The Argosy for May — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

al pon A PX! ‘ 274 “Oh, no!” I protested, while a nerv- ous laugh shivered through my voice. “You can go, but the clock can’t. You see it hasn’t been going for a week, so it can’t go!” I added hysterically. The would-be abductor of our treasure rested the sacred timepiece on the piano- stool, and reached for his hat. “I know,” he said, not looking at me, “that’s why I’m going to take it away— because it can’t go itself.” My nails dug into the woodwork as I tightened my clutch on the door-jamb. I could feel an icy perspiration breaking * out on my brow and in the palms of my hands; my eyes were wide and staring fsom the strangle-hold of fear that gripped my throat, as the man took a step toward me. “Youre not!’’ I cried. ‘‘ You’re not going to do any such thing!” He looked up quickly, and his lips puckered in a slow whistle of surprise as he took in my barricade of the door- way. Then his chin hardened purpose- fully, and he picked up his loot. “If you will let me pass—” he began, stepping forward. “Stop!” I called. The man paused and then backed away before me as I advanced slowly into the room, keeping my eyes fixed on his face. In the center of the parlor he stopped, and I came up until I stood directly before him. ‘“How dare you attempt to take away before my eyes—” I began. ‘But, my dear young lady—” he interrupted. “Stop!” I checked him, raising my hand. ‘“ Don’t speak—this has gone far enough. Do you think that you can leave this room with that clock—” ‘But I tell you—” “ You tell me!” I laughed scornfully “You, a—”’ I broke off suddenly, the word “ bur- glar” dying in my throat at the sound of a light step behind me. I wheeled— to discover the alert figure of Grace poised in the doorway. Just in time, I thought. Now there were two of us to handle this fellow. I would keep him in the room while my chum went down-stairs for a policeman. - “ Grace—” I began, taking a quick step toward her. THE ARGOSY. Then I halted in surprise at the ex- pression on her face. There was no won- der in her survey of the scene she had so suddenly come upon; no amazement at the unexpected sight of the strange man still standing in the center of the room. Why wasn’t she astonished, awestruck, frightened at the spectacle? “Hallo, kidlet!”? she called to me. “Just got in, I see. Tom, have you Was I dreaming, or crazy, or—what could this mean? Besides taking the mat- ter of my being alone in our home with a-burglar as something quite ordinarily to be expected, she seemed to know the man—called him by his first name, in fact ! ‘ Roberta,” she addressed me, “let me introduce you to Tom Jennings. This is my chum, Miss Fletcher, Tom. For goodness’ sake, what are you carrying that clock around in your hands for? You aren’t going yet? Wait till I hang up my hat and coat, and we'll chat a while.” My roommate walked out into ‘the hall. Mumbling an apology to the man in the gray overcoat, I dashed after her. “Grace!” I gasped, pulling her into: the dining-room and closing the door hastily after us. ‘What does this mean?” “What does what mean, silly?” she asked surprisedly, staring at my wild eyes and flushed face.-~ “That man out there—who is he?’’ I panted. ‘‘ Where did he come from— how did he get in here? ”’ “Why, Tom Jennings is an old, old friend of mine,’’ Grace answered wonder- ingly. ‘‘ His father’s in the jewelry busi- ness—worth millions, by the way—and when I met Tom on the street the other day, and told him how badly our clock was keeping time, he offered to come up and take it down to his father’s shop to be fixed. He called about fifteen minutes ago, but I had to go out after the salad I forgot to order, and I left him here to wait till I got back. Roberta—whatever is the matter?” | I was leaning helplessly against the table, all the strength sapped from my body. in the reaction. I saw it all now— why had I been so, stupid as not to un- derstand the situation before? CcoOnnicloooks (C@