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

the newspapers. He had remembered that a New Yorker reads the papers religiously to keep up to the minute; whereas,

concerning himself, though there was mention of other men who had

imself. "Don't care for publicity, anyway, but the

e hotel for dinner, and decided that, instead of going

gain, making his way through the happy, theater-going throngs toward Times Square. In the enjoyment

nancial institution to refuse a deposit of a round million. Why had Griff

ch things should happen unless I am being taken for somebo

too; and here, in his old home, he had nothing but his money. At this hour, down in Honduras, the band would be playing in the plaza, and society would be out in force. There would be a soft bree

de welcome. A man could sit out on the veranda and look over the tumbling sea, and hea

ense in feeling this way. I'll have a hundre

ped in at another hotel. There he saw Rufus Shepley sitting

tance, but he was a human being and could talk. Prale was just a bit

e Shepley and cl

again, Mr. Sh

did not light and he did not extend a hand in greeting. Instead, hi

hepley thundered. "I do not wish you to address me again-do y

Prale st

ufus Shepley went on. "Ten years in Honduras, were you? W

could hear. Men began moving toward them, and women

flushed, too, and he fel

he acquaintance if you do not, sir," h

entitled to courte

ean by that?"

t's all! I don't want you to speak to me again! I don'

me like that without giving me some explanat

ried. "You can't make a

e was quite a crowd around them, and

uch care!" he told Shepley. "If your hair wasn't gray, I'd take you

n me, wi

. I don't fight a man wi

y y

in public again, either," Sidney Prale

ou, sir!" S

rm. Sidney Prale put up a hand, tore the gras

exclaimed. "I think that y

tective came

t out!" he said. "What'

arboring a mani

ng a crook!"

him by both arms, and shook him un

hat your hair is gray!" Prale exclaimed, an

l you can cool off. If you want to stage a scrap, go down and rent Madison Square Garden and advertise in

trance, the crowd parting to let him through. Rufus Shepley, fuming and fus

was white now because of the temper he was fight

t do it again!" Prale said. "I ought to set

ped forward again, but Sidney Prale swun

more, paying no attention to where he wa

maniac!" he gaspe

be friendly enough when they had separated aboard ship. What c

mself. "If there is any more of this,

mper, and that it had to be controlled. A temper that flashed was all right at times in the jungles of Honduras, but it

striking chimes, and lighted another

e, or I'm a l

, and then spra

answer. "Old Jim, the holy terror to

id you

ve a cigar. You're the f

and lighted the cigar. "You'v

years

ather sudden

one night and sailed the ni

nd what became of you. Had a good

right, Jim. But t

, h

rse. I swore I'd shake the dust of New York from my shoes, go to some foreign coun

ck broke!" F

rt, Jim. I came ba

my way then. I ain't in the habit of havi

im. "I suppose you are still on the force? Still fussing ar

, maybe-or too ignorant. I'm in a sort of private detective business now-got an office up the st

u'll get a job

You never know when you may need a detect

to a mess,"

a million running into muc

our services sooner than you think. There i

!" Jim Fa

d at the bank, at the hotel, in Griffin's off

know old Rufus Shepley, and as a general thing h

at on earth

thing else happens, and you

Prale. "And I'm glad that I'v

land assured him. "And it ain't because of you

olut

clared. "Maybe it's a good thing that girl turned you down. You'd probably

nd water power and

tective business goes on the blink

n me. If you want to engage bigger o

want to be sure I'll have a good living for myself and the wife and kids, and have a few friends, and be able to look every

e you!" P