id you say
you've got a newspaper with an account in it of a strange and
mysterious murder right here in _this_ city?"

"Yes, sah, Colonel! Right yeah in Colchester, where we done come t'
hab puffick rest an' quiet an' fishin', just laik yo' done said on de
train."

"Humph! A murder mystery right here in town. I thought I heard the
newsboys shouting something about it at the station. But I didn't
listen. Who's killed, Shag?"

"Why, Colonel, sah, it's a poor ole lady, an'--"

"Stop, Shag! Not another word! How dare you try to get me interested
in a case when I told you if you so much as breathed anything about one
I'd horsewhip you! I told you that, didn't I?"

"Deed an' yo' did, Colonel!"

The detective paced up and down the room. He reached for the little
green book. Then, as if in desperation, he turned to the shrinking
negro and went on:

"You say there's a mystery about it, Shag?"

"Yes, sah, Colonel. Yes, sah!" and he made a motion toward the paper
that was slipping from under his vest.

"Stop it!" cried the colonel. "I came here to fish and read Izaak
Walton in the shade of a big tree along some quiet brook. If you so
much as bring a paper into this room I'll send you back to Virginia
where you belong, Shag!"

"Yes, sah, Colonel!"

The military-looking detective resumed his pacing of the room, his
hands behind his back clasping and unclasping nervously.

"Shag!" he suddenly called.

"Yes, sah, Colonel."

"Is it much of a mystery--I mean--er--anything but the usual blood and
thunder stuff?"

"Why, Colonel," began the black man eagerly, "it's de beatenist mystery
dat ever was--all 'bout a murdered jewelry lady, what's got her haid
busted in with a big gold statue, an' a gold knife stab in her side,
an' a watch shut up tight in her hand, tickin' an' tickin' an'
_tickin'_, laik it was her heart beatin', an' her cousin done find her
in a pool of blood on de floor, an' de clocks all stopped, an' a rich
young spendthrift comes in an' claims de dagger, an' de detectives--"

"Shag!" fairly shouted his master.

"Yes, sah, Colonel!"

"Out of the room this instant, and don't you dare come back until I
send for you!"

"Yes, sah, Colonel."

The old colored man turned slowly to the door. His manner was
dejected. Evidently he had given serious offense.

Silently he turned the knob, but, before he had stepped over the
threshhold, he heard a voice calling softly:

"Shag!"

"Yes, sah,