Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/128

 "Botch nothing," was my reply, meeting his stony stare with equal impertinence. "I did the best I possibly could under the circumstances, and probably as well as anybody else could have done, all things considered."

"Yes, you did fine!" was his cynical rejoinder.

"Well, what do you know about it?" I asked, defiantly.

"Know about it? Why, I know everything!" he replied. "You know nothing—absolutely nothing!" I responded, with considerable warmth. "You have probably been reading the newspaper reports, or else lending your ear to the tale of some jackass who knows as little as yourself concerning" the facts."

Noting at this phase of our conversation that Mays was wavering, and seeing my opening, I went on to state that only the Chicago detectives, Mrs. Watson and myself knew anything about the circumstances attending her arrest, and further, that not a living soul, outside of Mrs. Watson and I. were familiar with conditions leading thereto.

"I know that Mrs. Watson has not mentioned the subject to you, and also, as you must admit, that I have not yet been given an opportunity to make any explanations," I continued, "consequently you are entirely in the dark."

My remarks seemed to exercise a quieting effect upon my worthy antagonist, and seeking to take advantage of the situation, I related the whole story in detail: how I had been trailed from the time of my arrival in Chicago tmtil the very moment that Mrs. Watson's hiding-place had been discovered. I also related, to the most minute particular, how I had managed to elude the officers, and of the preparations I had made for her escape. I admitted, however, that I might have displayed even greater precaution had I been properly advised that conditions demanded it; but that, inasmuch as I was laboring under the impression that indictments could only be returned against us in the 24-1 case, and knowing, as I did, that the Government had no ground to stand on in that proceeding, I could not perceive, either before or at the time of Mrs. Watson's arrest, wherein her capture made any material difference so far as our standing in court was concerned.

"But now," said I, "since my return to Portland I have ascertained that we have been indicted in the 11-7 case, and right here is where we shall find ourselves up against the real thing. You told me, Mays, before I started for Chicago, that the statute of limitations would bar our prosecution in the 11-7 case, and on the strength of your assumptions I felt that there was nothing to fear; but now, as soon as I get back here, I learn that we have been indicted by the Federal Grand Jury on this very case, and you mark my words, Mr. Mays — we are up against it." Page 122