they　are　at　each　corner。　They　watch　the　hotel。　They　watch　ME！　Why？
  What　do　they　want？〃
  〃They　want　something　of　mine；〃　said　Billy。　〃But　I　can't　tell　you
  what　it　is　until　I'm　sure　it　is　mine。　Is　the　boat　at　the　wharf？〃
  〃All　is　arranged；〃　Claire　assured　him。　〃The　boatmen　are　our
  friends；　they　will　take　us　safely　to　the　steamer。〃
  With　a　sigh　of　relief　Billy　lifted　her　valise　and　his　own；　but　he
  did　not　move　forward。　Anxiously　Claire　pulled　at　his　sleeve。
  〃Come！〃　she　begged。　〃For　what　it　is　that　you　wait？
  It　was　just　eight　o'clock。
  Billy　was　looking　up　at　the　single　electric　light　bulb　that　lit　the
  narrow　street；　and　following　the　direction　of　his　eyes；　Claire　saw
  the　light　grow　dim；　saw　the　tiny　wires　grow　red；　and　disappear。
  From　over　all　the　city　came　shouts；　and　cries　of　consternation
  oaths；　and　laughter；　and　then　darkness。
  〃I　was　waiting　for　THIS！〃　cried　Billy。
  With　the　delight　of　a　mischievous　child　Claire　laughed　aloud。
  〃You…you　did　it！〃　she　accused。
  〃I　did！〃　said　Billy。　〃And　now…we　must　run　like　the　devil！〃
  The　PRINZ　DER　NEDERLANDEN　was　drawing　slowly　out　of　the　harbor。
  Shoulder　to　shoulder　Claire　and　Billy　leaned　upon　the　rail。　On　the
  wharfs　of　Port…au…Prince　they　saw　lanterns　tossing　and　candles
  twinkling；　saw　the　LOUISIANA；　blazing　like　a　Christmas…tree；
  steaming　majestically　south；　in　each　other's　eyes　saw　that　all　was
  well。
  From　his　pocket　Billy　drew　a　long　envelope。
  〃I　can　now　with　certainty；〃　said　Billy；　〃state　that　this　is
  mine…OURS。〃
  He　opened　the　envelope；　and　while　Claire　gazed　upon　many
  mille…franc　notes　Billy　told　how　he　had　retrieved　them。
  〃But　what　danger！〃　cried　Claire。　〃'In　time　Ham　would　have　paid。
  Your　president　at　Washington　would　have　made　him　pay。　Why　take　such
  risks？　You　had　but　to　wait！〃
  Billy　smiled　contentedly。
  〃Dear　one！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　policy　of　watchful　waiting　is　safer；
  but　the　Big　Stick　acts　quicker　and　gets　results！〃
  End