"It used to be my meal-ticket," said the big athlete. "Long time ago, though."
Big Slim extended one of his bony hands.
"I'm much obliged," said he. "That was a good turn you done me."
"That's all right," said Bat, offhandedly. "You ain't got the weight to mix it with him, and I saw you was going to pull a gun or something. No use to let yourself get in bad, you know."
Sheehan lingered a little, talking to the two, but when he finally went away to attend to a party of "spenders" who had just come in, Big Slim said:
"Been in this burg long?"
"Not very. Ain't doing very well, either. They told me money here was as loose as dust, but I don't see any of it flying around me."
The burglar cracked his long, bony fingers.
"It's something fierce when it begins to break bad, ain't it?" philosophized he. "I thought I had a good thing when I got that big cheese, Allen, to come on here; a nice, easy match with a fellow who couldn't fight enough to keep himself warm, and with a ton of money behind him."
"Tough luck," sympathized Bat.