life I was leading was that
of a "strong-arm man," and I determined to put it into use now, for I
was desperate.

The rule in this dastardly work is always to select a man smaller and
weaker than one's self. As I looked about I saw a man coming up the
Bowery who seemed to answer to the requirements, and I said to myself,
"This is my man!" I walked up to him and touched him on the shoulder,
but as he straightened up I saw that he was as big as myself, and I
hesitated. I would have taken the chances even then, but he started back
and asked what I wanted. I said I was hungry, thinking that he would put
his hand in his pocket, and then, having only one hand, I could put the
"strangle hold" on him. But he was equal to the situation. He told me
afterward that I looked dangerous.

I asked him if he was ever hungry. He said, "Many's the time." I told
him I was starving. "Come with me," said he, and we went over to Chatham
Square, to a place called "Beefsteak John's."

We went in and sat down, and he said, "Now order what you want." On the
Bowery in those days you could get a pretty good meal for fifteen
cents--all you wanted to eat. The waiter was there to take my order. I
knew him and winked to him to go away, and he went. He thought I was
going to work the young fellow for his money.

The young fellow said, "Why don't you call for something? I thought you
were starving."

Now here I was up against it. I'd panned this man for something to eat,
and he was willing to pay for anything I wanted, and for the life of me
I could not swallow any food. When a man is drinking he doesn't care to
eat at a table. Give him a square meal, and he doesn't enjoy it. I know
men to-day who spend every dollar they earn for drink, and eat nothing
but free lunches, handed out with their drinks. That was what was the
matter with me. All I wanted was drink. The young man had called my
bluff, and I had nothing to show but lies. I sat there wondering how I
was going to get out of this hole. I was looking at the man and he at
me, when the little good that was in me cropped out, and looking him
square in the eye I said, "Young fellow, I've lied to you. I could not
eat the first mouthful." I told him I'd gone up to him thinking he would
dig down in his pocket and give me a little change. I did not mention
the fact that I intended to "put him up in the air" and rob him. Then I
sat back in my chair and waited for the "come-back." Finally he said,
"Have