In the silent shadows Colonel Robert Lee Ashley fished again. This time he was alone, save for the omnipresent Shag. And as the latter netted a fish, and slipped it into the grass-lined creel, he spoke and said:
“Mr. Young, he done ast me to-day when we gwine back t' de city. He done say dere's a big case waitin' fo' you, Colonel, sah. When is we-all gwine back?”
“Never, Shag!”
“Nevah, Colonel, sah?”
“No. I'm going to spend all the rest of my life fishing. I've resigned from the detective business! I'll never take another case Never!”
And Shag chuckled silently as he closed the creel.