restored the spectacles to
his pocket. "How easily such a man could impose upon people. To look
at him one would think that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth!"

He decided to part company with this chance acquaintance and, rising
from his seat, strolled leisurely up the walk. A moment later, on
looking back, he discovered that the old gentleman had disappeared.

He walked down State Street to the river and back again, amused by the
activity displayed in this busy section of the city. But the time he
had allowed himself in Chicago had now expired, so he began looking
around for some high building from the roof of which he could depart
unnoticed.

This was not at all difficult, and selecting one of many stores he
ascended by an elevator to the top floor and from there mounted an iron
stairway leading to the flat roof. As he climbed this stairway he
found himself followed by a pleasant looking young man, who also seemed
desirous of viewing the city from the roof.

Annoyed at the inopportune intrusion, Rob's first thought was to go
back to the street and try another building; but, upon reflecting that
the young man was not likely to remain long and he would soon be alone,
he decided to wait. So he walked to the edge of the roof and appeared
to be interested in the scenery spread out below him.

"Fine view from here, ain't it?" said the young man, coming up to him
and placing his hand carelessly upon the boy's shoulder.

"It is, indeed," replied Rob, leaning over the edge to look into the
street.

As he spoke he felt himself gently but firmly pushed from behind and,
losing his balance, he plunged headforemost from the roof and whirled
through the intervening space toward the sidewalk far below.

Terrified though he was by the sudden disaster, the boy had still wit
enough remaining to reach out his right hand and move the indicator of
the machine upon his left wrist to the zero mark. Immediately he
paused in his fearful flight and presently came to a stop at a distance
of less than fifteen feet from the flagstones which had threatened to
crush out his life.

As he stared downward, trying to recover his self-possession, he saw
the old gentleman he had met on the Lake Front standing just below and
looking at him with a half frightened, half curious expression in his
eyes.

At once Rob saw through the whole plot to kill him and thus secure
possession of his electrical devices. The young man upon the roof who