“Then keep quiet.”

“I’m mum.”

“Listen.”

Brockey cleared his throat.

“It was the day before New Year’s,” he said.

“I was down on my luck and I hadn’t a cent in my pocket.

“Not in a long time had I been in such a hole.

“I tried to touch a dozen o’ the gang, but every one seemed to be in the same boat.

“No one could show me a cent.

“I was at Samson’s saloon.