For some time, however, he failed in extracting any disclosures from B., who confidently expected that his connection with the railroad company would protect him. After he had been in prison about three weeks, B. was informed that his arrest had been made by an United States officer, who intended to make his boots convict him of obstructing the mail train, and that the railroad company were powerless to shield him from punishment for acts committed (as this had been) previous to his employment by them. He now saw his danger, and, on returning to his cell with his supposed fellow prisoner, who had assumed the name of Harris, he manifested great agitation. Harris asked what was the matter. B. hesitated for a while, and at length exclaimed: "That rascally P. has stole my boots." "What if he has?" replied the pseudo Harris. "They couldn't be worth much." "They are worth considerable to me, I can tell you, for he means to send me to State prison with them." "Send you to State prison? What in the world do you mean? How can your boots send you to State prison?" "Why, he is going to show that they made the tracks that were found where the rail was put on the track East of Adrian." "Well," said Harris, "that looks rather bad, but it isn't as bad as it might be. You'll get out of it yet, and I'll help you, if I can. I expect to get bailed out in a day or two, and if I can do anything for you, I will." "You are the man for me," said B., "and I shall want you to come and swear on my trial that you saw a person by the name of A---- put the rail on, and that I wasn't there." "But if you are innocent," replied Harris, "you will get clear; and if you are guilty, I don't believe I can help you." "You must, by heavens," said B. "If you don't, I'm a goner!" Here the conversation ended that day, but the next morning B. directed his fellow prisoner to testify that his name was Grover, and that on the night on which the obstruction in question was made, he went with A----, and saw him put the rail on the track. (So minute, by the way, was B.'s description of the place and the manner in which the obstructing rail was laid, that the deputy sheriff going there afterwards in company with Mr. P., easily found the spot, and identified the very tie under which the rail was placed, though it was the first time he had been there.) "Well," said Harris, _alias_ Grover, (who seemed to grow rapidly rich in names,) "if I help you out in this way, what shall _I_ get by it?" B. replied: "If you get me clear I shall keep the confidence of the railroad company, and will introduce you to a set of good fellows who do nothing but big jobs, and my connection with the company will enable me to get you a position where you can pay yourself." Having by such inducements secured (as he supposed) the aid of his companion, B. recovered his equanimity, and wrote as follows to one of the attorneys for the railroad company:--