“But they will know you, George. You seem to forget that Tim Golden’s in this town, and a thousand-dollar reward is hanging over your head. And there’s Jim Kelso too—both of them are fly cops and know you.”
I confessed that this recollection was not refreshing. My fortunate escape from Ohio had made me think lightly of any chance of being found in this big city and carted back to New Hampshire.
“And,” continued Matthews, “Detective McCord pulls a long stroke with Jim Kelso, who’s bound to be superintendent of police one of these days. If you stay in New York, they’re sure to get you sooner or later.”
“Still, I don’t see why I should go to the front if I let the bonds slip; the cops have ’em, and that ought to be enough.”
“Now don’t presume for a minute that they’ll let you walk the streets of New York without staking them,” Billy exclaimed, his impatience thoroughly aroused by my obstinacy. “But of course you don’t know, for you’re a greenhorn; but I know it, and d—d well too.”
“Then you honestly mean that I must pay these traitorous policemen to live unmolested in this town? I can’t remain in hiding here and take my chance of keeping out of their hands?” I asked.
“That’s it, and nothing else, White. If you stay here, the small-fry thieves who play the stool-pigeon for the police will put the information up to headquarters before you realize it, and into Mulberry Street you’ll go unless you settle.”
“Ah, that’s the game, is it?” I said angrily.
“Yes, and you’ll learn to your better knowledge that the cops don’t wear the shield for their health; besides, their appetites are too hardy after dollars to let you run loose. They can pick you up to-day and within two weeks divide that one-thousand-dollar reward.”
“Well, Billy, we seem to be in a fix, and I’ll go and see these detectives, but not on my own account. For myself I wouldn’t do it. It grinds me to soil my hands in a deal with such rascals. But for you I will yield; you shall not be arrested on my account. I haven’t forgotten that it was you who aided me when I didn’t know what to do. Arrange a meeting with these detectives, and I’ll see them.”