may place every confidence without reservation. and 1 urge that you communicate with me through him, rather than to attempt it through any other source." And further, was it not this same Allie McKinley whom Horace had spoken of during our travels among several of the Middle States, when it appeared that we might be forced to separate for a time and would require the aid of some trusted friend through whom we might communicate?
Yes, Allie, my host of the hour, was this same person, and the same, indeed, who, calling- at my home in company with Marie Ware McKinley, his cousin's wife, had assured Mrs. Puter that he would be glad of the opportunity to lend assistance to Horace, as he would also to his cousin's friend. So solicitous, in fact, was this man for our welfare, that he made frequent visits to my home, for the avowed purpose of contriving some means whereby he might effect our return and arrange an amicable settlement of difficulties.
Withal, the man's silent look and expression, which was frequently directed to my quarter, was not such as to confirm the confidence which I should gladly have placed in him at that moment. Besides, it did not appear necessary that I acquaint him with my plans, as I must look to Marie alone for a successful termination of what 1 had in mind, and as he could not take any active part in the proceedings, I reasoned, as I had often done before, that one confidence was always better than two.
Allie, during the two hours that I spent at his house that night, had been much of a silent listener, only venturing to ask such questions as, "How are you fixed, Steve, in case you are being trailed now and the officers should come in on you?" and "What would you do in event of being discovered?"
For answer, I reached for my gun, which was fastened to a belt around the front of my body and concealed inside my trousers.
"I guess this would hold them for a while," I remarked, significantly.
After gazing steadfastly at the weapon a few^ seconds, and without making any request, he made a move, such as would indicate his desire to inspect it more closely, but perceiving his object, I quietly replaced it in my belt without comment.
As the hour was growing late, I informed Marie and Allie that I must be returning to my hotel, and in leaving asked Marie if she would meet me at the park in Alameda on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, at which time I would acquaint her with my plans for the future and also advise her in regard to a certain matter which I wished her to attend to for me. Marie readily assented, whereupon I bade them both good night, and departed for my room.
As I had settled my bill prior to leaving the hotel that evening and engaged a room in a private family some four or five blocks down the street from the hotel and towards the bay. I hesitated to go to my room at such an unseasonable hour; but as I had removed my suit case from the hotel to my new quarters, and as my room was on the ground floor and could be reached without disturbing any one, I concluded to do so.
Arriving there, I retired immediately and endeavored to find repose in sleep, that I might rest both body and mind, but to no avail.
Somehow, but for what reason I could not exactly understand. I had a foreboding of impending danger. Even in the darkness of night and in the solitude of my room, there appeared a vision as of one lurking in the shadow, upon whose face was written the cowardly expression of a deceptive and crafty foe.
Try as I would to escape from this ill omen and to banish the thought, this vision of a traitorous hand was my ever constant and persistent companion, and through the long weary hours of the night, like Banquo's ghost, it would not down.
Could I have an enemy such as that which held me spellbound and in constant fear? Could he be even now upon me, and would I. in a moment of helpless surroundings, be dragged forth to meet my doom? These were among the thoughts on this eventful night, which proved to be my last of freedom for many moons to come. Page 276
