The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

REINDEER ON THE ROOF, a glowing report of his maneuvering, and the two men chuckled together. : “ By Jove!” cried the younger one. “I would put forty or fifty thousand into a string of stones if I had the right to give it to her, you know. As a matter of fact, I was looking over a few things of the sort yesterday, and there’s a rather famous necklace that can be had for about forty-five thousand. It would make a handsome engagement gift, wouldn’t it?” “Td buy it myself, if I thought it would do the trick,” Crofton said eagerly. “Tl walk up the avenue with you and take a look at it, if you care to.” A half-hour later the colonel was hold- ing a string of glittering brilliants in his hand, fairly giddy for the moment in the fascination of them. “T don’t see how I can help buying them, Howard,” he said softly. ‘ Most any girl would be engaged, if only for a gift like that, eh?” “Tt’s magnificent!” Olmstead declared tensely. “Flora would look like an empress.” That was about all the conversation in- cident to the ensuing transaction.in which Crofton gave his check for a considerable deposit upon the gems, but a quiet- looking customer, bending over the show- case near them, caught the words with well-trained ears, and turned them to his own account for a paltry five dollars or thereabouts. The next issue of a certain weekly jour- nal, more dreaded than enjoyed by many of its readers, contained the following paragraph, apparently cryptical, but not difficult for those familiar with society gossip to translate: A well-known clubman and yachtsman, who affects an honorary military title for every-day wear, has at last consummated for his attractive daughter the match that has long been known as his fondest dream. The young woman has no pressing need of the accession of wealth involved in the al- liance, but she will be able, at least, to aspire to social pinnacles which the colonel could never hope to scale. ' ‘The gentle warrior, hero of many a blood- ‘ard! 151 less field, is so elated over this latest con- quest that he has purchased for the winsome bride-elect a trifling bauble of precious stones at the price of a baronial country seat. Men about town are now tendering dis- creet sympathy to the impecunious young man, who has long cherished certain fond, but by no means secret, hopes. “This!” roared the colonel, as he flourished a copy of the weekly journal in the face of Olmstead at the club, “is a damned, indecent, infernal outrage! I thought you had more discretion, How- Where were your wits?” “Mind your own discretion, my dear fellow!” retorted Olmstead. “I don’t know a thing about the beastly mess. If any one has been talking, it’s yourself.” “Do you think I’m a fool?” demanded Crofton. “Do you think I’m one?” Olmstead fired back with unwonted spirit. “I beg your pardon,” said the colonel, cooling slightly; “I’m sorry if I spoke too abruptly. I know that this wretched business is no fault of mine, and I dare say you're quite as innocent yourself. No one ever knows how this filthy sheet gets hold of such things. They get them, and that’s all there is about it. ‘Mind, I don’t care a farthing about the raps at me, but these few lines may upset all our plans, and make beastly fools of us. Flora will see this, of course; there ‘Il be a hundred asses and tabby- cats ready to show it to her. I don’t want to see her—I really don’t. I’m leaving for Montreal this afternoon—on business — and I’m keeping away from the phone. her mother’s, when she fancies she has a grievance.” : ‘“‘T have seen her,” said Olmstead dry- Who got such a story out of you? She has a tongue like—like: ly, as one might speak of having been _ present at the storming of Liége, “ and she has already seen this paper.” The colonel caught his arm in a grip that made him wince. “ What did she say?”-he demanded. “She Olmstead. - £eomicdooks laughed—heartily,” answered | (EOLA