few yards. Can you climb a rope, with the aid of the timber upright, over there?” “T could if 1 felt all right,” was the answer. I am so dizzy and weak. i I have been through in the last twelve hours or so.” “Perhaps. But just keep up a little longer, and things will come out right. I know where that money is, and I am going to get it. Therefore, we cannot afford to be trampled to death by horses, you know.” Dick had stopped under the cross-arm of the derrick, and was trying the rope hanging down, near the pon- derous upright. He had seen that the upright was too large to be climbed, and that the way to get up would be by means of the rope, with a little help from the big timber. It would have been a simple task for Dick alone, but he was not hopeful for Al Barton. The youth was shaky, and it looked to Dick as if there were danger of his collapsing at any moment. The horses were coming on, and so near were they now that only the quickest movements could save the two young men. “Now, Al!’ “All right!” The youth answered cheerfully, but Dick could: not help feeling that it was not all right, by a great deal. “Look here, Al? Tl climb, and you cling to me around “But ‘the waist and climb as well as you can with one hand and vour legs. Understand?” “yes.” “Hurry, then! The horses are almost upon us!” As he spoke, Dick began to go up the rope, and Al Burton took hold of him, as directed. suppose it is the excitement . 23 ‘On came the horses, only a short distance away, while the wagons made a noise that seemed to threaten destruc- tion to everything in their neighborhood, both before and after them. Would it be possible for Dick to get this half-fainting young fellow out of danger? Well, Diamond Dick had been in many a tight place before, and he had always managed to pull through. “Keep up your nerve, Al!” “T am !” These two little words from Al were pleasant to the ear of the American, for it was a hard task to drag himself and another person up that swaying rope. “Can we make it, Dick?” . “We have to make it,’ was the characteristic response of the young plainsman. Dick had had only half a minute from the time he leit the ground, but he was employing it to the best ad- vantage. | One more mighty effort, and he dragged Al Burton to safety just as the maddened horses thundered over the spot where he and the boy superintendent had stood thirty seconds before! The men who had jumped out of the way came down the banks, but all were some distance away except two, who emerged from a niche just big enough to squeeze into, scowling at Dick and his youthful comfanion. The two were Bud Crowle and Carson, They watched Dick as he prepared to descend the rope, and then, when they saw that he was looking at them, they began to yell to others down the excavation to stop the horses. Dick found that Al had recovered from his weak- ness—which doubtless had been caused by the excite- _ ment and ‘exertion of running combined—and they began to come down. Just as they got to the bottom of the rope, Carson and Bud were about to rush past, in the wake of the horses and wagons, when Dick ordered them to stop. The rufhans halted sullenly, waiting for the scout to ro on, “Vou'll come to that office over there, and listen to something Al Burton has to say,” said Dick. “To us?” j “You heard what I said.” “Waal,” growled Carson. a right ter gi’ us orders, ther boss.” “T am the superintendent,” put in Al Burton quickly. “T tell you to come to the office.” “All right! When?” Al looked inquiringly at Dick, who whispered some- thing to him, and then the superintendent answered Carson: “Be there in half an hour.” “All right. Is thet all?” | “That is all,” answered Al, after a quick look at Dick, who nodded, | The runaway horses had been stopped by this time, and the two young fellows going back along the route they had covered so hurriedly just before, entered the small office. “Now that we are alone, where no one can hear us,” said Al, “perhaps you will tell me what we are going to do about recovering the money.” “T dunno whether you hev We don't reckernize you ez

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‘. ; “ al ~ } 4 al + ; r 24 The young superintendent smiled as he thus expressed himself, for he believed thoroughly in Dick, and would not have ventured really to criticize him, no matter what the circumstances. “You stay here, Al, and I will show you,” answered Dick. “I shall have to employ a ruse, I can see. But-it will not be the first time.” He took from his po¢ket a black beard and mustache, which he adjusted by asia mirror that hung in a cor- ner of the small office, below the level of the windows. Turning to Al, he asked him, in a deep growl, wholly unlike his usual clear tones, how he liked the effect. “Whut do yer think o’ me, stranger?” were his words. Al started violently, as he looked out of the window of the office at Carson, who was only a few hundred yards away, apparently coming to the office, althoftigh he had been told to wait for half an hour. = / “Why, Dick! If I didn’t see him out there, I should say “That I was Carson?” “Yes.” : “Would you feel disposed to swear to it, if you did not know the truth?” “I certainly would. Why, you have not only got his face, with that black beard and mustache, but his voice, and now that you have twisted your hat in that way, you are Carson himself.” Dick had taken off his hat, and, with a few ingenious punches and pulls, had converted it into an article so dif- ferent from his own neat head-covering that it might easily have passed for the slouch-hat on the head of the rufhanly Carson. “I am glad it is all right,” said Dick. “Now for your- self.” ~ “What?” “Bud Crowle is of the same general appearance as Carson, only that he has a red beard instead of a black one. I brought this false red beard with me from my saddle-bags, having an idea that I might need it. Put it on.” Two minutes’ work was sufficient for Dick to change the countenance of Al Burton so that he would pass easily for the rascally Bud Crowle. Al seemed to think it a great joke, for he grinned under the red mustache and beard so widely that he nearly shook off his disguise. “Be serious, Al,” Dick warned him. “Take these.” He handed to Al a pair of steel handcuffs, at the same time showing him another pair, which he intended to use himself. “What am I to do with these, Dick?” “Slip them on Bud \Crowle as soon as he comes in. I will bring him in ist alone.” “T see. Then you will let Carson enter, and fix him the same way?” Se “But why are you taking ail this trouble to bring them here, Dick? We could have taken them prisoners in the bunk-house without difficulty if we had liked.” “You forget, my dear Al, that we have not yet got the money back.” “Then this disguise has something to do with recov- ering the forty thousand