"At any minute
the strong wind may unwind it and send it whirling off over the
town. Or the gale may tear it to pieces, scattering the diamonds
over a whole block, and not one in ten of the stones would ever
be found."
Mrs. Macey sat in the runabout, a picture of mute misery.
Herr Schimmelpodt elbowed his way through the outskirts of the
crowd and stood absorbing his share in the local excitement.
"Ach! I am afraid dere is von thing dot you gan't do, Bresgott,"
smiled the German. "Ach! By chimminy, though, I don't know yet."
"I was wondering myself whether I could make a good try at steeple
climbing," laughed Dick eagerly. "The money sounds good to me
anyway."
"No; I don't know. I think it would be foolish," replied Herr
Schimmelpodt.
"I believe you could get up there, Dick," muttered Darrin, in
a low voice.
"Then you could, Dave."
"I think I could," nodded Darrin. "And, by crickets, if you were
here, Dick, I'd certainly try it."
"Try it anyway, then," urged Prescott.
"Not unless you balk at it," returned Darrin.
"I'm not going to balk at it," retorted Dick, flushing just a
bit. "But you spoke of it first, Dave, and I think you ought
to have first chance at the reward."
"Tell you what I'll do," proposed Darrin, seriously. "We'll toss
for it, and the winner has the try."
"I'll go you," nodded Prescott.
Herr Schimmelpodt, regarding them both seriously, saw that they
meant it.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100