“Yes, you have much to learn, sir. It’s been a business with me to study human nature since I was knee high to a duck. I’d be glad, for the old gentleman’s sake, if his boy turned out innocent, but there’s about one chance in fifty of its happening.”
“Speaking of Phœnix reminds me of something. It had slipped my mind before. There’s a young fellow in Chicago from your region who seems to know him.”
“That information might be valuable to me, under certain conditions. Who is he?”
“Bless me, the only name I heard him give was Happy Jack!”
“Not very much to the point.”
“He is stopping at the Sherman House. I met him last night on the Midway under peculiar circumstances,” and Aleck proceeds to relate the adventure near the western exit, when the Turk and his hired myrmidons attempted to carry off a daughter of Chicago.
“Come, I’m interested in Happy Jack. From the words he dropped while in that stupid state it’s plain he’s a Western man; a miner, I reckon. Knows John Phœnix, does he—I may yet have to call upon him to identify my man, so that I can get the necessary requisition papers. I’ll just make a note of the fact—always jot ’em down—memory might confuse things. There, that settles it beyond all question. Folks must think we’re making a trade. Such things are allowable in the house of a big plunger like Cereal, eh?”
The sheriff from Colorado laughs in a good-natured way, as though he enjoys the joke; but somehow Aleck has found a new matter upon which to ponder, an idea that opens up an avenue the end of which no man can see.
“We’ll wait and see how you turn out, colonel. Meanwhile I’ve written something on this piece of paper—I put it in this envelope and sealed it up. There, place it in your pocket. Now, when the crisis of your game occurs, open this and see how near the truth I’ve come.”
“Quite a clever idea. I’ll do it, by Jove. Here comes some of the ladies, bless ’em! Won’t leave me alone—Cereal been telling some of my adventures and making out I’m a Buffalo Bill sort of a dashing hero. All I want is to keep my man in sight. Only for him and duty, how I would enjoy this 'ere racket. Ladies, your servant. What can I do for you?”