A friend of mine in the East asked me to visit old Simon Wheeler. He wanted me to ask about his friend, Leonidas W. Smiley. I did as my friend asked, and this story is the result. I found Simon Wheeler sleeping by the stove in the ruined mining camp of Angels. I saw that he was fat and had no hair. He had a gentle and simple look upon his peaceful face. He woke up and gave me a friendly good-day. I told him a friend had asked me to find out about a man named Leonidas W. Smiley. I heard he was at one time living in Angels Camp. I added that if Mister Wheeler could tell me anything about this man, I would be very grateful. Simon Wheeler forced me into a corner with his chair. He began telling me this long story. He never smiled. He never frowned. He never changed his voice. But all through the endless story there was a feeling of great seriousness and honesty. This showed me plainly that he thought the heroes of the story were men of great intelligence. I let him go on in his own way. I never stopped him once. This is the story Simon Wheeler told.