dollars—eh, Dick ?” “Oh 1” DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. == * =. — CHAPTER XIV. DESPERADOES TO ORDER. When all was ready, Dick removed his black beard and mustache for an instant. Then he stepped to the doorway and beckoned to the two men. As they came on, Dick told Al to be ready. “Keep behind the door, Al, and as soon as Bud is in- side, jump on him.” 7 “T will.” : “The handcuffs will snap on his wrists easily enough, I will give you help if you need it, but I don't think you will.” “After he is handcuffed, what shall I do with him?” “Stand in front of him, with your gun pointed to his forehead, while I deal with Carson,” replied Dick promptly. Al nodded, but did not speak, for the two men were close to the office, side by side, showing puzzled expres- sions. Dick stepped outside, without his disguise, waiting for them to come up to him. “Waal, whut is it?” snarled Carson, “Mr. Burton wants to see Bud Crowle,’ answered. Dick. “Whut about me, then?” demanded Carson, more in- solently than before. > “Stay outside. He will talk to you later,” The fellow began some grumbling protest, but Dick fixed his steady gray eyes on him, with the result of. shutting off the complaining as shortly as if the man had been suddenly gagged. “Wants ter see me, does he?” asked Bud Crowle, swaggering forward. “That is what he says,’ answered Dick. Carson was a dozen yards back, as Bud moved up to the office, and he remained there, although evidently against his will. Dick cautiously opened the door a little way, and, let- ting Bud inside, followed, and closed it immediately. Al Burton behaved splendidly, as Dick told himself, for he leaped on Bud and had the handcuffs on his wrists before the rascal realized that he was a prisoner. Bud raised his manacled hands as if he would dash out the brains of the boy superintendent, but found him- self looking into the muzzle of Diamond Dick’s .44 in- stantly. ; “Keep your hands down, Bud,” ordered Dick quietly. “Al, where is that gun of yours?” The youth had his revolver out, and was also covering — Bud before the question was finished, so that there was no necessity for an audible reply. “That is right,” continued the young American. “Keep him behind this door while I bring the other one in.” “Very well.” “Say,” broke in Bud Crowle, looking in perplexity at Burton’s red mustache and beard. “What is the mean- ing of all this? This spo’t hez copied my face.” “Keep quiet, or I will fill your mouth with sand,” threatened Diamond Dick sternly. Bud doubted not, from the tone used by the young, American, that he would carry out his menace if he - deemed it necessary, and, wisely, he said no more. Dick went outside and beckoned to Carson. “Vou, Car-. 2 - son, stay where you are until you are called.”

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DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 25 “Aw! Yer want me now, do yer?” growled the ruf- han. . Dick did not reply. He merely beckoned again, mov- ing back into the office, as Carson followed him. The door was slammed shut, and the black-bearded desperado found his wrists in handcuffs so suddenly that he had no opportunity to protest. “Stand still! commanded Dick, his revolver pointed at his prisoner’s head. Taking a pickax from one corner of the office, Dick pried open a trap-door in the floor, which hid a secret receptacle for the few books used in the office, and which was boarded underneath, so as to make it free from damp. “Get in there, Carson!’ was the next order. It took some minutes to persuade the two scoundrels to enter the hole in the floor, but they were stowed there at last. Dick closed down the trap and fastened it with two big nails. “It’s a little close for them, but they will not suffocate, for there is abundant ventilation. It is better that they . have not much space to move about in. They will be there when we return,’ he remarked coolly. _ Hastily he put on his black beard and’mustache, and, after a final look at himself in the glass, and then at his companion, he led the way out of the small office and swaggered along the excavation. “Hello, Carson! We got ’em!’ yelled one man, as they passed the first runaway team, which was going along peaceably enough now, with some one holding the head of each horse. “All right! I’m glad ter see it!’ roared back Dick. * “Whut- did -yer-think. o’ -ther. game,..Bud?”’ bellowed another. “It come mighty nigh knockin’ out ther new super an’ his pal, ther gent-thev calls Di’mon’ Dick, eh?” “Shore! Pity it didn’t do it quite,” answered Al Bur- ton, as roughly as he could. “Oh! I dunno,” replied the man who had just spoken. “Thar’s wuss than thet young Burton, an’ I’m told Di’mon’ Dick is ez squar’ ez they make ’em.” “Thank you, my friend,’ muttered Dick, behind his black mustache. “The good opinion of even one person is something worth having.” Dick had invited this exchange of words between him- self and his companion and the workmen, so that he could judge whether their dis@uise would do. He was satisfied now that it would. “If we can pass with them, I don’t think we shall have any difficulty with Jabez,’ he remarked to Al, as they reached the rough steps leading to the plateau out of the big trench. “Where are we going, Dick?” asked Al. “To the house, to see whether Lucinda is all right,” replied Dick, laughing. ; “That is only a joke, Dick. What are we going for?” { insisted Al. fs “You will see when we get there.” al al — t _ Wi + That was all the youthful super could extract from Diamond Dick, and it was not very satisfactory. “T'll have my gun close to my hand, anyltow,” he de- ” clared. “That is what I should have advised had you not of- fered it, Al,” said Dick. “The fact is that I hope to find Jabez over there in the house. If we do come across him, (oe (> it may be that there will be a fight before we have fin- ished with him.” “It is al] mysterious to me,’ Dick strode along with the swagger he had observed in the gait of Carson, and soon reached the house where he had slept the night before, and in which he believed he should find Jabez Welch. Stopping outside the door, which was tightly closed, Dick turned to Al Burton with a few words of caution: “Don't talk any more than you are obliged, and kee in the shadow as much as possible. When we have got our hands on the money, or can see where it is, it will be time enough to come forward boldly. Tl tell you when that moment arrives.’ “All right, Dick.” The scout tried the door, but it was locked. So softly had Dick turned the handle that he felt sure he had not disturbed any one who might be inside. He paused to think for a few moments, while Al Bur- ton waited for him to speak. Just.then they heard Aunt Lucinda singing her favorite camp-meeting hymn: “Ah’ll be a Mefodis’! Till Ah Die! Oh! Ow! Halleluyah-ah! Ah'll be a Mefodis’! Ah!” P She was on her way to the spring, with her two tin pails, as Dick saw when he-peeped around the corner. “Come along, Al! We'll go around to the back. Aunt Lucinda won’t see us, so that there will be no comment. That is lucky.” Al nodded assent, and the two slipped around the mouse to the back door, just.as Aunt Lucinda disa peared behind the rock, where the Spring gushed out on the other side. Cautiously, on tiptoe, Dick stole into the kitchen, with Al Burton close behind. The door between the kitchen and living-room was closed, but when Dick stepped close to it and listened, he could make out the heavy footsteps of some one whom | he had no doubt was Jabez Welch. “AI!” whispered Dick. “Yes?” “Be ready! This is where we may be in for a hot moment or two. I'll attend to the man. You keep a sharp lookout for the money.” “You think it is here, then?” “Do as I tell you. Look out for it Don’t be nervous! Things are coming our way.” “I’m glad to hear it,” muttered Al. exactly, nevertheless.” Disregarding this remark, although -he overheard it, Dick suddenly turned the handle and pushed open the door to the living-room. As he did so, Jabez Welch bounded toward him, his hand to his hip, where Dick knew there was a six-shooter. “What’s ther matter, Jabez?’ demanded Dick, in the growl of Carson. “Nothin’. What sh’u’d be ther matter?” “T thought you seemed excited,” was Dick’s sarcastic remark. “Well, what are you here for—you and Bud?” ques- tioned the ex- -superintendent, in his most forbidding tone. “T reckons we wants our share o’ ther dinero,” an- swered Dick, as he BtOpRes forward. “Whut do yer s’pose ?” “T don’t see it a ’ confessed Al Burton. 4 Ah’ll be a Mefodis’

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26 DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. “Come in, then, and don’t talk so loud,” snarled Jabez Welch. CHAPTER XV. WITS AGAINST RASCALITY. ‘Diamond Dick accepted the grudging invitation with alacrity. There was not very much light in the room, consider- ing all things, for the curtains at the window were heavy, and the shade was half-way down. It was obvious that Jabez did not care to have his actions in the apartment witnessed by any chance ob- server, He looked carelessly at Dick and Al, seeming to have no suspicion that they were not what they assumed to be. Then he threw himself upon the sofa, and, lighting a cigarette, asked, as if not particularly interested : “Where is that kid super and his chum from the other side of the border-line?” “They wuz in thet leetle glass shack whar ther time- keeper goes sometimes, ther last I see of ‘em,’ replied Dick. “Thet’s so,” added Al. “Well, I hope they didn’t see you come up this way. You should have waited till I went back.” | “Mebbe. But we wanted ter see ther color o’ our share o’ ther coin,” said Dick, “You didn’t think I was trying to keep it from you, did you?” demanded Jabez, with a snarl. “Sartinly not. But wHar is it?” asked Dick. ~* “Shut that door!” ordered Jabez. Al closed the door leading to the kitchen, “Lock and bolt it.” Al obeved, while Dick kept a sharp Sve on Jabez, who had risen from the sofa. “Where is that colored woman, the cook?” queried Jabez, pausing, with his hand on the back of the sofa. “Gone ter ther spring,” returned Dick. “Anyhow, she wouldn’t try ter come hyar, even ef she thought she c’u’d walk through a locked an’ bolted door o’ two-inch oak.” “Dont be funny, Carson,” snapped Jabez Welch, as he pulled the back of the sofa down and threw some of the internal machinery out of place. Dick was watching him with interest, at the same time his hand involuntarily fondled the butt of his six-shooter, which hung out of sight under the coat he had taken from Carson. Another rapid movement, and the whole bottom of the sofa moved aside, bedding and all, revealing an oblong box, in which were the packages of bills that had given them all so much anxtety that night. “There is the money,” said Welch. “The whole forty thousand dollars is there. Now, I was to give you and Crowle two thousand five hundred dollars apiece, as your share. One of these five-thousand-dollar packages will be the exact sum.” “Thet’s so,” assented Dick. “But I'd like ter count it.” “What for? The money has all been counted and sealed by the bank in Winnipeg. Banks don’t make mis- takes, There is no need to waste time going over their count after them.” “I dunno about thet,” insisted Dick, with the sullen obstinacy often encountered in men of Carson’s type. + “Let it go, Carson,” growled Al. “Waal, ef you air satisfied, Bud, I shorely reckons we'll ' hev ter let it go at thet. But I’m plumb anxious ter put my share o’ ther five thousand in my jeans, an’ | reckons we'll git over ter some quiet PRES 2 in ther ditch an’ count it. Whut do yer say?” “I’m agreeable fer any thing,” responded Al, taking his cue from Dick. “How air we goin’ ter git out?” asked Dick of Welch. “We can’t go through ther kitchen. Ther cook is out thar by this time, an’ I don’t want her ter be askin’ me why I’m over hyar.” “That is right, Carson. you,’ said Welch. The ex-superintendent cast a quick glance at the money in the box in the sofa, and then at the two supposed desperadoes. > He saw that they were not near the sofa, and that they did not seem to be paying any attention to the packages of notes. “Come over here,”’ the door. | The bolts were a little rusty, and he could not move them without some exertion. While his attention was momentarily engaged thus, Dick made a sign to Al, and, with a few ,apid, noiseless movements, they transferred all the packages of money to the inside of their coats. “This way, you fellows! Get over to the ditch quick- I'll open the front door for he croaked, as he moved toward ‘ly, and don’t ‘look back.” uy “We won't,” replied Dick, as he and Al slipped through the doorway and ran at full speed toward the _ steps which led down into the big trench. As they goi to the top oi the steps Dick looked back,‘ and saw that Jabez was still observing them from the open doorway. “Luck is with us, Al!” cried Dick. little office as fast as you can.” Threading their way among the laborers and horses at a rapid walk, as if in a hurry to get back to work, Dick and Al soon got to the small office, where they stripped off their disguises. _ “Now, the money, Al! whispered Dick. The packages were stowed away in the desk for tempo- rary safety, and then Dick pried open the trap-door. The two ruffians were pretty tired of their close con- finement, but were not hurt in any way, although very stiff. “Waal, now, what air yer ter do wi’ us?” d manded Carson, most of the fight taken out of him by his ~ half-hour of squeezing in the narrow quarters under the floor. “I’m going to take off your handcuffs. Then you can have a horse, and ride toward Winnipeg,” replied Dick. “It is too much trouble to hand you over to officers, and I shall let you have one more chance.” “Thet’s squar’, anyhow. American unlocked the handcuffs. -ho’se ?” “Over at ther corral. I'll attend to that later.” Dick unlocked the handcuffs on Bud Crewle’s wrists,, and then told the two men to step outside the office, but not to go away. “We can see you through the window, remember,” he added. “Make for the- Everybody says you air a | white man, Di’mon’ Dick,” answered Carson, as the young _ “Whar do I git the?- ee

