"He'll never miss it; I couldn't freeze to death; there's a livin'
comin' to me," said the handy-man doggedly.

"You'll probably have a try for it back of iron bars!" said Gilmore.

But it was plain that Montgomery did not enjoy Mr. Gilmore's humor.

"White's coal house is right acrost the alley from old McBride's shed.
You can go look, boss, if you don't believe me, and there's a small door
opening out on to the alley, where the coal is put in."

"All the same you should keep out of people's coal houses, or one of
these days you'll bring off more than you bargained for; say a load of
shot."

"Maybe you'd like to know who I seen come over that roof?" said the
handy-man impatiently.

"How many people have you told this yarn to already?" asked Gilmore, who
seemed more anxious to discredit the handy-man in his own eyes than
anything else.

"Not a living soul, boss; I guess I know enough to hang a man--"

"Pooh!" said Gilmore.

"You don't believe me?"

"Yes, I'll believe that you were stealing White's coal."