Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/113

 To return to Chicago at this particular time signified that I must sacrifice certain interests demanding my immediate attention on the Coast, some of which were of great importance to me personally; but rather than have it said that because of any seeming negligence on my part the capture of Mrs. Watson had been effected, I decided to adopt Mr. Mays' suggestion in the matter, and left for Chicago immediately, going by way of San Francisco, where I visited my home in Berkeley for a few days only, arriving in Chicago about March 20, and stopping at the New Southern Hotel.

At noon of the day following my arrival, I called at the postoffice for my mail, which I had ordered forwarded from Portland, and upon presenting myself at the general delivery window, whom should I see once more but my old friend Gallagher, of the gumshoe fraternity. The Secret Service man eyed me complacently as I repeated the name of S. A. D. Puter when inquiring for my mail, and I felt no surprise, upon leaving the building, to discover that I was not without company, for sure enough, the faithful Government sleuth was close at my heels.

The thought of meeting Gallagher at this time was not altogether a pleasant one, especially since I had received, among other letters, one from Mrs. Watson advising me through whom I might be able to secure information as to her whereabouts.

If he was familiar with the contents of this letter—as Government detectives, it is assumed, experience little difficulty in gaining knowledge of this character—I felt the necessity of being more cautious than ever regarding my movements. To see Mrs. Watson, and that, too, immediately, was most imperative; but to attempt to locate the person whose name was referred to in her communication would be sheer folly so long as Gallagher was on my trail. However, there was no personal danger involved, as Mrs. Watson, and not myself, was the one wanted, so it only remained for me to give the Secret Service man the slip, a feat that I had accomplished successfully so many times before.

Walking leisurely about for a time, I decided to try the street car route, so boarded a south-bound car on Wabash Avenue. My effort, however, on this occasion availed me nothing, as Gallagher succeeded in getting aboard with me and taking a position that gave him a good view of all my actions.

Taking advantage of a temporary suspension of traffic by reason of some obstruction, I left the car we were on and took the first one north-bound, with the Government sleuth in close pursuit.

After alighting, I walked into the Palmer House and registered. I then went to my room and after remaining a few minutes, decided to make another effort. Gallagher, who had been watching for me in the hallway, accompanied me in my descent by the elevator. Walking out of the hotel and north on State to Madison Street, I hesitated on the corner to speak to a hack driver, which was a ruse on my part to determine the whereabouts of the detective, whom I discovered to be close at hand.

I then walked over to Wabash Avenue again very slowly and apparently unconcerned, that I might, if possible, induce him to slacken pace also, and as luck would have it, I discerned a car on the corner which was about to start south. Seeing my opportunity, I waited until the car was well under way, when I made a tremendous sprint and succeeded in catching it on the next corner just as it was about to start again.

Glancing back I could see Gallagher coming for all he was worth, with umbrella in one hand and hat in the other, both of which he was waving in frantic fashion and shouting at the top of his voice for the car to stop.

Realizing that his efforts might prove successful, I hurriedly extracted a dollar bill from my pocket book, and handing it to the conductor, remarked that it was important for me to reach home with all possible dispatch on account of illness in my family. Page 107