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.-) ~~. “an © wee | “i> 2 i — - ~ ‘ : DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 27 ‘No sooner were Carson and Bud outside, than Dick -. put the money into the hole im the floor. Then he fastened '™ down the trap-door, and pulled a piece of ragged carpet over it in’a seemingly careless way. “That is all right,” remarked Dick cheerfully. “Now, . 1 suppose it would be well to get these fellows over to the +» corral and see them safely on their way. I'll do that, leaving you in charge of the money. I hope you will have your pay-envelopes prepared to-day and get it dis- tributed. We shall both have nervous prostration if we ‘are bothered with it much longer,” he added, with a laugh. j He was about to step outside, when he caught a glimpse of some one rushing toward the office among the laborers and horses. He pulled Al down to the floor, crouching by his side. ‘ Al Burton had no idea what it all meant, but he stooped obediently by the side of his comrade; nevertheless. In about two minutes there was a clash outside the door, followed by the muffled report of a revolver, suc- ceeded by another. Then there were groans, oaths, and general confusion »... as somebody thundered at the office door. _* ~ “What shall we do, Dick? Shall we open the door?” _ whispered Burton. = “No. Let me speak.” cae Meg ahead, then.” “Who is that making all that noise out there?” de- manded Dick loudly, in his natural voice. ’ “Tt is Mr. Welch,” came the reply. “I caught a couple * 4of rascals trying to break into the office, and when they , oo fight, 1 creased them both.” Dick swung open the door, and saw that Carson lay . amortally wounded, while Bud Crowle pressed his..right , hand to his left arm, although he did not appear to be » dangerously hurt. : __ “How was. this?” demanded Dick. “What are you do- ing to his coat?” Jabez Welch was feeling inside Carson’s coat, as if | searching for something. ~ “T wanted to see whether he had a gun,” answered '. Welch, in a surly tone. | : “Sure you are not trying to find a package of five * thousand dollars, Jabez?” ‘ : “What?” 3 ¥ It was apparent that the arch-ruffian was puzzled by the question, and that it had stirred up his anger at the same time. f __Dick looked at him for a moment. Then, suddenly © producing the black beard he had worn as a disguise, he ) ~ placed it on his face, and, imitating Carson’s harsh tones, _ growled : = “This hyar package o’ five thousand plunks is what yer ’ gi’ ter mie an’ my pard, Bud Crowle, an’ I reckons yer ' ain’t tryin’ ter git it back, air yer?” ',_ Before Dick had finished the sentence, Jabez saw how ~. he had been tricked, and, without a word, he turned and | walked away. bbe They saw him go to a group of men, who had come ~ over to remove the dead man and his wounded compan- *+jon to the bunk-house. Then he disappeared. _ »* “He’s given it up, eh, Dick?” suggested Al, half an hour later, as they busied themselves in making up the ~. pay-roll, with the door of the office locked, and wooden ~ shutters at all the windows. 1. ak Pe ee - «tery “I don’t know,” answered Dick slowly. “He’s a de- chee rascal, that fellow, Welch. I'll attend to him ater.” | Behind them, in perfect silence, Jabez Welch was pene- trating the thick wall with a chisel so keen and finely tempered that it went through the wood as easily and softly as a knife will cut cheese! CHAPTER XVI, REAPING THE WHIRLWIND. Diamond Dick had considered that it would be better for Al Burton and himself to make up the pay-roll per- sonally, instead of calling in the aid of Walters or any one else. i ; Therefore, they had closed the shutters and secured them, and, after locking and bolting the door, by the light of two coal-oil lamps, had taken the money out of the hole in the floor as they needed it, and distributed it in the pay-envelopes, ready to give out in the evening. They had the pay-roll to work from, and Dick knew that there would be no fear of robbery when once the money was made up into separate amounts to be paid to the workmen. | . Any attempt to take the cash then would have been regarded as a theft from the men themselves, causing the whole force to fall upon the: robber. “So, yau see, Al, the only way to make the forty thou- sand dollars safe is to split it up into monthly wages and pack it away in the envelopes,” was Dick’s conclusion, The two young fellows had-a-comfortable heap of— filled envelopes before them, and Dick was stooping to pick up another package of notes from the hole in the. floor, when he caught sight of a flash of metal -in the wall. : It did not take him more than a second to realize what it was, but before he could do anything, a large section of the wooden wall burst in, and he found himself locked in the arms of Jabez Welch. Dick was encumbered with a package of grgenbacks, besides being taken at a disadvantage through having one side of him presented to his antagonist. \ Welch, realizing this as quickly as Dick himself, in- creased his advantage over the young American by trip- ping him backward, so that he slipped into the hole where lay the remainder of the money. The advantage was not long with the villainous ex- superintendent, however. Stooping quickly, Dick got under his assailant, and, with a heave, sent him through the hole by which he had entered to the outer air. ‘“He’s got some of the money, Dick!” shouted Al. “T know that. Keep watch inside!’’ was Diamond Dick’s response. “I am going after him.” Suiting the action to the word, Dick dived through the opening, catching Jabez just as he was preparing to dash away with ten thousand dollars in bills clasped to his breast. | “Come back, there, Jabez! Dick. A mocking laugh was the response. “Stop, I tell you!” “Don’t you follow me!” suddenly yelled Welch. “I It won’t do!” shouted 2 \ gies Bufo pe. vat wile . aa * 5 ST, aes : "4 , ons Mrs ka. SSP iP og eae eats eli

