"When I receive the money," was coldly and resolutely answered. Martin glanced sideways at the face of Bland, and the sudden change in its expression chilled him. The mild, pleasant, virtuous aspect he could so well assume was gone, and he looked more like a fiend than a man. In pictures he had seen eyes such as now gleamed on Mr. Phillips, but never in a living face before. The officer, who had been sitting with a newspaper in his hand, now gave his paper a quick rattle as he threw it aside, and, coming forward, stood beside Mr. Phillips, and looked steadily at the face of Bland, over which passed another change: it was less assured, but not less malignant. Mr. Phillips took out his pocket-book, and, laying a twenty-dollar bill on the desk by which they were standing, said,-- "Take this and sign a receipt." "No, sir!" was given with determined emphasis. "I am not to be robbed in this way!" "Ned," the officer now spoke, "take my advice, and sign a receipt." "It's a cursed swindle!" exclaimed the baffled villain. "We will dispense with hard names, sir!" The officer addressed him sternly. "Either take the money, or go. This is not a meeting for parley. I understand you and your operations." A few moments Bland stood, with an irresolute air; then, clutching desperately at a pen, he dashed off a receipt, and was reaching for the money, when Mr. Phillips drew it back, saying,-- "Wait a moment, until I examine the receipt." He read it over, and then, pushing it towards Bland, said,-- "Write 'In full of all demands.'" A growl was the oral response. Bland took the pen again, and wrote as directed. "Take my advice, young man, and adopt a safer and more honorable business," said Mr. Phillips, as he gave him the twenty-dollar bill. "Keep your advice for them that ask it!" was flung back in his face. A look of hate and revenge burned in the fellow's eyes. After glaring at Mr. Phillips and Martin in a threatening way for several moments, he left more hurriedly than he had entered. "And take my advice," said the officer, laying his hand on Martin's arm,--he spoke in a warning tone,--"and keep out of that man's way. He'll never forgive you. I know him and his prowling gang, and they are a set of as hardened and dangerous villains as can be found in the city. You are 'spotted' by them from this day, and they number a dozen at least. So, if you would be safe, avoid their haunts. Give drinking saloons and billiard rooms a wide berth. One experience like this should last you a life-time."