ch he read aloud to
me, while the others listened with their hats off like it was church.

"I thought you gentlemen were in the guano business," says I, when he
had finished.

"We're in the Runyon Rufe catching business," says Mr. Phelps, very
genial, "and we trust you will not oppose the officers of the law in the
exercise of their functions."

"I don't want to oppose anybody when it's four to one," says I, equally
genial, "though may I make so bold as to inquire who is Runyon Rufe and
what's he done?"

"Never heard of Runyon Rufe!" says Nettleship, like it was George
Washington or Alfred the Great.

"Here it is, better than I can tell it," said Mr. Phelps, handing me a
printed proclamation:

TEN THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD.

RUNYON RUFE, Banker and Company Promoter, wanted
for gigantic frauds in connection with the Invincible
Building Society, the Greater London Finance Syndicate,
Suburbs Limited, and other undertakings. Fled to the United
States, where he had previously put by sums aggregating two
hundred thousand pounds; resisted extradition; forfeited his
bail; was traced to Portland, Oregon, and thence to Penrhyn
Island, South Pacific, where all clews as to his whereabouts
were lost.

Aged sixty-three; height, five feet nine inches; imposing
appearance; weight, fifteen stone and over; fair complexion;
brown eyes, with bushy, gray eyebrows; scanty gray hair; of
a plethoric habit, and with a noticeable hesitancy of
speech. When last seen was well supplied with money, and was
heard declaring his intention of making his way toward the
lesser-traveled islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The above reward, in whole or in part, will be paid by
Houghton & Cust, No. 318 George Street, Sydney, New South
Wales, on receiving information that will lead to the arrest
of the said Runyon Rufe.

Traders and others are cautioned against harboring the
fugitive, or aiding and abetting his escape from the
officers of justice.

I read it three times and then handed it back.

"Show me where to sign," says I.

"We have to go through the disagreeable formality of searching these
premises," said Mr. Phelps, disregarding my joke, "and if you have no
objections we shall begin now!"

"And suppose I _did_ have an objection?" I asked.

"We'd search them just the same," said Mr. Phelps, grinni