"Our gold?"

"Yes, it's all gone; every nickel. But I wouldn't bother you with that
if Chalmers would come. Now, don't cry, and listen, for I'm awful
sick. This letter here is to Mrs. Lockwin, and it will fix _you_.
And I want to see Chalmers, to see that he stands by her. See?"

The wife listens. She knows there is a letter to Mrs. Lockwin.

"Now I'm going to give something away. When I see Chalmers in his drug
store, he sits on his chair so I know it's a dead ringer on Lockwin.
Chalmers is Lockwin, sissy. Don't you blow it. I've never told a soul
till you. I've schemed and schemed to fix it up, but I never see a man
in such a hole. He don't know I'm onto him. But I've no use for this
Harpwood, that did me up when he had no need to. I wasn't in his way.
A week from Thursday night Harpwood is to marry Mrs. Lockwin. It isn't
no good. I want you to see Lockwin, and tell him for me that if his
story gets out it wasn't me, and I want you to tell him for me that he
mustn't let that poor widow commit no bigamy. It's an awful hole,
that's what it is! It is tough on him!"

He has worked on the problem for years.

The man groans. There is a rap on the door. "Hold up a minute. I
wouldn't mix in it, but I've done a good deal for the two of 'em, and
I've lost a good deal by Harpwood's play on me. I expect Harpwood will
set her against you, and I want her to do for you, pretty. So you tell
Lockwin he must act quick, and mustn't let her commit no bigamy. She's
too good a woman, and you need money bad, sissy. All my twenty-pieces!
All my twenty-pieces! My yellow stuff! Will you see Chalmers, sissy?