"I beg your pardon, Mr. Ardmore, but this is our first prisoner."
Ardmore signed a despatch and then looked up and took the pipe from his mouth. Collins lifted his hat politely.
"Ah, Mr. Ardmore, you see I have taken advantage of your exceedingly kind invitation to look you up in North Carolina."
"He was looking for you very hard when I found him, Mr. Ardmore," interposed Cooke.
"Your appearance delights me," said Ardmore, extending his hand to the reporter. "It was nice of you to walk out here to find me. Wouldn't they put you up at the house?"
"Well, the fact is I didn't stop there. My paper sent me in this general direction on business, but I had every honorable intention of making you that visit after I finished my assignment. But Cookie here says I'm arrested."
"He's a dangerous character and can't be allowed to run loose in these parts. I'm going to tie him up," said Cooke.
"May I ask you, Mr. Collins, just what you are doing here?" inquired Ardmore.
"You may, and I'll bet a boiled goose that Cooke and I are on the same job."