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28 have goc what is,my own, and I am going to keep it. Stay back there in the office if you value your life.” “T tell you to halt!” repeated Dick. Jabez drew himself against the side of the trench and drew a revolver with a snap. It happened that the lock of the weapon caught in his pocket, so that he could not get it out as smoothly as he had intended. Instantly he found himself facing Dick’s six-shooter. “Don’t let that pistol of yours come out, Jabez,” warned the young American. “If you do, you will die at that very moment.” There could be no mistaking the intent of Dick’s stern tones, and the ex-superintendent allowed his revolver to sink back into his pocket. “What are you going to do?” he demanded. “I am going to make a prisoner of you.” “Why pet “lsn't it plain why?” returned Dick, with a scornful smile. “You have ten thousand dollars of stolen money in your hand now, and you have tried to steal the whole pay-roll.” “Who says so?” “I say so. There was forty thousand dollars under my pillow last night which you tried to take as I lay there——” “You say that I came to your bed in the night to steal that money. How do you know it was I that did it? Did you see me? Wasn't it dark?” Dick laughed aloud. “You would convict yourself out of your own mouth, Jabez Welch,” he said. “How do you know it was too dark to see?” : ~“Tt don’t make any difference. I am going now, as soon as you drop that gun,” declared Jabez defiantly. “You think 1 will drop it?” “Yes. You don’t want to make any talk here about the money before all these men. There are plenty of them who would cut your throat for it without turning a hair. They are a turbulent lot, you know!” He grinned, as a number of the rough-looking men came surging toward them, their voices blending in a hoarse murmur of inquiry. “Give me that money in your hands, and say no more,” commanded Dick hurriedly. “It will not be well for you if I set these men on you.” “Ha, ha, ha! Set them on me? That's a good one!” laughed Jabez Welch. “Give me that money!” repeated Dick, zo | won "1 y? “You'd better. Hand me that money, J tell you.” “What money is it?” asked one of the crowd of men, who had caught the last words. “Give it to me, Jabez,” said Dick, in a low tone to the ex- superintendent. “If you don’t, I'll tell them.” “Tell them! What do I care!” yelled Welch. “What money did you say it was,” repeated the leader of the crowd, a forbidding-looking individual, with a shovel in his hand. “Here is your last chance, Jabez Welch. bank-notes,” warned Dick. “Let her go!” was the mocking reply. “T will let her go!” rejoined Dick, completely out of patience. Then, turning to the crowd of men, who were very close now, he said, pointing to Welch: “This man has stolen the money that is to pay your wages to-day. Give me those DIAMOND DICK, Jit HE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. It means that you will get nothing unless he gives up what he has in his hand. That is the simple truth.” There was a howl of rage, which, coming from nearly a hundred throats, swelled into a mighty roar. Jabez Welch saw that they were coming for him, and he tried to draw his six-shooter. He never got the weapon out of his pocket! The heavy shovel in the hands of the leader of the ‘ crowd came down on his head, and the next moment he had been beaten almost out of semblance of a man by the infuriated laborers. : “Here is the money,” said Walters, who, had run up to Jabez as he fell and had rescued the two packages of bank-notes when they dropped to the ground. “Thanks !” * ‘k + * x * * a3 The retribution visited on Jabez Welch was such as might be expected from men of that kind, who were in © the habit of taking the law into their own hands. They had been stirred to vengeance by the death of Carson and the serious injury of Bud Crowle, and when they heard that Welch was trying to steal their money also, nothing could restrain them. : At last the forty thousand dollars was safe. In a few hours it had been handed out to the men in the form of wages, so that there was no more trouble about it for either Al Burton or Diamond Dick. Carson was dead, but Bud Crowle ultimately recovered, and made the best of his way back to Nevada. Jabez Welch and Carson were both subjects of coro- hs ner’s inquests, as was the unknown who had been blown up in the explosion. Diamond Dick was apponted by the judge of the dis- trict to act as coroner. The verdict in the cases of Carson and Welch was “Accidental Death,” a convenient way of getting rid of the matter. As for the person blown to death by the dynamite, it was discovered afterward, by sundry bits of circumstan- tial evidence, that the victim was none other than Tony Rodero, who had been inveigled to the ditch by Carson and Crowle, when they were trying to steal the money left in his care. | It took some time to determine this, but at last Dick was obliged to confess to himself, sadly, that poor Tony had come to his end in the explosion, with no reasonable doubt that Carson and Crowle had been mainly responsi- ble for his fate. — ry Diamond Dick returned to the United States a weeR- = _ after the inquest, after making sure that there would be no more trouble for Burton in managing the laborers, judging from all appearances. “You won't forget me, though, Dick, will you?” asked the young Canadian, as his friend, in the saddle on his beautiful black thoroughbred, Major, was about to ride away. “I hope you won't, anyhow.” Dick laughed, and, waving his hand in farewell, )re- plied, with earnestness: “No fear of that, Al. to forget you. I have another hurry call for work in a bigger ditch than this—down in Panama along the canal.” THE END. The next number (601) will contain “Diamond Dick in the Canal Zone; or, Vavola, the Voodoo King.” I have had too busy a time here Jf

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DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. 29

NEW: YORK, April 11, 1, 1908. TERMS TO DIAMOND DICK JR. WEEKLY MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. (Postage Free.) Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. 2 GNA oc vasdsvenkesmesernenss BOG. |) DRG FORE. cen ass pens ag-seeass ses $2.50 4 months .....-2cccse+-ccneeee: 5c. 2 copies one year.........c<0.- . 4.00 Pte) eee eee ee ..$1.25 | 1 copy two years.............. 4.00 How to Send Money—By post-office or express money order, registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by currency, coin, or postage stamps in ordinary letter. Receipts—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change of number on your label. If not correct yon have not been properly credited, and should Ict us know at once. Onxmown G, Sonrtu, STREET & SMITH, Publishers, Georcs C. Surra, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. STRANGE HAPPENINGS. HOW SEA-LIONS AND SEALS ARE TRAINED. According to professors of natural history as well as those who spend their lives teaching animals things which Nature “hever intended they should accomplish, the most intelligent creatures living are sea-lions and seals. But Captain Wood- t Proprietors.

