Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/256

 Dinner ordered, I passed the time in reading the paper when I was not otherwise occupied with my thoughts, and when it was served, I partook heartily, not knowing but this might be my last square meal for many hours to come.

Leaving the restaurant, I walked directly toward my lodging house and when 1 came within two blocks of the place, fearing that some one might be on the main thoroughfare, I decided to enter by the back way, so took down an alley.

Reaching the house, I walked up the back stairs and knocking at the kitchen door, was admitted by the landlady herself, when I remarked in a jocular way:

"Well. I'm here—have you kept my dinner waiting?"

"Yes," she replied, "but how came you in this way?"

"Oh," said I, "just thought I wouldn't put you to the trouble of setting the table for me again. This, you know, is the first time I have ever been late, so will dine in the kitchen."

As the lady turned to prepare the meal, her actions having denoted that everything was all right, I told her not to mind, that I had already eaten, but thanked her just the same.

I then asked her if she had heard anything unusual, to which she replied that she had not.

"Very well, then, come to my room," said I, "I have something important that I wish to say to you."

As I had boarded at her house for about three months and had frequently talked with her, she impressed me as a person in whom I could confide with safety, so I decided to tell her the whole story, as I knew to a certainty that Burns would find my room sooner or later, and I thought, because of the friendly manner in which she had always treated me, it would be best to make arrangements in regard to my belongings prior to his coming.

Upon entering the room, I recited in detail all that had occurred, explaining at the same time that my name was S. A. D. Puter, and not J. H. Brownell, as she had supposed. I told her of my connection with timber land operations on the Pacific Coast and that this present trouble, while not of a serious nature, was the result of those operations.

After assuring the lady that I was in no wise involved in any criminal transaction, she expressed a willingness to assist me in any way possible and asked what she could do for me.

I requested her to telephone to a very intimate friend of mine and to request him to come to her house, cautioning her, at the same time, not to mention the nature of the business, as I did not wish her to speak of that over the 'phone.

When he came, a few minutes later, I explained the entire situation to him also, and solicited his assistance in the matter of making good my escape from the city. My friend seemed to think that I had been wonderfully successful up to that time and that the worst was over, but when I explained the character of the man with whom I had to deal and advised him of Burns' reputation, which was based on his past acts of fearless daring, where men of known ability only were employed and in which he had always come out successful, my friend was not quite so sanguine that I was yet out of the woods.

I also assured him of Burns' ability to summon every man in the service, if need be, to assist him, in addition to which, he could command the support of the entire police and detective force of Boston, and it was my opinion that at this very moment every avenue of escape from the city was being closely guarded.

After discussing the situation thoroughly, my friend suggested that early on the following morning I accompany him to his brother's farm, about forty-five miles distant. This I decided to do, so immediately busied myself in packing my clothing, which I placed in my trunk, while in my grip, I deposited all papers and documents of value, together with some few articles of clothing that I might want for immediate use. Page 250