Big Kennedy now unfolded his plan for making Darby the Goph useful in our affairs. Foxy Billy would allow himself to get behind in his labors over the City books. In a spasm of industry he would arrange with his superiors to work nights until he was again abreast of his duties. Foxy Billy, night after night, would thus be left alone in the Comptroller's office. The safe that baffled us for those priceless documents would be unguarded. Nothing would be thought by janitors and night watchmen of the presence of Darby the Goph. He would be with Foxy Billy in the rôle of a friend, who meant no more than to kindly cheer his lonely labors.
Darby the Goph would lounge and kill time while Foxy Billy moiled.
“There's the scheme to put Darby inside,” said Big Kennedy in conclusion. “Once they're alone, he'll tear th' packin' out o' that safe. When Billy has copied the papers, th' game's as simple as suckin' eggs. We'll spring 'em, an' make th' Chief look like a dress suit at a gasfitters' ball.”
Big Kennedy's programme was worked from beginning to end by Foxy Billy and Darby the Goph, and never jar nor jolt nor any least of friction. It ran out as smoothly as two and two make four. In the end, Big Kennedy held in his fingers every evidence required to uproot the Chief. The ear and the hand of Darby the Goph had in no sort lost their cunning.
“An' now,” said Big Kennedy, when dismissing Darby the Goph, “you go back where you belong. I've wired the warden, an' he'll give you that bit of dough. I've sent for a copper to put you on th' train. I don't want to take chances on you stayin' over a day. You might get to lushin', an' disgrace yourself with th' warden.”
The police officer arrived, and Big Kennedy told him to see Darby the Goph aboard the train.
“Don't make no mistake,” said Big Kennedy, by way of warning. “He belongs in Sing Sing, an' must get back without fail to-night. Stay by th' train till it pulls out.”
“How about th' bristles?” said the officer, pointing to the two-weeks' growth of beard that stubbled the chin of the visitor. “Shall I have him scraped?”
“No, they'll fix his face up there,” said Big Kennedy. “The warden don't care what he looks like, only so he gets his clamps on him ag'in.”
“Here's the documents,” said Big Kennedy, when Darby the Goph and his escort had departed. “The question now is, how to give th' Chief th' gaff, an' gaff him deep an' good. He's th' party who was goin' to leave me on both sides of th' street.” This last with an exultant sneer.