It was a rather sultry afternoon in the late summer when people who had calculated by the
calendar rather than by the weather were returning to the city from the seashore, the
mountains, and abroad.
Except for the week-ends, Kennedy and I had been pretty busy, though on this particular
day there was a lull in the succession of cases which had demanded our urgent attention
during the summer.
We had met at the Public Library, where Craig was doing some special research at odd
moments in criminology. Fifth Avenue was still half deserted, though the few pedestrians
who had returned or remained in town like ourselves were, as usual, to be found mostly
on the west side of the street. Nearly everybody, I have noticed, walks on the one side of
Fifth Avenue, winter or summer.
As we stood on the corner waiting for the traffic man's whistle to halt the crush of
automobiles, a man on the top of a 'bus waved to Kennedy.
I looked up and caught a glimpse of Jack Herndon, an old college mate, who had had
some political aspirations and had recently been appointed to a position in the customs
house of New York. Herndon, I may add, represented the younger and clean-cut
generation which is entering official life with great advantage to both themselves and
politics.
The 'bus pulled up to the curb, and Jack tore down the breakneck steps hurriedly.
"I was just thinking of you, Craig," he beamed as we all shook hands, "and wondering
whether you and Walter were in town. I think I should have come up to see you to-night,
anyhow."
"Why, what's the matter - more, sugar frauds?" laughed Kennedy. "Or perhaps you have
caught another art dealer red-handed?"
"No, not exactly," replied Herndon, growing graver for the moment. "We're having a big
shake-up down at the office, none of your 'new broom' business, either. Real reform it is,
this time."
"And you - are you going or coming?" inquired Craig with an interested twinkle.
"Coming, Craig, coming," answered Jack enthusiastically. "They've put me in charge of a
sort of detective force as a special deputy surveyor to rout out some smuggling that we
know is going on. If I make good it will go a long way for me - with all this talk of
efficiency and economy down in Washington these days."
