still hovering about. I requested my friend to go there for the purpose of studying conditions, and if. in her judgment, it would be safe to take the grip away, to 'phone me from her place and that I, in turn, would 'phone to her. giving instructions to turn the grip over to him. She had appeared to act so cautiously and in my interests in the past, during my first trouble with Burns, that I had every conlidence in her judgment at this time, and in order to dispel any question which might arise in her mind as to my friend's authority in demanding the grip, I thought it best to speak with her personally, as she would readily recognize my voice over the 'phone.
As it was agreed that my friend would call me up at exactly noon, at a certain drug" store in the neighborhood, I was there on time and waited but a few minutes when the bell rang and I was summoned to the 'phone. Upon calling on the landlady, my friend learned that the grip had been taken away some time before by my attorney and that the detectives, while frequently seen about the place. had not been stationed there regularly, as was the case some two weeks before. At least, the landlady was quite sure that her house was not being watched so closely. She expressed great fear, however, as to my safety and requested my friend to caution me, under no consideration, to come to her place. She thought my only hope was to leave the country.
My friend did not 'phone to me from the boarding house, as there was no occasion for doing so, but instead, used another 'phone some few blocks away, where he advised me as to the conditions.
I w^as delighted to learn that my grip had been secured, and supposed, of course, because of his success along this line. that my money w-as also in waiting, and that all I need to do was to notify my attorney of my presence in the city and make an appointment to receive my belongings.
After eating lunch and waiting until such time as I thought he would be in his office, I called him up and received the time-honored reply that the one I sought was busy, but to "hold the 'phone about fifteen or twenty minutes." when he would be at leisure and talk with me.
I neither waited, nor did I "hold the 'phone," preferring to improve the time by moving along and taking my chances elsewhere.
Calling up again, I simply advised my attorney that I wished to see him on business and he agreed to come to the place of our last meeting at 10 o'clock that night.
I experienced some little difficulty in securing a good, swift horse for that evening, the first livery man called on refusing to give me what I asked for without my being identified, while at the second livery stable. I could not find anything that I would accept for the occasion. The third place, however, was well equipped with fast horses and light rigs, and the owner of the establishment, less suspicious, so I got exactly what I wanted upon deposit of $3.50. the price named for the hire.
I fully expected to leave the city of Boston that night with all that was mine, except, of course, the trunk which Mr. Burns had confiscated, but I cared nothing for that. It was the grip that I wanted most and as a side issue, the money, of course, would come in handy.
My attorney came at the appointed time and was taken into my buggy and driven away as before at a rapid rate. He brought nothing with him and as I had been advised in advance of existing conditions, I thought to let him tell his story, without intimating any knowledge of what had taken place in my absence.
It was evident he expected me to broach the subject, as we had driven some distance before he said anything about the matter at issue. Other things, of little or no consequence, were spoken of. but no mention was made of the grip or money. After a time, however, he ventured to inform me that he had secured the grip and had placed it in one of the safe deposit vaults of the city for security, but would have me believe that the detectives suspicioned his actions in removing a "package" from the lodging house and were watching the vault.Page 262
