第章

WhileJessehadfoughtawinningbattleuptothispointhewasattheendofhisresourcessofarastheextraditionoftheprisonerwasconcerned，forDodgewasnowatliberty，pendingthedecisionsuponthehabeascorpusproceedingsoftheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtofAppealsatFortWorth，andtheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtatWashington。ButhisordersweretoBRINGDODGEBACKTONewYork。Hence，withtheaidofsomenewmensenthimfromtheNorth，hecommencedanevenclosersurveillanceoftheprisonerthaneverbeforebybothdayandnight。

MeantimeKaffenburghdepartedforNewYork，fleeingfromthewrathofJudgeBurns，whohadissuedasummonsforhimforcontemptoftheFederalCourtonthegroundthathehadinducedDodgetoattempttojumphisbond。InplaceoftheblusteringKaffenburghwassentanothermemberofthefamouslawfirmofHoweandHummel，DavidMay，anentirelydifferenttypeofman。MaywasasmildasadayinJune——asurbaneasKaffenburghhadbeeninsolent。HeflutteredintoHoustonlikeawhitedoveofpeacewiththeproverbialolivebranchinhismouth。FromnowonthetacticsemployedbytherepresentativesofHummelwereconciliatoryintheextreme。Mr。May，however，didnotlongremaininHouston，asitwasapparentthattherewasnothingtobedonebyeithersidependingtheactionofthecourts，andinanyeventDodgewasabundantlysuppliedwithlocalcounsel。ThetimehadnowcomewhenHummelmusthavebeguntofeelthatthefateswereagainsthimandthatatwenty-yearterminstateprisonwasaconcretepossibilityevenforhim。

Inthemeantime，DodgeandBrackenhadtakenuptheirheadquartersattheRiceHotelinthemostexpensivesuiteofroomsinthehouse，anewschemeforgettingtheprisonerbeyondthereachoftheNewYorkcourtsapparentlyhavingbeenconcocted。Dodgewasnowindulgedineveryconceivableluxuryandvice。Hewasplungedintoeverysortofexcess，therewasnodebaucherywhichBrackencouldsupplythatwasnothisandtheirrapidmethodofexistencewassoonthetalkofthecountyandcontinuedtobesofortenlongmonths。Thereismorethanonewaytokillacatandmorethanonemethodofwipingouttheonlyexistingwitnessagainstadesperatemanstrivingtoescapetheconsequencesofcrime。

Dodge’sdailyroutinewassomewhatasfollows：Heneversleptathisownhotel，butaroseinthemorningbetweentenandeleveno’clock，whenhewasatoncevisitedbyBrackenandsuppliedwithnumerousdrinksinlieuofthebreakfastforwhichheneverhadanydesire。Atnoonthetwowouldhaveluncheonwithmoredrinks。Intheafternoontheywouldretiretothepoolroomsandplaytheraces，and，whentheraceswereover，theywouldthenvisitthefarobanksandgambleuntilmidnightorlater。LaterontheywouldproceedtoanotherresortonLouisianaStreetwhereDodgereallylived。Herehisdaymaybesaidtohavebegunandherehespentmostofhismoney，frequentlypayingoutasmuchasfiftydollarsanightforwineandinvariablyendinginabeastlystateofintoxication。ItisquiteprobablethatneverinthehistoryofdebaucheryhasanyonemaneverbeensoindulgedinexcessesofeverysortforthesameperiodoftimeasDodgewasduringthesummerandfallof1904。Thefugitiveneverplacedhisfootonmotherearth。Iftheyweregoingonlyablock，Brackencalledforacab，andthetwoseemedtotakeaspecialdelightinmakingJesse，asJerome’srepresentative，spendasmuchmoneyincabhireaspossible。TheHoustonjehusneveragainexperiencedsoprofitableatimeastheydidduringDodge’swetseason；andthelifeofdissipationwascontinueduntil，fromtimetotime，theprisonerbecamesoweakfromitseffectsthathewasforcedtogounderthecareofaphysician。Afewdaysofabstinencealwaysrestoredhisvitalityandhewouldthenstartoutuponanotherroundofpleasure。

DuringthisperiodJessemaintainedacloseandvigilantpersonalespionageovertheprisoner。Forovertenmonthshesleptlessthanfourhourseachday，hisfatiguebeingincreasedbytheconstantapprehensionoftreacheryamonghisownmen，andthenecessityofbeingeveronthealerttopreventsomemoveonthepartofthedefensetospirittheprisoneraway。DuringthesummerattemptswererepeatedlymadetoevadethevigilanceofJesseandhismenandseveraldesperatedasheswerefrustratedbythem，includingoneoccasionwhenBrackensucceededinrushingDodgeasfarasGalveston，wheretheywereforcedtoabandontheirdesign。

