The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-10
CHAPTER III.
A CLOSE CALL.

Diamond Dick staggered back and fell
m~otionless on the floor.
A cry OF horror from the crowd, then a
savage snarl, and the Safpint of Siskiyou
drew a revolver and leveiled it at the
crowd.
'Whar's the man who fired that shot
Quick You emery cusses-you sneakin
cutthroats. Who was itr'
Fancy Charley, the barkeeper, came
forward.
Gentlemen, whoever fired that shot,
did it through that door. pointing to the
small entrance at the head of the room.
L heard il close Immediately after Dick
fell
With a ~vengeful yell the Sarpint of Sis
kiyou burst through the throng and threw
himself against the door which gave way
before him with a crash.
A fight of stairs were disclosed leading
upward. The Sarpint OF Siskiyou sprang
up these with a bound, followed by a doz-
en- or more OF the miners, with drawn
weapons in their hands.
On the landing above which was in
darkness the giant collided with some one
who was thrown violently 70 the floor by
the shock.
With a howl of triumph the Slrpint OF
Siskiyou collarcd the being, and, in spite
OF his cries, dragged him down stairs, and
flung him headlong into the room.
Thar We air, boys. cried the infuri@ted
giant, thar's the 'sassin. What do me
eyes deceive me d! A heather Chinee 2
Ii was q Chinaman-the loose, baggy
trousers, tie wide sleeves Of the jacket,
the olive complexion, the almond shaped
eyes, and above all the long plated cue
dangling behind could belong to none but
a child OF the Celestial Empire.
The Chinamans face had turned almost
green from fright and he was jabbering
away in pigeon English at a terrific rate.
Hi, you Mclean man, whaisee mattee
youf What you wantee Hop SingF
Look here. heather, you kill man, eald
the giant menacingly.
No kille; all saim lie =
What Kin | believe me ears Tell
me | lieg
Colonel Reardon interlered At this mo-
ment.
i think you are wrong. gentlemen.
What motives could this Chinaman have
in firing at Diamond Dicky
Then what wal he doin' on them stairs:
doggedly demanded the Sarpint OF Siski-
you.
'Ay. what was he doing there . came
IRON the men who surrounded the Celes-
tial, with dark faces. Let him tell that.
Me come bringee You wash. Missee
say takee yoh room me go. Den Mclean
man pushee me down; no goo5
You hear, gentlemen. MS story is sim
pie enough
AJoylul Stout at this instant came from
y.os6 who mad picked up the fallen man.
'Hur-oar, boys. he amt dead ! cried a
gaunt lanky b~orderman; he didn't stop
the bullet squar. he'll come to soon.
Som warm friends had Diamond Dick
among those in the room, and this an
nouncement fell gladly upon their ears.
They crowded around the wounded man
eagerly, and in the confusion thus made
the Chinaman glided swiftly out of the
room.
Diamond Dick had opened his eyes, and
was staring vaeantly around at the rough
faces bending kindly over him. He put
his hand to his head with a grOau of pain.
Ay, il wal a close shave, old man, said
Cinnibar Sam. who supported him upon
his knee, but here-drink this; it'll set ye
on yer pins IN less I n no llIlit.
The fiery liquor did its work, and Dick
struggled To his feet. but lac reeled dizZily.
How is il. pards said the Sarpint steady
ing him. Amt hunt tad, air yerf
ON, no, I'm all right. The bullet only
grazed my head. But who was the COW
ard that fired at me when my back was
turned :
You'll hey to AK me sum easy ones fnst,
pard; the shot cum from the door thar.
Yes, And did no one follow the as
sassin =
Now you re shoutin they did = cried
the Sarpint i got through that door too
quick.
And could you not find the man who
fired at me =
Nary time, pard; didn't find nothin'
'ceptin a heather Chince.'
Who was that
lie called hisself Hop Sing-lhe var
mint.
All, Hop Sing. know him. said Di-
almond Dick. 'He did not fire at me, | ann
sure.
Il wal a goin' to skulp him, paid; wuP
fur a fact; but that high-toned galoot thar.
put in his yaup, an lowed he know'd the
man..
Colonel Reardon scowled al this ~allusion
10 himself and came forward.
Dick, he said, j regret this very much;
but ] am sure you can attach none OF The
blame TO me. was as much astonished
as any che in the room when ] saw you go
down. | didn't think the CbInaman did
1t. and therefore | stepped in between him
and the violence which this man was
about TO do.
You did right, Colonel; the ChinamaR
never fired the shot-but how long have !
been insensibleg' he inquired. suddenly.
Not long; perhaps five minutes.
All, then il IS not too late, and Dick,
turning abruptly, stalked out OF the room,
leaving his friends staring in amazement
at the door which closed behind him.
Too late!' unused Colonel Reardon 10
himself What does the man mean!
The continuation of THE SARPINT or
SIsKIYoU COUNTY will be found in No.
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