“That’s it. Take me, for instance, as I was. Down there, in the east end of New York, was my particular friend, Keeban. I knew nothing of him; he knew nothing of me, probably, till a bunch from Princeton ran onto him and took him for somebody they knew. They sure must have puzzled him, but they started something in his head which he half tried out by ‘touching’ another Princeton bunch for a hundred and getting it from Davis. About that time--as long as eight years ago--Keeban ‘marked up’ me.” “‘Marked up?’” I repeated. “Marked up my name on his board as good game for attention when he could get around to me. What made him put it off so long, I don’t know; probably he’d a lot of prospects chalked on his board ahead of me; probably he felt he’d wait until he could put in the time to make proper preparation to appear as me. He guessed he had a great chance for a big haul; and--he made it.” Jerry went pale and looked down. “There’s many more marked up on Keeban’s board and on others’. I know some of the names marked up and something about what’s going to occur to them. It’s a little like sitting in on fate, Steve,” he said, color coming back to his face, “to see this man’s number and that creeping up to the top of the board; to a limited extent, one knows what’s behind to-morrow, what’s going to happen. Here’s a man you know and I know and, to all appearances, he’s sitting secure; but on Harry Vine’s board, we’ll say, his number is up toward the top. He doesn’t guess it and you can’t nor anybody else in the city; but at a certain time, and at a certain place and exactly in one way, he’s going to die; and that’s all there is to it.” “Who’re you talking about, Jerry?” I demanded. He changed swiftly. “Nobody; just talk. What was I up here for, anyway?” “I left the money up here,” I reminded. “We came up to get it.” “Why don’t you, then?” I turned to the safe and spun the combination. When I touched the banknotes, I thought to compromise with myself, give him some but not all. Like Jerry, he guessed it. “All or none, Steve,” he said. I gave him all. “That’ll be useful.” “Wait!” I held him. “Want it back?” “No. You’re sitting in on fate, you said,” I went at him. “You know what crimes are going to be committed; then why don’t you stop them?” He laughed. “After I’d stopped the first, wouldn’t I soon cease to know? Old Top, a man in my position has rather to pick and choose. He can stop one, perhaps; then let it be a good one! Besides, that’s not my business now; I’m getting Keeban. Yet, if certain names get to the top of the board, I’ll call you--perhaps. On your own wire. Now Hamlet’s father’s ghost again. G’night, Steve.” He left me.