The remarks of this man had angered me, of course, though I did not believe that the Chief would follow the suggestions made to him, as his general appearance and demeanor did not savor of the coward, or one who, under such circumstances, would be guilty of such an act. When he raised his club, however, I thought it high time to express myself, which I did in language that would not be considered exactly genteel and which, for obvious reasons, I shall not repeat at this time. I might say, though, that I counseled with the Chief to think twice before taking such action and I might also state, that I reached the station without experiencing the delightful sensation of having my head knocked off.
About midway between the point of capture and the station, or half a block from the City Hall, a policeman came running up, and the same individual who had suggested that violence be used against me, addressed him with the remark:
"Damn you, why didn't you get here on time?" To this the patrolman made no response, but turned about and quietly returned with my captors to the station.
Upon entering, I was ushered into the Chief's private office, and there searched and relieved of my valuables, including my revolver, and perceiving that they were about to remove me to a cell, I addressed the Chief and requested that he permit me to use the telephone, which he said I might do.
Calling up my home, I inquired of my wife if she had succeeded in reaching Mr. Heney, to which she replied in the negative, but stated that she had been trying all day to find him and would put in another call.
"That will not be necessary now," I remarked.
"What do you mean?" came back the inquiry, in a voice that denoted excitement and fear.
"I am at the police station," I answered, and was about to say something that would reassure my wife and let her know that I was all right and not to worry, when I heard the receiver at the other end of the line strike against the wall and at the same instant came a sound as of some one falling to the floor. I thereupon hung up the receiver and after informing the Chief that I was through, and thanking him for the courtesy extended, was led away.
My captors, either through spite, or to show their authority, or from fear that I might possess the power to claw through an ordinary wall, placed me in the dungeon. It was a steel cage, devoid of any aperture whatever, except for a small square opening in the door and which, after they had locked me in, they took occasion to close, thereby excluding the last ray of light that might have cast a reflection of hope upon the surroundings of my gloomy cell.
I shall make no attempt at this time to describe my thoughts, as I found myself alone in the confines of total darkness and solitude, preferring that my readers exercise their imaginative powers to define my feelings. Mine, up to this time, had been a life of freedom, barring the few moments passed in the custody of Secret Service Agent Burns when he thought to hold and return me to the Pacific Coast, and the time spent with a deputy United States Marshal in Portland, when I was seeking bond for my appearance in Court. As compared to my present predicament, they were not to be considered as worthy of note.
I was a real prisoner now, and whatever else can be said, I knew it and felt my position keenly. Had I secured but another day, Mr. Heney, in all probability, would have been reached. Two days, and I was sure of it, but alas, I had been captured, imprisoned and in a dungeon cell, and my last hope to arrange a meeting and arrive at a settlement of my trouble had vanished.
I thought to send for Mr. Heney and to advise him of all that had been in my mind, but would he not laugh at, if not, indeed, mock me? Could he ever, I wondered, be brought to believe me and know the truth?
Thus meditating and groping about in the darkness of my dungeon cell, I was aroused by the opening of the wicket in the door, through which came a stern voice in commanding tones, ordering that I "come forward here that I may take a look at you!"Page 279
