sing to
form a partnership by which we could fleece the rich club men. I hinted
to him that I really possessed less money than I am credited with, and
that what I did have I had taken at the tables on the Continent. He then
admitted that he had a 'system,' and from that time we posed as good
friends, though I do not think he ever fully trusted me. I learned from
him that his partner in the game where I caught him cheating was
entirely innocent, and made him promise not to play with him again, for
I had discovered that the detectives had been told of this game, and
therefore knew that they would be watching both men when playing cards.
I preferred to be the partner myself upon such occasions. Having
somewhat won the fellow's confidence, I was ready for my great scheme in
baffling the detective so that I might win my wager, and at the same
time entrap my suspect. I had conceived the Ali Baba festival. I showed
Mr. Barnes one day the ruby which I afterwards presented to my wife. At
the same time I told him, that if he should come to the conclusion that
I was innocent of the train robbery, he might as well remember that I
would still have to commit the crime as agreed upon. Then I arranged
that the festival should occur on New Year's night, the very day on
which my month would expire. I knew that all this would lead the
detective to believe that I meant to rob my _fiancee_, a crime for which
I might readily have escaped punishment, with her assistance. There he
misjudged me. I would not for treble the sum have had her name mixed up
in such a transaction. She knew absolutely nothing of my intentions,
though being at that time in ignorance of the details of the train
robbery, I left her mind in a condition not to offer resistance to the
thief, who she might suppose to be myself. Then, after laying my trap,
at the last moment, I baited it by asking my _fiancee_ to wear the ruby
pin in her hair. I went to Philadelphia, and feigned sickness. Then I
eluded the spy and came on myself. Mr. Barnes I supposed would be
present, and I had arranged so that if so, he would necessarily be in
one of the dominos of the forty thieves. I had invited my suspect to
assume the role of Ali Baba, but he shrewdly persuaded some one else to
take the costume, himself donning one of the Forty Thieves' dresses.
This compelled me to go around speaking to every one so disguised, and
to my satisfaction, by their voices, I discovered my man and also Mr.
Bar