ptain who knows you and your
people from the time they entered the ark, and who thinks you are lying
just because your relations are crooks, ain't a rest cure for nervous
women. I can't dance worth a damn, and I am so fidgety that if I hear a
door slam I go all to pieces.

That ain't all either. When I was just turning our corner the other
night a man came out of Sweeney's saloon and handed me a note from Jim
asking me to give the bearer fifty dollars. I had been expecting it so I
went down in my sock and give it to him. I don't know who he was, but I
was dead scared for fear that he'd been seen.

Don't worry, things will come right some way. They can't be much worse.
I will write you all the news.

_Nan_.

XXX

Oh, Kate, can't you get word to Jim some way and call him off? He is
just bleeding me to death, and every time I turn round there is some one
with a note from him asking for money. I have drawn most all I have in
the bank, and will soon be flat broke if this keeps up. I want to help
him all I can, but it just kills me to see all the money that I have
saved so careful and gone without things so as to have some for you when
you come out so as you could rest a while and see what you wanted to do,
go to that cheap crook and his friends. I suppose he is a paying them
dear to hide him, cause they are a rotten lot and won't do nothing
without pay. It scares me cold every time I see a man with a note in his
hand, because the police are bound to get on to it sooner or later, and
they will follow the fellow and find Jim. I have give him enough to get
to Australia, why don't he go? Oh, I don't want them to get him of
course, but I wish something would happen that would call him off of me.

_Nan_.

XXXI

_Dear Kate_:

I am worried near sick, and I can't sleep nor eat nor nothing. I refused
to send Jim any more money and the other night a man walked along the
street with me and said, "Jim wants you to send him fifty." I said, "I
haven't got it to send, I am busted." He bent his head toward me and
said, "Jim said to tell you that if you didn't send the dough, he would
take the kid." I just near went cold at that, and the man saw it scared
me white. I had my week's pay in my bag and like a fool I gave him
twenty, which tipped my hand off to them, showing I was scared for the
kid. I went home and I ain't let Billy out of my sight since, except
when I am working, and then I take him up to Myrtle's