“In New York?” he managed to ask.
She hesitated.
“Why, he’s not in New York now: he’s in the State Penitentiary—an innocent man, as heaven is my judge! You know what these Central Office men are! They’d swear you into the chair for a nickel. And John could have got evidence that he was a sleep-walker. Yes, sir. He’s been that way for years. When the bulls got him in Ackensmidt’s Jewellery Store, he didn’t know how he got there himself—he’s one of the best singers in the Sing Sing Glee Party, is John. But he’s due home in a month and naturally I’m going home to meet him.”
“But is he a—a thief?” he blurted.
A pink and angry flush spread on the classic face of Heloise.
“Say, where did you get all that personal stuff? Thief! John’s no thief—he’s had a lot of bad luck, I guess. But sleep-walking is at the bottom of it. When he’s awake he wouldn’t take anything unless he got a receipt for it. It’s at nights he goes kinder crazy. No, sir, John is a gentleman—though he’s on the register as a safe and strong-room expoit—expert.”
He was calmer now and prepared, if necessary, to enquire into the profits of the business.
“He’s a bank-smasher!” he said sagely. “How interesting! And of course he smashes the banks where he hasn’t a deposit.”
The futility of his remark was palpable even to himself.
“Sure thing. That’s what John is. I used to work with him, but it got him rattled when I was around, so I fixed to work with Dan, who’s a snake but a workman. I’ll say that for him—he’s all for business. Dan always treats his partner as a lady. When I’ve said that I come right to the end of Dan’s attractions.”