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!"