FromtimetotimeBrackenwoulddisappearfromHoustonforaweekortendays，statingonhisreturnthathehadbeentoNewYork，afterwhichtherewasinvariablysomenewmovetogettheprisoneraway。Timeandspacepreventgivingadetailedaccountofallthemarchesandcounter-marchesthattookplaceinthisbattleofwitagainstwit。

InAugust，1904，BrackenmadeoneofhisperiodicalvisitstoNewYork，andwhenhereturnedsoughtoutJesseandsaid：“Blocher，youmightaswellbeagoodfellowandgetyourswhileyoucan。ImeanthatDodgeisnotgoingbacktoNewYork，evenifitcostamilliondollarstopreventit。“AfewdayslaterBrackensentagamblernamedWarnertoJesse，whoofferedthelatterthirty-fivehundreddollarstoget“lost“longenoughfortheprisonertoslipovertoMexico。Actingupontheadviceofhisattorney，Jesseencouragedthisattempt，underthebeliefthatifhecouldgettheHummelforcesinthepositionofhavingattemptedtobribehimtheprisoner’sbailcouldthenbeforfeitedandDodgehimselftakenintocustody。Hummelbecamewary，however，andapparentlyabandonedforthetimetheideaofbribery。LateronBrackenagaindisappeared。OnhisreturnamarkedchangewasnoticeableinhisdemeanorandJesseobservedthathewasinconstantconsultationwithDodge，fromwhichthedetectivedrewtheinferencethatsomelastdesperatemovewastobemadetowardstheescapeoftheprisoner。

OnoneoccasionJessesawBrackenshowingDodgeamapandsomedrawingsonpaper，whichsoexcitedhissuspicionsthathefollowedthetwowithunremittingassiduity，andwithinadayortwowasrewardedthroughBracken’scarelessnesswithanopportunityforgoingthroughthelatter’scoatpocketsinthebilliardroom。HerehefoundacompletesetofplansworkedoutineverydetailforspiritingtheprisonerfromSanAntoniointoMexicoduringtheStateFair。Theseplanswereveryelaborate，everyitemhavingbeenplannedoutfromthepurchaseoftickets，andpassingofbaggagethroughthecustoms，tohotelaccommodationintheCityofMexicoandTampico，andsteamshipticketsfromTampicotoEurope。

TheplanhadbeentosecurepermissionfromtheCourtforDodgetoleaveHoustonlongenoughostensiblytoattendthefairatSanAntonioandto“lose“himduringtheexcitementandcrowdedconditionofthecityatthattime。

Itis，ofcourse，needlesstosaythattheseplanswereabandonedwhenBrackendiscoveredthatJessehadbeenforewarned。

AlmostimmediatelythereaftertheCircuitCourtofAppealsatFortWorth，Texas，decidedoneofthehabeascorpuscasesadverselytoDodge，butitstillpermittedhimtoretainhislibertypendingthefinaldeterminationofthequestionsinvolvedbytheSupremeCourtatWashington。

TheHummelforceswereapparentlylosinghope，however，forearlyinOctoberanotherattemptwasmadetobribeJesse。Brackenenteredhisroomoneeveningandinformedhimthathecouldgethisownpriceifhewouldonlybeagoodfellow，andevenwentsofarastoexhibitaquantityofmoneywhichhestatedwastwenty-fivethousanddollars。TheonlyresultofthisofferwastoleadJessetoredoublehisprecautions，forhearguedthatthesituationmustindeedbeacutewhensuchanoffercouldbedeemedworthwhile。

ThereafteritwasobviousthattherevelryofDodgeandhiscompanionswasontheincrease。AccordinglyJesseaddedtohisforceofassistants。

OnDecember2，1904，NathanielCohen，anothermemberofthefirmofHoweandHummel，arrivedatHouston，andthenextdaytheSupremeCourtatWashingtondecidedtheappealinthehabeascorpusagainsttheprisoner，whowasatonceorderedbyJudgeBurnsintothecustodyofUnitedStatesMarshallWilliamM。Hansen。

ThingslookedblackindeedforDodgeandblackerstillforHummel。

Howthelittleattorney，eatinghismiddaylunchfourthousandmilesaway，atPontin’srestaurantonFranklinStreet，musthavetrembledinhispatentleatherboots!Hislastemissary，Cohen，atonceprocuredanassistantbythenameofBrookmanandwithhimproceededtoWhartonCounty，Texas，wheretheysecuredanewwritofhabeascorpusandinducedthelocalsheriff，oneRich，toswearinapossecomitatusofonehundredmenforthepurposeofcomingtoHoustontotaketheprisonerbyforceofarmsoutofthehandsoftheUnitedStatesMarshal。

