“Remember,” said Enoch, “you are a third partner in the gem.”
“I shall bring the diamond back in two hours, or--well, we shall see what we shall see.”
Bidding Cook good night, Quick left his saloon. His objective point was Monte Murphy’s, in Elizabeth Street.
Mike had proceeded on his journey as far as Broadway, when he encountered Joe Snell. The meeting was accidental.
Snell seemed to be considerably under the influence of liquor, and his first act was to invite Quick to go and have a drink with him.
Mike gladly accepted the invitation. His business with Murphy could wait.
Late as the hour was, the pair found a saloon open. Snell seemed to be in the highest spirits.
“Made a cool five hundred to-night, Mike,” he said, “just as easy as wink.”
“The last time I saw you I think you were broke.”
“Sure; why, I’ve been walking on my uppers for two months.”
“I don’t care to know anything about it,” said Quick, believing that, pretending indifference, he would draw the drunken thief out. Mike’s surmise was correct.
“But,” said Joe, “perhaps I shall tell you. I always knew you were a man in whom a friend could trust.”
“Say,” added Snell, “you know Enoch Cook?”
Joe smiled all over. Quick didn’t like Cook.
“Well,” said Snell, “Pat Brady and I pulled off a thousand between us for doing Cook and a friend of his.”
“You didn’t commit murder, I hope?” exclaimed Mike.
“Oh, no; you don’t catch me putting my precious neck in jeopardy.”
“Then what do you mean by ‘doing him’?” inquired Quick.
“We just held the two coves up, while Monte Murphy gathered in some of their swag.”
“A big brilliant that Monte calls an emerald. Murphy was expecting the pair, and had me and Pat on deck.”
“How should you like to be done out of the proceeds of a job?”
“Yet you were willing to give that medicine to another?”
“I was broke; and, besides, there is an old grudge between Cook and me.”
“You have no grudge against his pal?” said Quick.
“No; I felt a bit sorry for that chap,” answered Joe.
“How can I tell? That old thief don’t take any one very deep into his confidence.”
“The devil!” he exclaimed; “why didn’t you tell me that at first?”
“No; he merely said he and his pal had a bad run-in with you and Brady.”
“Nothing of the kind; I wouldn’t stand in place of you or Brady for a good deal, and you know I’m counted pretty tough?”