It was then that I reviewed to my mind the constancy of my friends, those who had been faithful to me through thick and thin, at the risk of becoming implicated in my troubles.
It was then, too, that my thoughts reverted to my wife, and it was then, indeed, that I looked to her as the one faithful to the end. She it was whom I could trust, and she it was, in this hour of baffling thought, in my moments of hope and fear, in whom I decided to confide and to make my messenger for the arrangement of this all important meeting with him in whom I based my hope. I must see Mr. Heney at once, and my wife, on the morrow, will be intrusted with the mission of bringing him to our home.
The night being far spent, and without sleep, I arose at six o'clock and had breakfast over with about an hour and a half later. I then read the morning paper until 8:30, when I went to the main telephone office in Alameda and 'phoned to my wife, requesting her to call up Mr. Heney at once, and after stating that she had some important news for him, to ask if he would call at the house, or if she might come to his home, and to ask, in either event, what time would be most convenient for him. I also told my wife that I would call her up again later in the day. In the meantime, she was to call up Mr. Heney, but was not to mention my name, nor refer to my present whereabouts.
I then returned to my room, and taking from my grip my new model, knockdown, 30-30 Winchester rifle which I had purchased recently in New York City with the intention of placing it in my cabinet of firearms—as I am somewhat of a fancier along that line—I proceeded to put it together and shortly thereafter, walked to the beach, some two blocks distant. Here I entertained myself in target practice in the hopes of correcting any deficiency that might appear in the sights of my new piece, as I had not yet had an opportunity to test it.
I remained on the beach about two hours, during which time I traversed a distance of something like a mile. Finding my gun in good shape, and after killing a few small birds, I returned to the city by one of the main streets, and as I reached the corner of Park street and the one on which the broad-gauge railway runs, I met a lady and gentleman. Addressing the latter, I asked him, referring to the railroad, if it was the track that led to the Oakland mole, or if it went to the narrow gauge depot, connecting with San Francisco.
The gentleman not appearing to know, his companion volunteered the information, and as ladies frequently do, she consumed sufficient time to give me a complete history of the road. The conversation, I presume, lasted fully three minutes, and I might state here, that this lady, to whom the newspapers referred as the "blonde" with whom I held a conversation, was a total stranger to me, and to this day, I have never learned her name.
As there was another railroad track some two blocks distant, my object in making this inquiry was to learn which of the two was the most direct route to my home, as I expected, in event of Mr. Heney agreeing to come to my house, to be called upon to go there at any moment.
After securing the desired information from the woman, I continued, with rifle in hand, down the main street of the city, past the Park Hotel and to the telephone office again, where I called my wife up and inquired as to the result of her efforts to reach Mr. Heney.
She informed me of having put in a call at nine o'clock, or shortly after talking with me that morning, but had received no reply. She would, she said, put in another call immediately and would continue to do so until an answer was received.
As it was now almost twelve o'clock, I went to the restaurant and had luncheon. I then returned to my room, and after taking my gun apart, cleaning and replacing it in the case, I locked it away in my suit case and prepared to meet Marie, as per appointment of the night before.
After donning my overcoat, which was a long one and quite heavy, I looked at my watch and discovered that I had yet fifteen minutes to spare, so Page 277
