_Captain_: He is a policeman. He wants his promotion by merit. (Even the Captain smiled.) _Mack_: I'd give five centuries (five hundred dollars) if I could get to my summer residence in Asbury Park. _Captain_: How long would it take you to get it? _Mack_: (He, too, was laconic.) I got it on me. _Captain_: Give it here. _Mack_: It's a sure turn-out? _Captain_: Was I ever known to go back on my word? Mack handed the money over, and went over to court in the afternoon with F----. The Captain was there, and whispered to F----: "Throw him out." That nearly knocked F---- down, but he and Mack took a car, and he said to the latter: "In the name of everything how did you hypnotize the old man?" Mack replied, with a laugh: "I tried to mesmerize you in the same way; but you are working on your merits." Mack was discharged, and F---- decided to be a diplomat henceforth. From an honest copper he became as clever a panther as ever shook coin from a gun. Isn't it likely that if a man had a large income he would never go to prison? Indeed, do you think that well-known guns could graft with impunity unless they had some one right? Nay! Nay! Hannah. They often hear the song of split half or no graft. But at that time I was so careless that I did not even have enough sense to save fall-money, and after about nine months of freedom I fell again. One day three of us boarded a car in Brooklyn and I saw a mark whom I immediately nicked for his red super, which I passed quickly to one of my stalls, Eddy. We got off the car and walked about three blocks, when Eddy flashed the super, to look at it. The sucker, who had been tailing, blew, and Eddy threw the watch to the ground, fearing that he would be nailed. A crowd gathered around the super, I among them, the other stall, Eddy having vamoosed, and the sucker. No man in his senses would have picked up that gold watch. But I did it and was nailed dead to rights. I felt that super belonged to me. I had nicked it cleverly, and I thought I had earned it! I was sentenced to four years in Sing Sing, but I did not hang my head with shame, this time, as I was taken to the station. It was the way of life and of those I associated with, and I was more a fatalist than ever. I hated all mankind and cared nothing for the consequences of my acts. CHAPTER XI. _Back to Prison._