Having written a note, he dispatched his office boy with it to a liquor saloon, it being directed to James McGinnis, in care of the saloon's proprietor.
Late that afternoon a beetle-browed and forbidding-looking individual entered Brown's office.
"Well, I got your letter and I've come!" was the rather sullen salutation he gave Brown. "What's up now? Want to badger me again?"
"Don't talk to me in that manner!" said Brown, quietly, yet in a grim tone. "Remember that I saved your neck from a halter, which I can again put around it at any moment."
The man shuddered, and became meek as a lamb.
"What do you want?"
"That's better," and Brown smiled. "I don't want much of you just now," and then he sank his voice to a whisper.
"That's easy enough," McGinnis said, a few minutes later. "I can let you know to-morrow morning, I think."
"Very well."
When McGinnis put in an appearance the next morning, it was evident from his expression that he had been successful in the task required of him by Brown.