The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

156 “ A mere idle quotation from the clas- sics,” said Spencer. | ‘A sense of humor must be a veritable curse to some men! ” remarked Crofton scathingly. “ But it may be a blessing in certain emergencies,” the younger man replied. “Now, instead of exhausting yourself with fruitless oaths and raving you might be casting about for some way out of the predicament. For instance, you can write a message on one of those parcels, if you have a pencil or pen; then drop it down to the street and wait for some- body to pick it up, read the message, and come to your relief.” ‘But those parcels are—most of them are too valuable to throw away like that,” objected the colonel. “To be sure, there’s a five-pound box of chocolates there—” “There! * See? By calm discussion we have discovered a resource!” Spencer exclaimed. ‘If it comes to the worst, two men can live comfortably for a couple of days on five pounds of chocolates. Chocolate is rather cloying as a steady diet, but it is nutritious and stimulating.” “Two men, you say!” jeered the colo- nel, losing his temper again. ‘‘ Don’t get _ Overoptimistic by counting on my—my provisions for yourself.” “T was merely stating a hypothetical case,”’ replied the other. “I wanted to show that if two men could live on what you have there, one man should have no - grave anxiety about himself. For my- self, I am rather too much of a stoic to become alarmed in such a situation. I know that a man can endure cold and hunger for a considerable period without serious injury, if he does not give way to bis emotions. A mood of calm resignation fortifies one doubly against such trials. ~“ See!” he exclaimed a moment later; - “the clouds have cleared away and we are going to have a fair evening,” and he pointed encouragingly at the stars. The colonel mentioned in a muffled voice that his companion was a fool, and applied a qualifying adjective. - THE ARGOSY.. “IT hope you'll enjoy your fine eve- ning!” he added furiously. “If you had any sense you’d see that the clearing has made it colder. I’m freezing to death here.”’ “<The air bites shrewdly’—‘It is a nipping and an eager air,’” Spencer quoted mercilessly. ‘‘ But it puts a man on his mettle, doesn’t it? There’s nothing so bracing and stimulating as a frosty air like this.” He produced a pipe and tobacco-pouch, and as he made ready to smoke, the colonel weakened for the first time and looked at him with a certain wistfulness. ‘Smoking helps a lot, of course,” Spen- cer said casually. “I suppose you have- n’t a pipe about you?” — The colonel shook his head. “Tf I had a cigar,” he said miserably, “it would help.” To his surprise, Spencer promptly drew a leather case from his pocket and dis- played the alluring ends of five cigars. “Why, that’s very good of you!” Crof- ton exclaimed, fidgeting uncomfortably. “ But I’m afraid I'll be depriving you—”’ ‘“T rarely smoke cigars when I have a pipe,” said Spencer. ‘‘ However, I sup- pose the transfer of them would be a lit- tle more regular if there was some matter of consideration—say, two pounds and a half of chocolates, or something like that.” Crofton almost laughed, but checked himself in time to save his dignity. “Take the whole beastly box, for all I care!” he cried. ‘“ I’d take my chances with five cigars sooner than I would with a ton of chocolates, any time.” The exchange was effected with due formality, and the colonel plainly enjoyed the first few puffs of a hastily lighted weed, but the cold grew more searching and he shivered and cringed until Spen- cer was moved to pity him. “But why don’t you do something?” he wanted to know. “I happen not to have a scrap of paper or a pencil about me, but there’s paper enough around those parcels, if you have something to write with.” COPMICLOOOKS (E@)