met+—ward, the most famous trainer of seals living, affirms that, | “ethough their brains may be more highly developed than those - of other animals, they ate just as difficult to teach. More-' over, some sea-lions. are “smarter” than: others, some seals quicker to learn than others—indeed, there are both sea-lions and seals so stupid as to be absolutely incapable of learning the simplest tricks. In this respect they very much resemble dull and bright children. Captain Woodward has in his troupe seven sea-lions and two seals, Two of the fofmer, however, are not out of school yet and the delights of appearing in public are denied them, but they are “coming along” all right and in a few months’ time will be able to do tricks that will make their older brethren look to their laurels. When the writer called on Captain Woodward at the New _York Hippodrome some time ago he found the genial trainer down in the basement of the “World’s Biggest Playhouse,” putting one of the “understudies” through a few tricks. “After each patformarice, he said, throfing his anxious pupil half a hetring, “I put all the animals through their tricks again, or they would only perform on the stage, in the midst of scenery, and to an audience. This might be awkward at times, so I find it better to make them repeat their ‘turns’ when they are home and the excitement of the lights and the people and the noise of the band have all van- ~ ished. This is Leo,” continued the captain, tapping the sea- lion gently on the head with his cane, “and he distinguished ‘himself last week by causing a flood down here which will cost something like $4,000 to set to rights. | “It is not so easy a matter to teach these animals as the public probably imagines, and those who assert that seals

and sea-lions are natural balancers are wrong. Seals are no better balancers than any other animals, but they are blessed with brains, which enable them to comprehend what a trainer requires of them. But even when they grasp what it is we want them to do, they have to practise and practise as inde- fatigably as any other animal before they are perfect. “Lion, the king of the troupe, who balances a billiard ball on the tip of his nose, a billiard cue on the top of the billiard ball, and a herring on the top of the cue, had to practise with the care and determination of a Cinquevalli before he could accomplish it. I will say this of sea-lions and seals, they have wonderful perseverance, and when they succeed in ac- complishing a difficult trick they are just as pleased as I am. “Every sea-lion and seal could not learn the trick with the billiard ball and cue—it would be too difficult for them—and so I have to be very careful when choosing my animals. 1 now make arrangements with the dealers to supply me with so many seals and sea-lions for three weeks or a month on trial before I purchase any, for it takes fully that time for me to determine the ability of the animals. Sometimes, out of a consignment of a dozen creatures I will not find one that possesses the brain necessary to enable him to learn, and they are all sent back. Then, perhaps, I will get a consign- ment of two or three, and all will be “brainy.” Those that I find no use for go to zoos and aquariums. , “How do we start the training of a seal or sea-lion? Well, very much in the same way that you would train a child. The whole secret is indomitable patience and good temper. We begin by coaxing the animal to come out of the water, and: when he sees that his reward is a nice piece of fish he soon gains courage. Then we teach him to sit on a pjJatform, and then, perhaps, make him lie on the stage for half an hour and get accustomed to the novelty of his surroundings. Then we commence with a very simple trick, and from that to a harder one, and so on. The rules are very similar to those which govern the teaching of other animals. I find that the presence of trained seals gives the untrained animal great confidence, and if he is very observant, as most of them are, he will soon discover that his companions get re- wards for good work, and when it comes to his turn he does his best, and no one can do more. : “When training the animals, as well as when they are go- ing through their performance, I hold in my hand a light cane, which I very seldom use. Occasionally an obstreperous seal or sea-lion has to be slapped just like a naughty child, but I think the way they go through their performance is a criterion for the friendly relations which exist between us. In fact, I am afraid they are a bit spoiled and occasionally domineer over me, but they are very affectionate creatures and are just as fond of me as I am of them. “I have seldom had any accidents with my seals and sea- lions, though on one occasion a catastrophe occurred which might have had a tragic ending. It was during my tour in the West and we were traveling through Indiana. When I take my animals by train I arrange, if possible, that the tank shall be placed in the car, for by this means they travel more comfortably. As the weather was very hot I had the doors of the car taken off in order to get all the coolness possible. We were traveling at express speed when one of the biggest sea-lions jumped out of the tank on the floor of the car, and, before we could grab him, took a flying leap off the train.

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30 “Almost before he had vanished we were staring after him, but the train was going at such a speed that when we did suc- ceed in stopping the engine there was, of course, not a trace of the poor creature. We backed the train for almost three miles, and then we came in sight of the sea-lion. He was between the rails and running to meet us as fast as his short legs would carry him. f “Tt was a sight which I shall never forget, and its pathetic side touched me deeply, The poor animal was as happy, and delighted to see us as a lost child its mother, and I leave you to guess what my feelings were. We lifted him tenderly into the car and examined him, only to find a slight scar on the neck. that I have ever heard of.” Captain Woodward never works his seals on Sunday, and always gives his whole troupe two months’ holiday during the year. This holiday takes place at Brighton, where the seals have a delightful home built for them in Brighton Har- bor. Here the animals disport themselves to their hearts’ content, with no thoughts of balancing billiard balls or throw- ing up lighted torches. “They forget some of their tricks during these two months,” continued the captain, “and I'm glad of it, for they return to their work with renewed vigor and something still to learn. I do not feel at all mad when a seal fails in a trick which he is performing in public, for some of them do their work so neatly and perfectly that more than half the audience think there is nothing in it*in fact, that the animals take to it like a duck to water,” INSTINCT OF DUCKS. The duck has been supposed to be the dullest of all birds, so much so as to reply in the affirmative to the invitation: “Dilly, dilly, come and be killed.” A correspondent in New Zealand supplies