"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, Colonel."

"Eh--Shag--before you go, you--er--you might leave me that paper I see
under your vest. I may have occasion to--to glance at it, to see what
to-morrow's weather is going to be for fishing."

"Yes, sah, Colonel."

And, with a carefully concealed grin on his face, Shag drew the
black-lettered paper from under his waistcoat, and laid it on the bed
beside the "Complete Angler."




CHAPTER IV

SPOTTY

"Well, now," observed Detective Thong, and, somehow or other, his voice