scrape
then." I felt for a minit that if I thought he would get Billy that I
would peach on him, though that is the lowest trick and ain't done by no
one who is white.
I went down stairs first to see all was right, and then he sneaked out.
I come back and sat down in a chair and set there till morning. I was
just all in. Now when everything was coming along so nice, why did he
have to come and butt in and spoil it all? It is just that way all my
life. If it ain't father getting in trouble, it is you or Jim. And the
nerve of him to say he would take Billy! I suppose he would bring him up
to be a swell second story man or something big in the profession, so as
he could live off him. Well, he won't get him, I tell you, and I most
hope they find him, although that is rotten in me to even think such a
thing.
When it come light and nothing happened, I laid down on the bed by Billy
and put my face against him and cried till I woke him up, and he was so
sweet. He said, "Poor Nanny, somefing hurt her. Let Billy kiss it," and
then I broke all up for sure. I got to get some of my money out of the
bank so I can have it handy when Jim sends for it.
Well, good night, Kate, don't worry, I'll keep you posted, and I'll send
you some money next week.
_Nan_.
XXIX
_Dear Kate_:
I can't write much, I am so nervous I am near crazy. The police are hot
after Jim, and they haven't done a thing to me but give me the third
degree twice. Once they had me up before the captain of the police
station here, and once they had me at the central office where the old
man himself took a turn at me. I was there four hours, and they done
everything they could to make me tell short of putting me behind the
bars. They promised me that they would see you got better time, but I
know that is only hot air, and they coaxed and bullied and tried to
scare me for hours. I told them that it was on the level, I didn't know
where he was. I said "yes" that I'd seen him, that he came to me but
left the same night. The Captain was rotten with me, and if it hadn't
been for Tom Cassidy, I think he would a locked me up until Jim was
found. But that great big cop stood up for me and said, "Oh, Captain,
take my word for it, she is all right. She ain't lying. I watched her
for years and she is on the level. The only thing to do is to watch
her." He talked quite a lot with the Captain and they let me go, but I
tell you setting four hours with a police ca
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