The Conquest of New France; A Chronicle of the Colonial Wars

d, dressed, ate luncheon, and then went out upon the streets, walking briskly and s

ver to Broadway and investigated the electric signs by daylight, observed the congestion of vehicles and the efforts of traffic policemen to straighten it out. He darted into the sub

er zoo in the Bronx before the end of the week. He stood back at the curb and lifted his head to lo

t!" said Si

down to the dining room, stopping on the way to obtain a ticket

at were not on the menus of the hotels in Honduras. Then he sat back in his chair and listened to

that the waiter was a long time giving him service. He remonstrated, an

ad itself a mere mess of vegetables. The fish and fowl he had ordered were not served pr

elled to do so this time. The man who has been serving me seems to be a rank amateur, and twice h

it, sir," the

demi-tasse. Prale did not care. He glared back at the man, drank the coffee, and touched the matc

t, and I look for the m

hat the portions he served were poor portions. His happiness at being home again prevented Sidney Pral

oward the north, looking at the bright lights and the crowds. He passed through two or

mediocre one, but it pleased Sidney Prale. He had seen a better show in Honduras a month b

d down the street toward a cabaret restaurant. He reached into his overcoat po

g on the same kind of paper, and ev

retributio

s to be a joke!"

been among the last to leave, and already the lights of the playhouse were be

down on the water front. Surely she could have no hand in this, he thought. What interest could Kat

e sort of a new advertising dodge. If I ever catch the jokesmith who is re

was filling the place. The orchestra was playing furiously, and the cabaret performance was beginning. Sidney Prale l

ning gown, as if she had just come from the theater or opera. She was in the company of the elde

respectful manner. But Kate Gilbert looked through him as if he had not be

he would have bowed to any woman to whom he had been properly introduced. She had seen fit to cut him

as the Circle, dropped into a restaurant for a good breakfast, and then engaged a taxicab and drove downtown to the fin

and sent his card in to the president. An attendant ush

am glad that you came to see me this morning.

he matter?"

inancier said. "Since you were leaving Honduras almost immediately, we d

Prale said. "I have disposed of all my holdings i

ars as for men," said the fi

stments? I have engaged no

ave nothing at the present

e observed. "I never knew a tim

th us at present," said the banker. "Sorry that we cannot atte

e is no hurry, of course. Probably you'll have something in a

embarrassed as he spoke. "The fact of the matter is, Mr

imed. "You mean you don't want m

hat, Mr

k that any financial institution would be

. "But I must tell you that we'd be glad if you'd mak

r in his voice. "Very well, sir! I'll see that the deposit is transferred before night. Perhaps I can f

ice in the matter

explain wha

. "We took the money because of our Honduras correspondent, but we'll

o that little thing

rk insane? A man with a million in cold cash has the right to expect that he will be treate

ow. He would send in his card to his old employer, Griffin, he decided, and ask his advice abo

, though the offices were twice as large now, and

ment?" an offic

in will see me," said Prale. "I

to see younger men get along. He would want to know how Sidney Prale got his million. He would want to take

s card. "Mr. Griffin can'

eh? Did he make

he's readin' about yesterday's ball game. He said to say that he didn't have

" Prale said, his face flushing. "You'

bluff on me!" the boy answered. "From the way the bos

a puzzled and angry man. There probably was some mistake, he told him

efore, but he did not know where to find them. He'd have to wait and ask G

hours he had made arrangements to transfer the account, using four financial institutions. He said nothing, except t

im a note with his key. Prale tore it open after he stepped into the elevator

f compensation. For what y

read that message, and wen

e for me?" he dema

enger

now where he

, s

rted for the elevator aga

you in his office, sir," th

w. He found the manager to be a sort of austere indi

y, the clerk assigned you to a suite on the fifth floor. He made a mistake. We had a telegraphic reservation for tha

" Prale said. "I have unpacke

ere isn't a vacant suite

en, until y

ale. We cannot take care of you, I'm afraid. So many re

I suppose. You may have t

you, Mr

t a cab, drove to another hotel, inspected a suite and reserved it, paying a month in advance, and then went back to the big hote

fifth floor within half an hour. The party is just vacating it. Plenty of suites

ce in a Honduras forest when he became aware that a dishonest foreman was betraying business secrets. He h

ance. He met Kate Gilbert face to face. She did not seem to