promise in seeing that the old lady was safely helped from the train,
Colonel Ashley followed his valet, burdened with bags and rods.

The fishing rods Shag carried, he must have managed to transport safely
to the hotel the colonel was to occupy for a two weeks' vacation and
rest, for the military detective was smiling and good-natured when he
took them from their cases and gently placed them on the bed.

"Anything else, Colonel?" asked Shag, when he had laid out his master's
clothes, and was preparing to go to his own apartment in an annex to
the hotel.

"No, I guess that's all, Shag. But what's your hurry? You aren't
usually in such haste to leave me, even if you have laid out all my
duds. What's the matter? Got some friends in town?"

"Oh, no, sah, Colonel! No, indeedy! 'tain't dat at all!"

"Well, what is it? Why are you in such haste to get away?"

"Um! Ah! Well, I don't laiks fo' t' tell yo' Colonel!" and Shag
seemed uneasy.

"You don't like to tell me? Look here, you black rascal! don't try to
hide anything from me, do you hear? You know me, and--"

"Oh, indeedy I does know yo', Colonel! Dat's jest why I don't wan t'
tell yo'! It--it's 'bout one ob dem t'ings!"

"What things? Shag, you rascal, look here! Have you been buying a