“Gentlemen, let’s come down to business. What do you want for the six bonds?”
“Not a cent less than six thousand!” was what came from Detective McCord, sharp and quick, now that the negotiation was really on.
“And you’ll not get that much from me!” was my answer, just as quickly and just as firmly. “The bonds will have to be disposed of at a ‘fence’ price, and considering that my share will not, all together, be more than forty thousand dollars, I’ll pay you four thousand for the bonds and no more.”
Detective McCord did a lot of sparring, Radford jumping in occasionally with a sharp, mean thrust. Kelso kept out of the argument until he seemed to think it was time to smooth over matters. To me Radford’s manner was most irritating. I was not lacking in pluck, and once, had it been diplomacy, I would have lent him my fist. At length the sparring was interrupted by him. Said he:—
“I guess, Jack, we may as well keep the bonds and give this man twenty-four hours to sneak out of town. If we find him then, why, he can’t complain. We’ve wasted too much time on him already.” Kelso knew Radford had gone too far, and said so.
I was firm, and none of his insinuations could move me. I believed that these traitorous policemen who would plot with crooks—actually be willing to take money from the enemy of the commonwealth—must not have everything their own way. They saw I was determined, and, avarice winning over all else, Jack McCord said:—
“Well, George says his share is only forty thousand dollars, and it may be less than that, so I think we’d better accept his offer.”
And it was settled at this figure, whereupon we set the following night as the time of the next meeting, and the place at the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Washington parade ground, down-town. I was ready to leave them at this, promising to be there at eight o’clock sharp. Now that we had come to an agreement, I wondered if our meeting in the park to make the exchange of money and bonds would go through, or whether these blackmailers and crime protectionists, after further consideration, would not, in their grasping after ill-gotten gain, make a still further demand upon me. Despite the bold front I had put on, I realized how hopelessly I was in their power, should they choose to see duty before selfish, criminal desire.
“By the way,” said I, at the moment of parting, addressing my remarks to Jim Kelso, “as the bond matter seems to be about settled, the next important thing I’m interested in is my status in this city. You know, as well as I, Kelso, that the New Hampshire authorities never had a case against me, and the truth being told, I am absolutely innocent of the charge. Isn’t it so?”
“It’s true, George, and I must acknowledge that you had a rough deal down-east for an innocent man.” I watched McCord and Radford for the effect this admission would have on them, but they gave no indication that I could see.