Coot watched the big man stroll past the wallet on the ground. It was splayed open with phony bills poking out, just like Coot had positioned it. The man stopped. He let his weary eyes rest on the thing. Then he bent to pick it up.

No sooner had he reached for it than Coot kicked the wallet from the man’s hand. “I saw it first!” shouted Coot, who had already clutched the wallet and made a run for it.

But the big man was faster, and stronger. He pulled Coot by the collar. “You didn’t see nothing,” he said. Then he plucked the wallet from Coot’s grip and shoved him. “Now beat it.”

Coot kicked the man’s shin. The man returned the favor by smacking Coot on the back of the head. When Coot got to his feet, he jumped onto the man’s back and held on for dear life. He swatted the man and shouted, “Mine! Mine!”

The man spun in circles, wearing Coot for a backpack. He rammed Coot against a brick wall. It knocked the wind out of Coot’s lungs and made his eyes bulge. He released his grip and fell to the ground.

The man opened the wallet and was about to count the money when he was interrupted by Joseph.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” said Joseph in a genteel accent. “But if you keep making all this noise, you’re going to attract the police.”

“Take a hike, old man,” said the giant. “This don’t concern you.”

Coot couldn’t gather enough oxygen to speak his line, so he only nodded.

“But if the police come,” Joseph went on, “then none of us will enjoy the spoils of that purse.”

“Us?” said the big man. “This ain’t got nothing to do with you.”

“Yeah,” Coot wheezed. “Scram.”

“We all saw the wallet,” said Joseph. “Any of us could report it, maybe even collect a reward.” Joseph leaned forward and whispered, “Now, may I suggest we can work this out as gentlemen.”

Coot stood to his feet. It felt like his ribs were broken, and his head was throbbing. “Nobody asked you, mister!” said Coot.

“Shut up,” said the giant. “It’s too late now, he’s already seen it. I don’t need no more trouble with the law.”

They gathered behind a brick building. Joseph counted the money beneath the watchful eye of the big man who reeked of whiskey and sweat. “Sixty-four dollars cash,” Joseph finally announced. “And a check for twenty-two hundred dollars, which is worthless. So that comes to twenty-one dollars cash per man, and some change.”

Joseph distributed the bills, tucked the check into his coat pocket, then tipped his hat and wished them good day.

“Just wait a blamin’ minute, old man,” said the giant. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Joseph ignored him and kept walking.