H. Bedford-Jones

“ A square peg won't fit in a round hole. After to-day we'll have to do without you here."
James Sexagesima nodded.
"I understand," he said quietly.
Corcoran moved uneasily in his swivel chair. That feeling of being on the defensive still persisted, to his discomfort. Yet, hang it all, he was right—he knew he was right! Sexagesima was not cut out for a private detective. Corcoran had not reached his present affluent position as head of the Corcoran Investigation Bureau, finder of lost heirs for unclaimed fortunes, by letting his sympathy run away with his good sense. ”

“ To a casual eye the old lawyer would perhaps appear a simple, credulous man, an unworldly Southern gentleman, passive rather than decisive, and knowing little of sharp methods. Those who had heard him address a jury, or who had seen him argue the McCall case with a gun in his pocket, and with bets laid as to whether he or McCall would shoot first, knew better. ”

“ Knight had far better evidence than the records of that institution might have afforded. There were two letters from Horatio Nelson Knight to the wife whom he had met and married in Louisiana. These letters called the baby by name, and mentioned the members of the family in Evansville in such a way as to leave no doubt as to the identity of the writer. ”

“ Corcoran perceived that it was useless, and departed. Judge Williams remained motionless, watching the green dome across the street.
However, before the week was out, James Sexagesima was dead—influenza, the city physician called it. A psychologist will assure you that nothing so lowers physical resistance as the lack of desire to live. ”