"Leave me tell it to you just as it happened, boss," said Montgomery.
"Then if you say I lie, I won't answer you back; we'll let it go at
that."

Gilmore appeared to consider for a moment, his look of mingled
indifference and contempt had quite passed away.

"I guess it sounds straight, Joe!" he said at length slowly.

"Why? Because it _is_ straight, every damn word of it, boss."

And as if to give emphasis to his words the handy-man swung out a grimy
fist and dropped it into an equally grimy palm.

"What did you do after that?" asked Gilmore.

"Not much. I laid low and presently lifted my sack of coal out and
ducked around to Lonigan's saloon. I went in there by the back door and
left my sack leanin' against the building. Mike wanted his mail and he
give me a drink of whisky if I'd take his keys and go to the post-office
for him; I'd just come into the Square when I run into Shrimp who was
tellin' how old man McBride was murdered. I went into the store and
found you there with Colonel Harbison, you remember, boss?" Gilmore
nodded and Montgomery continued. "I hadn't a chance to tell you what I'd
seen, and all night long I kept hearin' him say it!"

"Say what, Joe?"

"Say, 'Oh, my God!' like I told you, boss; I couldn't sleep for it,--I
wonder if he slept!"