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. “That being the case,” I went on to Kelso, “I ask you and these men, believing as you must that I didn’t get a fair deal, not to molest me, and if any one comes to this city after the reward, to keep me informed. Is it a bargain?” “Don’t bother yourself about a country sheriff,” said Kelso, assuming the responsibility of the whole party, “for it’ll be a very cold day if them down-easters catch you in this town when you have us at your back; but of course we can’t do this--” “Say no more, gentlemen,” said I, interrupting him, and speaking to them all; “it’s not necessary. I shall rely on this assurance, and I’m not asking you to work for charity’s sake.” With that I handed each one of them two hundred dollars, and, bidding them good night, went down town, feeling that I had invested six hundred dollars not unwisely from my viewpoint. The next evening I met Jack McCord and Radford at the parade ground and paid the former four thousand dollars in large bills and received in exchange my bonds, and was really glad to get them back at the price. As I was leaving them, McCord asked me if I objected to telling him the name of the man in the Cadiz Bank job who escaped with me.