l you!"

"Oh, mah good Lord!" ejaculated Shag. "Dat's de wustest ever!" and he
doubled up with silent mirth.

"Why, what's the matter with that?" asked the boy. "I've seen heaps of
men read detective stories. Judge Dolan--he rides on my train a
lot--and he's always askin' what I got new in detective stuff."

"Um, yep! Well, dat may be all right fo' Judge Dolan," went on Shag,
slowly recovering from his fit of chuckling, "but mah marster don't
want none of dat kind of readin'."

"Why?" asked the boy.

Shag's answer was given in a peculiar manner. He looked around
carefully, and saw that the strange man had moved on and they were
alone. Then, leaning toward the newsboy and whispering, the negro said:

"My marster, Colonel Brentnall--dat ain't his real name, but it's de
one he goes by sometimes--he don't care fo' no detective stories 'cause
he done make his livin' an' mine too, at detectin'. He says he don't
ever want t' read 'em, 'cause dey ain't at all like whut happens. De
colonel was one of de biggest private detectives in de United States,
boy! He's sorter retired now, but still he's chock full of crimes,
murder an' stuff laik dat, an' dat's why he done sent yo' away sorter
rough-laik."

"You say he's a private detective?" asked the boy, his eyes opening
wide.

"Dat's whut he is."

"And his name is Colonel Brentnall?"

"Well, honey, dat ain't his real name. He don't laik t' use dat
promiscuious laik, 'cause so many folks bodder him. If I was t' tell
yo' his real name yo'd open yo' eyes wider yet. But take it from me,"
went on Shag, "he don't need no books t' make excitin' readin' fo' him!
He's been froo it fo' yeahs!"

"Sufferin' tadpoles!" murmured the boy. "And to think I was offering
_him_ a detective yarn! Say, no wonder he flew at me!"

"He didn't mean nothin'," said Shag, still chuckling as he thought of
the scene. "It's jest his way."

The train rumbled on through the early night, and in his comfortable
chair Colonel Ashley read his Walton, the ingratiating humor of the
dear, old fisherman gradually dispelling all other thoughts.

Colonel Ashley at this stage of his career, was almost an international
figure. Having served with distinction in the Spanish-American war,
among his exploits being the capture of a number of spies in a
sensational manner, he had become the head of the police department in
a large city in the East.

He had continued the work begun in the army--a bra