r look out。 He said he had a niece who lived with him； a brother's child； that she was out of health and ought not to marry； which was what she meant to do。 She was scared about her health； because she had a cough； and had lost a brother of consumption。 I soon came to understand that； for reasons unknown to me； my friend did not wish his niece to marry。 His wife； he also informed me； was troubled as to the niece's health。 Now； he said； he wished to consult me as to what he should do。 I suspected at once that he had not told me all。
I have often wondered at the skill with which I managed this rather delicate matter。 I knew I was not well enough known to be of direct use； and was also too young to have much weight。 I advised him to get Professor C。
Then my friend shook his head。 He said in reply； ‘‘But suppose； doctor； he says there is nothing wrong with the girl？''
Then I began to understand him。
‘‘Oh；'' I said； ‘‘you get a confidential written opinion from him。 You can make it what you please when you tell her。''
He said no。 It would be best for me to ask the professor to see Miss Poynter； might mention my youth； and so on； as a reason。 I was to get his opinion in writing。
‘‘Well？'' said I。
‘‘After that I want you to write me a joint opinion to meet the caseall the needs of the case； you see。''
I saw； but hesitated as to how much would make it worth while to pull his hot chestnuts out of the fireone never knows how hot the chestnuts are。
Then he said； ‘‘Ever take a chance in stocks？''
I said； ‘‘No。''
He said that he would lend me a little money and see what he could do with it。 And here was his receipt from me for one thousand dollars； and here； too； was my order to buy shares of P。 T。 Y。 Would I please to Sign it？ I did。
I was to call in two days at his house； and meantime I could think it over。 It seemed to me a pretty weak plan。 Suppose the young womanwell； supposing is awfully destructive of enterprise； and as for me； I had only to misunderstand the professor's opinion。 I went to the house； and talked to Mr。 Poynter about his gout。 Then Mrs。 Poynter came in； and began to lament her niece's declining health。 After that I saw Miss Poynter。 There is a kind of innocent…looking woman who knows no more of the world than a young chicken； and is choke…full of emotions。 I saw it would be easy to frighten her。 There are some instruments anybody can get any tune they like out of。 I was very grave； and advised her to see the professor。 And would I write to ask him； said Mr。 Poynter。 I said I would。
As I went out Mr。 Poynter remarked： ‘‘You will clear some four hundred easy。 Write to the professor。 Bring my receipt to the office next week； and we will settle。''
We settled。 I tore up his receipt and gave him one for fifteen hundred dollars； and received in notes five hundred dollars。
In a day or so I had a note from the professor stating that Miss Poynter was in no peril； that she was； as he thought； worried； and had only a mild bronchial trouble。 He advised me to do so…and…so； and had ventured to reassure my young patient。 Now； this was a little more than I wanted。 However； I wrote Mr。 Poynter that the professor thought she had bronchitis； that in her case tubercle would be very apt to follow； and that at present； and until she was safe； we considered marriage undesirable。
Mr。 Poynter said it might have been put stronger； but he would make it do。 He made it。 The first effect was an attack of hysterics。 The final result was that she eloped with her lover； because if she was to die； as she wrote her aunt； she wished to die in her husband's arms。 Human nature plus hysteria will defy all knowledge of character。 This was what our old professor of practice used to say。
Mr。 Poynter had now to account for a large trust estate which had somehow dwindled。 Unhappily； princes are not the only people in whom you must not put your trust。 As to myself； Professor L。 somehow got to know the facts； and cut me dead。 It was unpleasant； but I had my five hundred dollars； andI needed them。 I do not see how I could have been more careful。
After this things got worse。 Mr。 Poynter broke； and did not even pay my last bill。 I had to accept several rather doubtful cases； and once a policeman I knew advised me that I had better be on my guard。
But； really； so long as I adhered to the common code of my profession I was in danger of going without my dinner。
Just as I was at my worst and in despair something always turned up； but it was sure to be risky； and now my aunt refused to see me； and Peninnah wrote me goody…goody letters； and said Aunt Rachel had been unable to find certain bank…notes she had hidden； and vowed I had taken them。 This Peninnah did not think possible。 I agreed with her。 The notes were found somewhat later by Peninnah in the toes of a pair of my aunt's old slippers。 Of course I wrote an indignant letter。 My aunt declared that Peninnah had stolen the notes； and restored them when they were missed。 Poor Peninnah！ This did not seem to me very likely； but Peninnah did love fine clothes。
