the
money, but I think I can manage to work it off in some way."

_CHAPTER XXVII._

"White, I will write a letter to my wife which will pave your way to
gaining her implicit confidence."

"How will you do that?" asked White.

"I will write to her informing her that you are coming, and that you
will identify yourself by presenting a letter from me."

"Yes, but suppose she won't give up the money? I could not go back
again, as some of the detectives might suspect me and take me into
custody."

"Oh, nothing of the sort will happen. I will write you a letter that
will surely get the money; come, we will see what we can do." And they
sat down at a table, where Maroney began to write.

In a short time he finished a letter, and read it to White. He wrote:

"MY DEAREST WIFE: I have confided all to Mr. White. He will be
liberated to-day or to-morrow. He has some business to attend to,
which will detain him four or five days, when he will call on you
in the guise of a book-peddler. Now, I say to you, trust implicitly
in him! I have trusted him with my secret. He will take care of
all. Give him everything you have in the packages. Take no writing
from him, whatever. He requires something to work off on Chase, and
wants to use some of the stuff I got in Montgomery. When he
succeeds in this, Chase will be in my place. Then he will begin to
exchange all I have; afterwards all will be easy. When I am at
liberty, we can enjoy it in safety. I feel perfectly safe, and
confident. Now, dearest, as I have before said, trust him
implicitly, and all will be right.

Yours forever, NAT."

White approved of the letter. Maroney, therefore, sealed it up, directed
it, and gave it to Shanks, who was in the jail, to post. Of course the
dutiful young man would not fail to do so.

He then wrote the following letter of introduction and handed it to
White:

"MY DEAREST WIFE: This is the book-peddler. You will want to buy
books from him. Buy what you want. Give him the packages for me. He
is honest. All is well.

NAT."

White scanned its contents, and said: "I suppose this is sufficient, but
the question still remains: will she obey it? I will do the best I can,
but I have little faith in women."

"Oh, now!" said Maroney, "don't make m