talk with White and treated him
with much more confidence than before. White said little, and was a good
man to talk to. Maroney made no admissions, but all his expressions and
manners showed guilt. White at least did not accept them as showing his
innocence. He always pointed to Chase as the guilty party. Maroney
frequently brought up his troubles as a topic of conversation with
White; but White was professedly so employed with his own business that
he said but little. All that Maroney said to him seemed to go in at one
ear and out at the other. When he made a remark it was a casual one and
had no bearing on the subject. This caused Maroney to talk still more,
devising plans for throwing suspicion on Chase. White casually said:

"What sort of a man is Chase? A smart, shrewd fellow who would pick up a
money package if he saw it lying handy, and dispose of it?"

"No," replied Maroney, slowly weighing every word. "I don't think he
would. He is a pretty fair man; but the company have no right to make
him a witness against me!"

"Who are his friends?" enquired White.

"His father lives in Georgia; he is a whole-souled old planter; has a
good many slaves; but his property is much encumbered. Chase is a good
fellow after all!"

"By-the-by," asked White, "does he ever go to see the fancy girls?"

"Yes, he does, occasionally," answered Maroney.

"Would it not be a good plan to take four or five thousand dollars and
get the girls to stuff it into his pants pocket; then get him drunk, and
as he started away have some detective arrest him?"

"Yes," answered Maroney, "it might be done, and Gus McGibony is the man
to do it. He is a good friend of mine. If I were only out, I might do
something. White, your idea is a good one, you are a splendid contriver;
but I must find some one to carry out the plan. I have friends in
Montgomery, and I think Charlie May would help me. No, he is too much
under the influence of his wife! Patterson would help me some; but I
think Porter is the best man for me!"

"Porter? who is he?"

"He is the clerk of the Exchange Hotel," said Maroney.

"He would be a good man for you if you can trust him."

"I know I can do that! he would do anything in the world for me."

"He is just the man to be familiar with the girls. Clerks at hotels
always are. Girls must often stop at the hotel, and he might arrange to
get Chase into a room with one of them, and then the rest could be
easily accomplished. Do