+--------------------------------------------------+ | TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. | | | | OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE | | | | WRECKED BRIG "FLYING SCUD" | | | | APPLYING, | | PERSONALLY OR BY LETTER | | AT THE OFFICE OF JAMES PINKERTON, MONTANA BLOCK, | | | | BEFORE NOON TO-MORROW, TUESDAY, 12TH, | | | | WILL RECEIVE | | | | TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. | +--------------------------------------------------+ "This is your idea, Pinkerton!" I cried. "Yes. They've lost no time; I'll say that for them--not like the Fraud," said he. "But mind you, Loudon, that's not half of it. The cream of the idea's here: we know our man's sick; well, a copy of that has been mailed to every hospital, every doctor, and every drug-store in San Francisco." Of course, from the nature of our business, Pinkerton could do a thing of that kind at a figure extremely reduced; for all that, I was appalled at the extravagance, and said so. "What matter a few dollars now?" he replied sadly; "it's in three months that the pull comes, Loudon." We walked on again in silence, not without a shiver. Even at the "Poodle Dog" we took our food with small appetite and less speech; and it was not until he was warmed with a third glass of champagne that Pinkerton cleared his throat and looked upon me with a deprecating eye. "Loudon," said he, "there was a subject you didn't wish to be referred to. I only want to do so indirectly. It wasn't"--he faltered--"it wasn't because you were dissatisfied with me?" he concluded, with a quaver. "Pinkerton!" cried I. "No, no, not a word just now," he hastened to proceed "let me speak first. I appreciate, though I can't intimate, the delicacy of your nature; and I can well understand you would rather die than speak of it, and yet might feel disappointed. I did think I could have done better myself. But when I found how tight money was in this city, and a man like Douglas B. Longhurst--a forty-niner, the man that stood at bay in a corn patch for five hours against the San Diablo squatters--weakening on the operation, I tell you, Loudon, I began to despair; and--I may have made mistakes, no doubt there are thousands who could have done better--but I give you a loyal hand on it, I did my best." "My poor Jim," said I, "as if I ever doubted you! as if I didn't know you had done wonders! All day I've been admiring your energy and resource. And as for that affair----"