The Conquest of New France; A Chronicle of the Colonial Wars

damp vapor and touch with its glory the things of the world beneath. In the lower harbor there still was a chorus of

ocean she had fought for three days, her skipper standing on the bridge and inaudibly giving thanks that he was nearing the end of the voyage wit

g, and those who braved the weather and lined

nd for Europe, or a seagoing tug clugged by as if

looked ahead, watching where the fog lifted, an eager light in his face,

earing clothes that had been molded to his form. He had a chin that expressed decision and determination, lips that could form in a thin, straight line if occasion required, eyes that could be kind or stern, according to the needs of

rly, waving a hand now and then at the men on passing craft, like a schoolboy on an excursion trip. He listened to the bellowing sirens and

t!" Sidney Prale

hand descended upon his shoul

it's grea

as he turned around, but there was n

, Mr. Sheple

there around the old world in the name of business, like

g a bit. "And judge, then, how I like i

rk for ten years?" R

cade," Pral

n Honduras a

s,

You are my idea of a rea

agrant smoke into the air. Rufus Shepley was a man of fifty, and looked his age. If human being

e very well acquainted, though they seemed to like each other. Each man seemed to be h

houghtfully. "It seems a long time,

who went to one of those Central American countries turned bad after t

in some instances," Prale admit

a case of a man wanting an excuse for loafing. I knew a chap once who went down to that part of the world. Got to drinking too much, thr

e mistake somewhere else and got the idea that life was merely existence afterward. A man must have an

the proper incentive," Ruf

ld look at the propriety of it. I

ust say. And you managed to win out? Oh, I beg yo

nd. I'm so happy this morning that I'm willing to overlook alm

ten years,"

llars," Sidney Prale replied. "I'm rather proud of i

en years! Great Scott! Say, would you consider being general

lay. A million isn't much in some quarters, but it is enough for me. I don't care for money to a great extent. I just wanted to prove to mysel

eh? Old friends waiting a

eception committee," he said. "I didn't let anybody know that I w

bo

no relatives in the world except a male cousin about my own age, and I ne

" Shepley said softly, a

go," Prale continued. "I st

nd there'll be girls by the regimen

in the crowd," Prale said, th

ges in New York in the past ten years. Yes, quite a few changes! There are a few new boarding houses sc

nce more. "I'm ready to appreciate the changes, but I suppose I will be s

ere are certain gentlemen in that part of the wo

re fugitives from just

anything person

en years ago, like a man running away from the law, and I have remained there all the time unti

er meant to in

Mr. Shepley. When I land, I'll not be afraid of some officer of the la

million will buy lots of

st could be seen the roofs of skyscrapers glistening in the sun. Sidney P

me idea, no matter how long he remains away. Ten years ought to make a change, but

aid Rufus

re are a few I never saw before. We're beginning to get i

e th

n for hour after hour of walking around

xpect to take 'em all in befor

axis in Honduras. I had a car of my

nts know that, and you'll

"Now I know that I am home! The

ship was plowing. The sun was shining through the murk at last, and it touched the Statue of Liberty. The great

I am home!" Sidne

irl!" Rufus Shepley agreed

g to waste any time," Prale said. "I'm glad that I

ut in Ohio, but the company headquarters are in New York, of course. He

hurried down the deck toward his stateroom, one of the

epley said to himself. "Um! Looks bad! I never put much stock in those H

ove song, reached his stateroom and threw open the d

s. The contents of his suit case were spilled on the floor. A bag was wi

to be anything missing. A package of papers-business documents for the greate

sense in complaining to the ship's officers at this late hour, es

gathered up his toilet articles, bits of clothing he had left out until the last minute, a few souvenirs of Hon

ting tablet. Sidney Prale took it up and glanced at it. A few words of handwriting were upon the paper

table and comes when

Spanish love song he had been humming died in h

euce does this