Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/264

 Things did not look just right to me. nor had they for some time past. and I conchided that I could well afford to hold counsel with myself before proceeding much further.

The actions of my attorney for the past few days were not at all to my liking, and while I did not care to believe that he was "standing in" with my pursuers, or that he was doing anything that would not eventually work to my interests and serve the ends for which I sought, at the same time, he had dilly-dallied along for such a length of time without accomplishing anything that I could not understand the proceedings. My check, which was properly indorsed, should be accepted by any bank in the city from one so prominent as he, more especially as it was a local firm drawing the check, who would verify its genuineness. Therefore, with the additional indorsement of my attorney's signature, the bank had no grounds for refusing to honor and cash it when presented.

After thinking matters over very carefully, I 'phoned to my attorney again and informed him that I had concluded to let matters drop for awhile and not to bother further and that I would call him up again within the next few days.

Driving back to the livery stable, or to within a few blocks of it. I waited my opportunity and when a man of apparent respectability came along, I induced him to return the rig. paying him, as I had done on the other occasion, and making a similar excuse. I had been fortunate in securing fine animals to drive and wished to insure their safe return, though I did not care to risk it personally.

Upon seeing the man drive my rig into the barn. I walked around a spell, and later in the evening, went into Boston proper, where I ordered supper in a down town restaurant. One might think that this was a hazardous action on my part, but not so much so as might appear on the surface. In the first place, it must be borne in mind that while I was being looked for, it was not on the streets of the down town districts of the very city in which I had made my sensational escape. No one would dream of my venturing so close in, nor would the city police, who were bent on my capture, think it worth while to scrutinize a passing stranger. In the outskirts of the city, where suburban officers have little else to do, I was sure to be kept in mind, but as I was always on the alert. I cared not for them. If detected in the heart of the city. I believed, at that. I had an even chance, so long as I confined my visits to the evening hours.

In the restaurant where I ate there were probably a hundred people, and although I kept a sharp lookout, I did not see or meet with anyone that I knew. The nearest I came to being detected, so far as I know, was this same evening and immediately after supper, when I stepped into a drug store to make a small purchase and was standing at the counter when an officer with whom I was well acquainted walked into the place and engaged a clerk in conversation.

I had been watching the door and was prepared for an emergency, but not caring to court trouble, I placed myself in a position where I could watch his actions through a small mirror, without giving him an opportunity to discern my features. A moment later, when he left the store, I took my departure.

Shortly thereafter, I took a street car for Worcester, some sixty miles from Boston, arriving there about eleven o'clock and engaging a room for the night. Here I remained two days, spending the morning hours in reading the newspapers, while my afternoons were occupied between the library and one of the billiard halls. On the evening of the second day after my arrival, I took the last car for Boston, arriving there about 1 o'clock a. m. I engaged a room in one of the down town lodging houses, where I remained until 7 o'clock the next morning.

After breakfast, I went to Charleston on the street car and engaged another rig for the day. Driving out to the suburbs, I 'phoned to my attorney and asked him if he had anything new to report. He seemed much surprised to hear of me again and inquired where I had been keeping myself, to which I replied that I had not left the city. He informed me of having made some effort to convert my paper into cash and that he desired to talk to me personally. Not being prepared to name a place of meeting. I told him I would call up later and make an appointment. Page 258