Roy Norton

“ IN Dubuque, Iowa (pronounced by Mrs. Henry as "Ioway") , he had gained and held for forty years the enviable credit of being the best natured and merriest man in town. Why, everybody knew "Hennery," or "Hank," who was such a "young dog" despite his sixty birthdays. He had been the lodge "sitter up" with the afflicted, the ready politician for ward campaigns, and the emergency comrade always ready to go fishing. ”

“ Henry in the meantime was seriously contemplating the life of a brigand, and wondered how he would look in a pair of velvet breeches and a hat with a dinky little feather.
It has never been plainly told what followed in the way of conversation; for the habits of silence acquired by Henry Meek have never left him, and he remains to this day a man with the taciturnity of a Mormon elder. It is certain, however, that he escaped and returned to his hotel, with several men respectfully—nay, deferentially—escorting him. ”

“ He shifted in his seat on the terrace and called for the waiter. He pantomimed, he gesticulated; he consulted a dictionary,—and the waiter with a slow smile disappeared.
Henry had become accustomed to the courier English in all these foreign lands, so that when he asked what time the train left for Rome and was politely told in reply. "Yes, it will go yesterday, if to-morrow is a very nice day," he evinced no surprise. He was resigned to almost anything now, from Mrs. Johnny's continual gushing to Mrs. Reber's domination. ”

“ He would run away! So that night after the women had wrangled with carriage drivers because Hennery was "so easy going," had declined pourboires for macaroni, centissimi for starving families, and a few soldi with which to drink the honorable party's health, they had in their midst a very determined man. They had been given a private dining room, free of extra charge, after their first meal. The proprietor was afraid the other guests would leave; but the noise of seven women all discussing ancient architecture at once no longer worried Henry. ”

“ He walked through the Piazza d'Tasso, where the marble statue of the poet who met his death through the fair sex looked down at him pityingly, and on toward Capo di Monti beyond the ravines where the dwarfs lurk, and beneath the ruined castle where ghosts hold silent revel. He rather liked silent ghosts, and dwarfs suggested Rip Van Winkle's friends who knew how to give a man uninterrupted sleep. ”

“ Johnny's staying right with the party. She was sure it wouldn't be a bit of bother for Hennery to look after her. So Mrs. Johnny came while her husband recovered his health at various seaside resorts where there was always a little something doing to help a sick man. That made three.
George Osgood decided to stay with Johnny. Thought Johnny needed him. Was quite sure it was better for some one to be with Johnny. Knew it would never do to leave Johnny alone. Maybe Johnny would suffer. Thinking back over it, on the terrace, Henry was astonished at the solicitude George entertained for Johnny ”

“ He didn't care much for ruined baths. He preferred the modern American kind, which he had found rarely, regretted in tubbing England, longed for in tubless France, and sought in bathless Naples; but the caves of the Sirens were about the limit. The only kind of siren he cared anything about was the one on a homebound steamer. Its voice would be heavenly.
"Here you, Hennery!" his wife's voice called. "Hurry up and get your breakfast! We're going to Pompeii, and the carriages are waiting!"
The meal was the best he had found in Italy, and he was hungry ”

“ On these conditions they closed, and Henry paid over the rest of the money in cash, two hundred counterfeit included, and retained only the thousand-dollar check, which, with a slow grin, he placed in his inside pocket.
"You don't like the big woman?" ”

“ We take-a seex t'ousand dollaire lor de lot. Got-a dem hide in good-a cave. Eef not money got by t'ree night, we send-a you seex sets of ears. Eef you tell-a de carabinieri, we kill-a ds seex Americane signora and sure kill-a you. You get-a de money. PRESTO! Breeng heem along to Castellamare where man meet you in piazza t'ree night off." It was signed with a skull and crossbones, three black hands, and something that looked like a cheese, but was probably intended for a blackjack sort of thing. Henry was very much worried, and discussed it with his wife and the hotel proprietor. ”

“ Get her out quick. Presume other boys paying for theirs."
The next to come was from George Osgood and Johnny Parslow, who, it appeared, had gone from Amsterdam to Paris, inasmuch as it was sent from the race course at Longchamps and read:
"Come high; but must have them. Are mailing money; but save ears if you've got the cash. We don't want job lots or selling platers returned. Must trot them back warranted sound and unblemished."
Biggs, it appeared, was also in Paris ”