One night； as I was debating with myself as to how I was to improve my position； I heard a knock on my shutter； and； going to the door； let in a broad…shouldered man with a whisky face and a great hooked nose。 He wore a heavy black beard and mustache； and looked like the wolf in the pictures of Red Riding…hood which I had seen as a child。
‘‘Your name's Sanderaft？'' said the man。
‘‘Yes； that's my nameDr。 Sanderaft。''
As he sat down he shook the snow over everything； and said coolly： ‘‘Set down； doc； I want to talk with you。''
‘‘What can I do for you？'' said I。
The man looked around the room rather scornfully； at the same time throwing back his coat and displaying a red neckerchief and a huge garnet pin。 ‘‘Guess you're not overly rich；'' he said。
‘‘Not especially；'' said I。 ‘‘What's that your business？''
He did not answer； but merely said； ‘‘Know Simon Stagers？''
‘‘Can't say I do；'' said I； cautiously。 Simon was a burglar who had blown off two fingers when mining a safe。 I had attended him while he was hiding。
‘‘Can't say you do。 Well； you can lie； and no mistake。 Come； now； doc。 Simon says you're safe； and I want to have a leetle plain talk with you。''
With this he laid ten gold eagles on the table。 I put out my hand instinctively。
‘‘Let 'em alone；'' cried the man； sharply。 ‘‘They're easy earned； and ten more like 'em。''
‘‘For doing what？'' I said。
The man paused a moment； and looked around him； next he stared at me； and loosened his cravat with a hasty pull。 ‘‘You're the coroner；'' said he。
‘‘I！ What do you mean？''
‘‘Yes； you're the coroner； don't you understand？'' and so saying； he shoved the gold pieces toward me。
‘‘Very good；'' said I； ‘‘we will suppose I'm the coroner。 What next？''
‘‘And being the coroner；'' said he； ‘‘you get this note； which requests you to call at No。 9 Blank street to examine the body of a young man which is supposedonly supposed； you seeto havewell； to have died under suspicious circumstances。''
‘‘Go on；'' said I。
‘‘No；'' he returned； ‘‘not till I know how you like it。 Stagers and another knows it； and it wouldn't be very safe for you to split； besides not making nothing out of it。 But what I say is this； Do you like the business of coroner？''
I did not like it； but just then two hundred in gold was life to me； so I said： ‘‘Let me hear the whole of it first。 I am safe。''
‘‘That's square enough；'' said the man。 ‘‘My wife's got''correcting himself with a shivery shrug‘‘my wife had a brother that took to cutting up rough because when I'd been up too late I handled her a leetle hard now and again。
‘‘Luckily he fell sick with typhoid just thenyou see； he lived with us。 When he got better I guessed he'd drop all that； but somehow he was worse than everclean off his head； and strong as an ox。 My wife said to put him away in an asylum。 I didn't think that would do。 At last he tried to get out。 He was going to see the police about wellthe thing was awful serious； and my wife carrying on like mad； and wanting doctors。 I had no mind to run； and something had got to be done。 So Simon Stagers and I talked it over。 The end of it was； he took worse of a sudden； and got so he didn't know nothing。 Then I rushed for a doctor。 He said it was a perforation； and there ought to have been a doctor when he was first took sick。
‘‘Well； the man died； and as I kept about the house； my wife had no chance to talk。 The doctor fussed a bit； but at last he gave a certificate。 I thought we were done with it。 But my wife she writes a note and gives it to a boy in the alley to put in the post。 We suspicioned her； and Stagers was on the watch。 After the boy got away a bit； Simon bribed him with a quarter to give him the note； which wasn't no less than a request to the coroner to come to the house to…morrow and make an examination； as foul play was suspectedand poison。''
When the man quit talking he glared at me。 I sat still。 I was cold all over。 I was afraid to go on； and afraid to go back； besides which； I did not doubt that there was a good deal of money in the case。
‘‘Of course；'' said I； ‘‘it's nonsense； only I suppose you don't want the officers about； and a fuss； and that sort of thing。''
‘‘Exactly；'' said my friend。 ‘‘It's all bosh about poison。 You're the coroner。 You take this note and come to my house。 Says you： ‘Mrs。 File； are you the woman that wrote this note？ Because in that case I must examine the body。' ''
‘‘I see；'' said I； ‘‘she needn't know who I am； or anything else； but if I tell her it's all right； do you think she won't want to know why there isn't a jury； and so on？''
‘‘Bless you；'' said the man； ‘‘the girl isn't over seventeen； and doesn't know no more than a baby。 As we live up…town miles away； she won't know anything about you。''
‘‘I'll do it；'' said I； suddenly； for； as I saw； it involved no sort of risk； ‘‘but I must have three hundred dollars。''
‘‘And fifty；'' added the wolf； ‘‘if you do it well。''
Then I knew it was serious。
With this the man buttoned about him a shaggy gray overcoat； and took his leave without a single word in addition。
A minute later he came back and said： ‘‘Stagers is in thi