Thiswasoneofthemostdaringanddesperateattemptsmadeinrecentyearstofrustratethelaw。JessebelievesthattherealobjectofthispossewastoprecipitateafightbetweenthemselvesandtheFederalauthorities。ItisnotinconceivablethatinsuchaneventDodgemighteitherhaveescapedorbeenkilled。Themencomposingthepossewereofthemostdesperatecharacter，andconsistedlargelyoftheso-called“feudfactions“ofWhartonCounty，knownas“TheWoodPeckers“and“TheJayBirds。“Jessehasbeeninformed，onwhatheregardsasreliableauthority，thatthismovecosttheHummelforcesfifteenthousanddollarsandthateachmemberofthepossereceivedonehundreddollarsforhiscontemplatedservicesinthe“rescue“oftheprisoner。Butcivilwar，evenonasmallscale，cannotbeindulgedinwithoutsomeinklingofthefactsbecomingknowntotheauthorities，andpriortothereceiptofthemandateoftheSupremeCourt，JudgeBurnsorderedtheprisonerremovedtoGalvestonforsafekeeping。

Thusthelong，expensive，andarduousstrugglecamefinallytoanend，forJudgeBurnsinduecourseorderedthatCharlesF。DodgeshouldbeconveyedtoNewYorkinthepersonalcustodyoftheUnitedStatesMarshalanddeliveredbyhimtotheNewYorkauthorities“withinthebordersofthatState。“Suchanorderwas，ofcourse，exceedinglyunusual，ifnotalmostunheardof，butitwasrenderedabsolutelynecessarybythepowerfulinfluenceandresources，aswellastheunscrupulouscharacter，ofthoseinterestedinsecuringDodge’sdisappearance。

Inordertothwartanyplansforreleasingtheprisonerbyviolenceorotherwise，andtopreventdelaythroughtheinvokingoflegaltechnicalities，HansenandJessedecidedtoconveyDodgetoNewYorkbywater，andonthe16thofDecemberthemarshalandhisfivedeputiesboardedaMalloryLinesteameratGalvestonandarrivedinNewYorkwiththeirprisonerontheeveningofDecember23d。

DodgereachedNewYorkaphysicalwreck。Howhewasinducedtotellthewholetruthafterhehadpleadedguiltytothechargeagainsthimisastoryinitself。Acompletereactionfromhisdissipationnowoccurredandfordayshislifewasdespairedof。

Jesse，too，was，astheexpressionis，“allin，“andtheonlypersonswhowerestillabletoappreciatethedelightsofNewYorkwerethestalwartmarshalandhisboys，whoforsometimewereobjectsofinterestastheystrolledalongBroadwayanddrank“deepandhearty“inthecafes。TotheassistantsintheDistrictAttorney’sofficetheywereheroesandweretreatedassuch。

HowDodgefinallytestifiedagainstHummelonthewitnessstandhasalreadybeentold。Astheysaydowntown，ifJeromehadneverdoneanythingelse，hewouldhave“madegood“bylockingupAbeHummel。

Nooneeverbelievedhewoulddoit。ButJeromeneverwouldhavelockedupHummelwithoutJesse。And，asJessesayswithalaugh，leaningbackinhischairandtakingalongpullonhiscigar，“I

guessIwouldnotdoitagain——no，IWOULDnotdoitagainforallthemoneyyoucouldgiveme。ThewonderisthatIcameoutofitalive。“Whenthereadercomestothinkaboutithewillprobablyagreewithhim。

P。H。WoodwardAdventuresintheSecretServiceofthePost-OfficeDepartment*

*TheauthorofthepagesthatfollowwaschiefspecialagentoftheSecretServiceoftheUnitedStatesPost-OfficeDepartmentduringpioneerandromanticdays。Thecuriousadventuresrelatedarepartlyfromhisownobservation，andpartlyfromthenotebooksoffellowofficers，operatinginmanysectionsoftheCountry。

Thestoriesaretrue，although，ofcourse，justicedemandsthatinsomecasespersonsandplacesbeusuallydisguisedunderfictitiousnames。

Thestorieshaveinterestnotonlyfortheirexcitingplayofhonestwitsagainstdishonest，butalsoforthecautionstheysoundagainstbelievingthings“toogoodtobetrue“fromthepenofstrangers。

Thereisaclassofpost-officethieveswhomakeaspecialtyofriflingtheregisteredlettersthatpassthroughtheirhandsintransitonjourneysofgreaterorlesslength。Someofthemhavemanagedoperationsveryshrewdly，intheevidentbeliefthattheyhaddiscoveredaninfalliblemethodfordoingtheworkandatthesametimeescapingdetection。Toolatetheygenerallylearnbysadexperiencethatnopatentscanbetakenoutfortheprotectionofcrime。

Inthisclassofcasessomethingtangiblealwaysremainstoexhibitthepeculiarstyleofworkmanshipbelongingtoeach；anditwouldoftensurprisetheuninitiatedtolearnhowmanytraitsofcharacter，whatindexesofhabitandvocation，canbepickedupbycarefulstudyoftheminutepointspresentedforinspection。