Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-17

CopDri0ht, 1912 by the Public Ledger co.
Sc A H." and the words slipped from
n him unconsciously. $50 you We
been spying again-it's becoming quite a
habit with you. Mr.. Detective
was furious.
"Give me that diamond" 7 cried.
cor by heavens I'll shoot you on the
spot ~
1t is difficult to describe exactly what
happened during the next few seconds.
All / remember is that the smirking
smile faded from his face and gave way
to a look of hate, and thathis right foot
suddenly ascended and kicked the pistol
out of my hand. The weapon struck
the floor and exploded, the bullet
self in the side wall of the dining room.
The thing happened so quickly that
I hardly had time to think but the next
moment we found ourselves glaring
at one another from opposite sides of
the dining room table. The cold eyes
of the Brazilian were blazing and he
spoke in short, suppressed jerks, with
all of thcVsuavty of his manner gone.
"You still have chance to get out
of here alive he cried ''do-it-nt
once"
/ laughed mirthlessly.
"Do I look like that sort of man
if you think so. you've made the mis-
take sof your life.
"Go!" he shricked, "or take the
consequences J"
"I'm going in good time l an
swered, "but when | go you and the
Red Diamond go with me-"
We edged our way around the table
glaring at one another like tigers.
thought / heard a sound at the front
door and wondered if it could be
Bromley Barnes. But it died out in
stantly and | knew that | was mis-
taken. Calculatingly. l looked over my
man. He had the advantage of me in
weight, but | was younger and felt that
| had more agility. We were so close
| now that we could feel each other
breath. The bristes of his closely
cropped hair and of his mustache and
goatee stuck out aggressively. =,
Suddenly | struck at him with al
of the strength at my command and my
doubled fist caught him squarely OF
the end of his nose. 1t must have been
effective. / knew it drew blood. lie
gave howl of pain and aimed at my
! face. But his hand was soft and the
blow did not even cause me discom
fort. got back at once with another
punch and then he grabbed me near tn,
| throat and tore off my tie and collar.
We were both breathing heavily ant
the next thing | realized we were locked
in bear like embrace. The fight abb
ruptly turned into wrestling match
and in this respect he seemed to have
the better of me. Over and over OF
the floor we rolled, upsetting chairs anc
everything that came in our way. W.
went from one side of the room to the
other and presently the big table was
overturned with crash. ] do not know
how long this lasted, but after a while
we separated and found ourselves pant
ing at opposite sides of the room.
1t was truce--for few moments
We were both trying to get our breath
and our strength before resuming hos
tilities. ! do not know how he felt
but | am sure that l was resolved tC
get him or die in the attempt. The
candle had been upset and extinguisheC
and the room was in darkness, all eX
cept that streak of blessed sunlight
which streamed in from the hole made
by the broken shutter. l looked dowr
along the sunbeam and caught sight o
something on the foor-a something
that made me gasp.
1t was the Red Diamond. The glin
of sunshine touched its many facets ant
caused brilliancy which cannot b'
described in words-it was red flame
1t was crimson pool The sight o
that prize, laying on the floor between
us, renewed my strength and resolu.
ton. made up my mind, then ant
there, that ! would fight for it to th'
death. He must have seen it at tn,
same moment, for he tried to tenn
porize.
"Wcll, my little bantam he said
in an effort to assume his old banterin,
tone. "have you had enoughY'
"1'll have enough when ! see pai
of handouts about your ugly wrists y
: 7 retorted