ut into the
country and exchange it for other property in which he would have a good
title and which he could take to his livery barn and feel safe with it
there.

"What did you do with your money, John?" I inquired.

To this question he answered that in Kansas City he had a suite of rooms
fitted up in elegant style, and kept a mistress. Upon this woman he
squandered all his money, obtained honestly and dishonestly. In addition
to his horse-thieving raids he had several other sources of criminal
revenue. One of these sources he described as follows: "I kept a horse
and wagon, the wheels of which were covered with india rubber. The feet
of the horse were also encased in the same material. I could move about
the streets of the city in the late hours of the night without making
any disturbance, and would pick up anything I could lay my hands on that
I could convert into money. I have carried away many a stove and broken
it up and sold it for old iron. I would also make my way out into the
country and pillage. Often I would enter small towns and load up my
noiseless wagon with stolen goods, which I would take out of the stores.
All of this money I would foolishly spend on the woman I loved."

"How did you happen to get caught?"

"One day on the streets of Kansas City I accidentally met an ex-convict
whom I knew while in Jefferson City penitentiary. He was penniless and
somewhat shabby. He suspected me of crooked work, and wanted to go with
me on a 'horse raid.' At first I refused to take him with me, as it
has always been my rule to go alone when in the crooked business. He
persisted and urged me to let him go along. At last I yielded to his
appeals, and we started from Kansas City. I have never been back since.
My 'pal' was caught on this trip and offered to turn State's evidence if
he could regain his liberty. He was allowed to do this. I was tried and
got a ten years' sentence. He went free."

"What became of the woman?" I asked.

"When in jail at Leavenworth and in need of money to pay my lawyer, I
wrote her a letter informing her of my trouble, and begged her to send
me some money. She forgot to answer that letter, and I have never seen
or heard from her since that time."

"I suppose when your time is up you will hunt her up and fit up another
suite of rooms, won't you?"

"Never," said he. "When I get out I am going to lead an honest life and
take care of my money. It does not pay to get money by crookedness.