us, however, with an anecdote to the con- trary: “T live on the shore of the harbor, and have a friend who dwells on the opposite shore eleven miles from me in a straight line. He lives up a narrow creek, and in coming to my place he has to pass’a number of other creeks on either side, then several islands, and then finally to cross a stretch of open water, about four miles across, where a swift tide runs, and where there is often a heavy sea. A few weeks ago this friend came to see me, and brought with him, as a present, a common drake which had been bred on his place and had never been a hundred yards from the house. It came over in the bottom of the boat, where it could see nothing but the sky, with its legs tied. When he gave it to me I turned it adrift wih my own ducks and thought no more about it, and, in fact, I never saw it again. When I saw my friend, however, some time after, he told me that on the morning after his visit to me he was awa- kened by a great commotion and quacking in his duck-yard, and, on going out to see what was the matter, he saw the drake which he had brought over to me waddling up to the enclosure in rather a travel-worn condition, while his brethren were welcoming him like one restored to them from the dead.” Considering what this drake accomplished, our corre- spondent justly considers his achievement entitled to be coupled with that of the other circumnavigator, his name- sake. DIAMOND DICK, JR—THE BOYS’ It was one of the most remarkable escapes from death BEST WEEKLY. TIGER-HUNTING. IT. I ordered a couple of goats to be killed for the people, and immediately started to look for the tigress. though I found her footmarks on the other side of the mountain, I was not successful. Being sleepy, from having been kept awake the night ‘before, I went to bed at nine o'clock, after cautioning the duffadar to have all the fires lit, and the sentries posted as before. | particularly warned him that there was an- other man-eater near. I had scarcely been to sleep an hour, before I was awoke bya shout from the duffadar that one of the treopers was carried off by the tiger. I leaped out of bed, and, seizing the large single, two-ounce rifle, kept loaded with powder only for the purpose, I fired it off in the air. It was pitch dark; not a bit of fire in the camp, save one or two embers near the spot where the trooper was seized, and over which the tigress had sprung on her vic tim. I got my clothes on as rapidly as possible, buckled on my sword, and seized one of my rifles; my, younger shika- ree, Nursoo, took the other. My khitnfutgar, or table- servant, got my candlestick and shade; and the villagers ‘ut, * rushed down with torches into the camp. My shikanee,: ; Mangkalee, could not at first be found. The duffadar told me in which direction the tigress haa gone. He had been standing within five paces of the man—in fact, he was seeing the sentry changed. “a ) ll The_poor fellow who was seized was putting on his* belts to go on duty. There was a dry ravine, without any jungle in it, which ran up to the camp. The tigress had stolen up that, ‘and sprang on the man’s chest, seiz- ing him by the mouth, and so systematically closing it that the poor fellow could never reply to his name. I shouted it—Gholanm Hoossain Khan—till I was hoarse. Springing into the ravine, I followed it up rap- idly, thinking that the only chance of recovering the man was to get up to the foot of the mountain, some five hun- dred vards distant, before she could carry him there. I[ heard one sigh, and followed in that direction, In vain! We returned. I returned to bed, but could not sleep. About three o'clock in the morning I again heard the hooting of the large monkeys. Shortly after I heard an extraordinary noise, which. I could not make out at first. I questioned the sentry. He replied thatJit was lungoor—the monkeys—but I made out the tiger’s growl, and the crunching of the poor trooper’s bones. It was no use any more risking life in the dark; besides, the tragedy was most probably being finished in the mountain above, where human foot could scarcely climb, even in the daytime. At daylight we started. No nice tracking was re- quired. “The tigress had dragged the body of the trooper. across the deep, sandy ravine, and there were his sword- * belt, his turban, trousers, and other parts of his dress in each bush. Putting the villagers on the track, which they could’: not fail to follow, lasked: . This story was begun in No, 599. - = ( | - 7.

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* 4 a : | DIAMOND DICK, JR.—THE BOYS’ BEST WEEKLY. “On what mountain path can I intercept the tigress?” The mokassee, turning to one of the villagers, said: “Take the sahib to the water, a spot where she has killed and broken up four or five people.” I started and mounted the first ledge of rocks in the + hopes of catching her before her return, but in vain, After waiting some time, I went toward the spot where I had left the others, and, seeing some crows on the tree. came up to the place where lay the body of the poor trooper. She had eaten off one of his legs only, up to the knee. We had passed within fifteen yards of the body last night. I talked a good deal to the Mussulmans about our be- ing both men of the Book, and not infidels; that they were of the same opinion as I was, that when the soul had fled the remainder was but dust—all in hopes that they would allow the body of the trooper to remain, when I should have made sure of having the tigress back to eat it, jBut they thought differently, and took the body away. On our return—all came to the consultation as to how the tigress was to be killed—their advice was to make a mechanu near the spot where the body was left. My own plan was to tie a calf at the shallow water where the tigress bathed; and, sitting behind the bank of the tank, to shoot her when she came in the evening. The first part of my plan was adopted; but they all assured me that they did not know by what path she descended from the hill, and that she was such a fiend that she would spring on some of us, since, to shoot her, “we should be obliged to sit within reach of the lowest rock. Much against my own inclination I gave in to pe— them. : st — | 7 > f F | ——— sl ee — ee = At three P. M. they went to make the screen, or shel- ter, up in the tree. We left for it, with the kullal to carry my water, as usual, at half-past four P. M. I placed my two heavy rifles before me, telling my shikarees that I would not touch them until she came tight under us, when I would break her back with a single ball. On no account were they to touch my arm or move. We had scarcely sat half an hour when down came the tigress with her stealthy walk. Evidently she was of the same kind as the male, short and thick—the regu- lar mountain-tiger—her tail did not touch the ground. She Was the smallest tigress, fer a full-grown one, [ had ever seen. The reason of her not having kept to the sandy ravine was now evident enough. She was not large and strong ‘enough to drag the man, except on hard ground; so, when pursued, she had dragged him along the bank, and within a few yards of the ravine—the easiest way to the spot at the foot of the hill, where she had afterward come to eat him. In front of us there was the ravine, which she dropped into, crossed, and then fixed her gaze at the bush under which she had left the man’s body. She kept gliding along till she came behind a large forest tree about sixty yards from us. I had tied an- other calf on the clear space before us, in the hopes that, having had but a slight meal, and under the disappoint- »inent of not finding the man’s body, she would fall on this calf. The latter stood paralyzed under the gaze of the tigress, and never moved. He was mesmerized, so to ~ say, though he continued standing. 