As he sat down he shook the snow over everything, and said coolly: "Set
down, doc; I want to talk with you."

"What can I do for you?" said I.

The man looked around the room rather scornfully, at the same time
throwing back his coat and displaying a red neckerchief and a huge
garnet pin. "Guess you're not overly rich," he said.

"Not especially," said I. "What's that your business?"

He did not answer, but merely said, "Know Simon Stagers?"

"Can't say I do," said I, cautiously. Simon was a burglar who had blown
off two fingers when mining a safe. I had attended him while he was
hiding.

"Can't say you do. Well, you can lie, and no mistake. Come, now, doc.
Simon says you're safe, and I want to have a leetle plain talk with
you."

With this he laid ten gold eagles on the table. I put out my hand
instinctively.

"Let 'em alone," cried the man, sharply. "They're easy earned, and ten
more like 'em."

"For doing what?" I said.

The man paused a moment, and looked around him; next he stared at me,