is agreeable and sympathetic listener, so Levy
had been materially assisted in the preliminary investigation of his
case. Nor was the welcome any less cordial when the agent appeared for a
second time, on this occasion offering Buckner five hundred dollars in
exchange for his "time and trouble." He was given no intimation
regarding the nature of his errand; he really had little curiosity. It
was enough that it paid what was now to him a princely sum, and also
guaranteed him an attractive experience at some one else's expense.

On his arrival Levy gave Buckner a welcome which raised his self-esteem
almost to the bursting-point. A box of costly cigars and a decanter of
fine brandy close at his elbow appeared to him as the height of
hospitality, as one gentleman would extend it to another. And when he
found that his new host manifested even as deep an interest in his
previous life as his earlier friend who had provided the money, he was
prepared to reciprocate in every way that lay in his power.

With the preliminary acquaintance thus happily and firmly established,
Levy opened up for business.

"In this suit for divorce which your wife brought," he asked, "the
summons was never served on you, was it?"

"Why, yes," Buckner replied, slowly refilling his glass from the
decanter; "it was served on me by a man named Murray, at Colorado
Springs."

"Oh, dear; oh, dear!" groaned Levy, with a mixture of pathos and
incredulity, "what an unfortunate memory you have! There was no one else
in Colorado Springs who knew about it, I presume?"

"Not there," Buckner answered; "I sent the paper to a lawyer in Denver
named Jennings."

"But there was no correspondence between you?"

"Yes; there were two or three letters."

"Where is Jennings now?"

"Dead, for all I know," he responded, with a cheerfulness which came
from his comfortable environment rather than from any particular
pleasure from the possible demise of the gentleman in question. "He
moved away from Denver later, and I haven't heard of him since."

Levy was absorbed in his own thoughts for several moments, which time
was profitably employed by Buckner again to replenish his glass, and to
help himself to a fresh cigar.

"Look here, Buckner." Levy spoke so suddenly that his companion
guiltily replaced the unlighted cigar in the box. "How difficult would
it be for you to forget that you ever had a summons served on you,
provided there was enough in it to make it worth