3! The tigress by degrees brought one eye, and then both, round the side of the large tree, and fixed them on me; and thus we looked at one another for at least twenty minutes. What would I not have given to have been on foot now, with my rifle on a rest! I felt certain of be- ing able to put a ball between her eyes. 3 But the sun was shining on the barrels; to move a finger to take up the rifle was to lose the chance. My shikaree, Mangkalee, sat on my right—he could see her shoulder; Nursoo was on the left of me—he could see her quarters and loins. The unusual object in the tree could not escape her sight. We were twelve feet from the ground, pretty safe. The poor villager who, when the tigress came near, had been unable to stand her gaze, had remained with his head between his knees, and his eyes shaded in his hands. This long suspense he could not brook, and at length scratched his leg with his right hand. The movement was sufficient. The tigress slipped into the ravine, and ascended the opposite bank at the same deliberate and stealthy pace. I felt the chance was gone; seizing my Wilkinson’s rifle, as she cleared the heavy bushes, I shot her, but too far back and too low. The ball went through her belly and fell beyond her. She gave one growl and bound, then moved on quite slowly. 5 We slid down the tree quickly, and followed on her track in the direction of the water. As we came to the bank of the tank, and looked over, there was the black calf which had been tied there, dead. His jugular vein had been opened most scientifically. The deed must have been done immediately after the calf had been tied up. Darkness was now coming on. mountain was before us, and | had to return to the tents with the unpleasant feeling of having lost the tigress by not acting on my own knowledge of shikar, in oppo- sition to the village hunters. Had I sat behind the bank of the tank, I should have shot her while sucking the blood of the calf. The shikarees tried to console me, saying the tigress would die, and they would recover her for me; that if she did not return to eat the calf she was a dead tigress. Ths was my own opinion also, for | knew that at that sultry season of the year, wounds, in such a hot-blooded animal as a tiger, generally cause death. At dawn next morning we started for the spot. The calf lay there as he was the night before, untouched. I sat beneath the bank waiting till ten o'clock. It was Sunday, and I never shoot anything but tigers on that day. Besides, no noise must be made. Having left two men on a high, leafy tree within sight of the calf, I returned to the tents. These men were re- lieved at one o’clock. At four P. M. I again went and sat till nightfall; but no tigress. That night the monkeys were wonderfully quiet. We all considered the man- eater was dead or disabled. Her footmarks were not to be found at the water. She had not bathed or drank. A fortnight or so after this, and when I had returned to Nagpore, a mookee, or district sowar or trooper, brought me word from the raja that his shikarees had found the tigress, dead; but that her skin was decom- posed and unfit to send me. This was unsatisfactory, but could not be helped. | THE END. Bh: act The impregnabie . ~ P.* ge

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DIAMO ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY. BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS Diamond Dick and his son, Bertie, are true men of the Western plains. They are noble-hearted fellows who don’t impose on the weaker man and who don't let anyone else do it if they can help it. You ought to read how they clean up a mining camp of the dis- honest gamblers and other toughs who usually prey on the uneducated miners. PRICE FIVE CENTS PER COPY For sale by a!! newsdealers, or sent, by the publishers to any address upon receipt of price in money or postage stamps HERE ARE THE 507—Diamond Dick's Cut-off; or, The Eastern Invasion of Lame Dog. 568—Diamond Dick Across the Border; or, rom Rob- ber’s Roost to Regina. 509—Diamond Dick as a Hero; or, The Claim Jumpers from the Bad Hills. 570-——Diamond Dick's Northwest Trail; or, Hunter of Hudson Bay. 571—Diamond Dick's Hardest Test; or, Beauty of Cariboo. 572—Diamond Dick’s Finger of Fate; or, A Fight in the Name of the Law. 573—Diamond Dick's Sleight of Hand; or, Fooling the Slick Man From Denver. §74—Diamond Dick Holds the Wires; or, | Lineman of Death Pass. 575—Diamond Dick’s Demon Wheel; or, A Sharp Sur- prise for the Redskins. 576—Diamond Dick's Hardest Ride; or, The Mazeppa of the Sierras. The Lone The Alad 577—Diamond Dick's Secret Play: or, The “Sarpint” in a New Role. 578—Diamond Dicks Hazard; “Little Bird.” 579—Diamond Dick Hand-to-Hand: or, A Test of Cour- age in the Dark. or, The Marked Man of 580—Diamond Dick's Vendetta; or, The Duel in Death | Valley. 581—Diamond Dick’s Friendly Foe; or, What the Mad Horse Did. 582—Diamond Dick's Desert Pard: or, Jack Sinn’s Last Shot. 383—Diamond Dick’s Queer Debtor; or, The Skeleton Horseman's Penance. LATEST The Strange TITLES: , 584— Diamond Dick’s Judgment; or, The Cowhbov- Poker Nell. 485—Diamond Dick’s New VPard; or, The boy Tender- foot from Iowa. 586—Diamond Dick’s Warning Shot; or, The Renegade of Wind River. 587—Diamond Dick on a Lone Trail: or, Midnight Ambush. s88—Diamond Dick’s Short Order: or, How Jack Sinn Settled Up. 589—Diamond Dick’s Green Ghost; or, A Millions in Montana. 590—Diamond Dick’s Swing Duel; or, The Bad Man of ‘High Falls. 591—Diamond Dick’s Border Battle; or, Meeting Wah’s Little Game. 592—Diamond Dick’s Close Shave; or, Knife to Knife with the Yellow Peril. and Siowx >ams Battle for \lok | §93— Diamond Dick’s Sure Scent: or, The Marked \lan from Chicago. 594—Diamond Dick’s Maverick; or, Brand in Arizona. 595—Diamond Dick’s High Sign: or, The Secret c? the Adobe Castle. 596—Diamond Dick’s Boldest Move; or, The Wedding Bells of Buck Price. 597—Diamond Dick’s Great Railroad leat: or, Her Through On Time. 598—Diamond Dick’s Vengeance; or, The Defeat of the | Destroying Angel. s99—Diamond Dick’s Masterstroke: or, The Unmasking of Seattle Sim. 600—Diamond Dick’s Slashing Blow; or, A Close Call in the Big Ditch. 7, Running a New Putting. If you want any back numbers of this publication and cannot procure them from your news- Postage stamps taken the same as money. dealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79 Seventh Avenue, NEW YORK CITY. D DICK WEEKLY r ma