Page:The woman in battle .djvu/530

472 tain what I wanted, he would endeavor to aid me by any means in his power.

I then told him, plump and plain, that I and my associates had full information with regard to what was being done in certain of the treasury bureaux, and that we had it in our power to set he detectives to work in such a way that all those engaged in swindling the government would be arrested and brought to punishment. Instead of doing anything of this kind, however, we proposed to share the profits of such fraudulent transactions as were going on in the treasury department. As the agent and receivers of the others interested, I wanted to get possession of "one or more of the electrotype impressions of the bond and note plates, such as were used for fraudulent issues; and I also desired to obtain facilities for visiting the printing bureau, whenever I might find it expedient to do so, for the sake of conferring with certain parties there, and in order that I might have an eye generally on what was going on.

My friend saw that I "had him," to use a slang phrase that is very appropriate in such a connection as this, for it expresses the situation exactly.

He hesitated, however, as well he might, before yielding to my request; and after some immaterial talk, which expressed nothing but his fears, he said, "Well, if I oblige you in this, I will place my honor and my reputation in your hands. I have never yet stepped aside from the duties of my office since I have been sworn in, and what assurances have I that you will not betray me?"

I knew exactly how much of this to believe, and so I said to him, "I don't care, sir, what you may or may not have done before this. I am satisfied, however, that you are the proper person to assist me in the matter under discussion, and if you do you shall have your share of the profits. You can rely upon my secrecy, for I will be implicated as well as your self; but, independently of that, I think that my character for reliability is sufficiently well known for you to have no hesitation in trusting me."

"Yes, I know your reputation for skill and secrecy; you seem to have played it finely with Baker. I am glad some body has managed to get ahead of that fellow, for he has been making himself an infernal nuisance about here."

This was said with considerable bitterness, and I could not help smiling, both at the words and the manner; for there was