The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

REINDEER ON crazily around the roof, waving his hand- kerchief at the unresponsive windows of the surrounding sky-scrapers. Near noon the sun was obscured by clouds, and a light snow began to fall. ‘“Nature’s coverlet,” remarked Spen- cer. ‘‘ Like the ‘ King’s Children,’ we shall be shrouded in our last moments and tenderly put to sleep.” Crofton gave an opinion on nature that was at variance with the thought suggested by Spencer. In the afternoon they were both vigor- ously hungry and ate greedily of the chocolates. The snow fell more heavily and the wind rose again. Crofton went from gloom to fury, and back to black depression. ‘“T should think your friends would no- tice your disappearance by this time,” observed Spencer, “and start an inquiry.” Crofton groaned heavily. “JT am supposed to be in Montreal,” he said bitterly, as though yielding up a reluctant confession. ‘ I was not expect- ed home until to-night. I came back— earlier than I expected to, you see.” Presently they were wading in moist, clinging snow as they tramped about the rocf, and from time to time they took shelter from the stinging drive of the storm in their shacks, but only to come out again and resume the weary round to keep from freezing. ‘‘ Spencer!” cried the colonel at five o’clock, “something must be done. I couldn’t live through another night, and I don’t see how I can stand it another hour. I throw up my hands; I give up. Haven’t you a single idea? Can’t you suggest something?”’ “T don’t know what resources you may still have,” was the answer. ‘“ Now, there might be something in one of those boxes of yours that would help us in some way.” “ Nothing but gewgaws!”’ snapped the colonel disgustedly. ‘If it was a case of ransom I might do something. In that long, flat box there I have a— Well, you may as well know, I have a diamond THE ROOF. 159 necklace worth forty-five thousand dol- lars! Isn’t that one of life’s little ironies?” Spencer betrayed no _ surprise, but brushed the clinging snow out of his eyes and fell to thinking deeply. ‘““Let me see,” he said at last, “I be- lieve you can write upon glass with a. diamond. There’s a small window in my shack, and it’s easy enough to ae glass out. 7 ‘“‘ Just how would you convey a piece of glass down twenty stories to the street and keep it intact?” Crofton inquired ironically. “Wrap it up and pad it well, of course,’ answered the other soberly. “ But, frankly, I doubt the success of the plan unless the piece of glass was accom- panied by something unusually valuable.” “What, then?” inquired the colonel eagerly. “The suggestion is wild, I admit,” Spencer went on, “ but it does no harm to make it. I think that if you threw down your forty-five-thousand-dollar necklace, you might, at least, stir ‘up some sort of excitement.” ‘““'You’re as mad as a hatter!” declared Crofton. “We are involved in a mad adven- ture, aren’t we?” returned the other. “I understood that you were desperate enough to do anything. Of course a dis- honest person might hesitate to run away with such a tremendously valuable thing, and if there was a prospect of a large re- ward, the necklace would doubtless be re- turned at once. Ninety-nine men in a hundred would hasten to your relief and be happy to return the treasure and re- ceive the reward.” “What figure would you name for such a reward?” Crofton asked sourly. “The usual reward for the recovery of a piece of jewelry like that,” answered Spencer, “is some eight or ten thousand dollars. It’s the alternative, you know, of losing the whole treasure.” Crofton shook off a few miniature snowdrifts and squared his shoulders. conmiclooolks (E@)