“Now you are getting sensible,” said Mr.
Pinkerton. “We want to get the money.
You know where it is? We know that last October
a valise was sent to you from St. Louis to Leavenworth,
which you were to give to Cook. We know that
Cook received some of the stolen money. You had
some, too. We have shadowed you all over Kansas
City. You have been seen in the White Elephant
playing faro, you were followed to the widow’s
fortune-telling room. We know where you lived,
and have letters which you received from Jim Cummings.
“That isn’t his name,” broke in
Dan.
Mr. Pinkerton stopped. He saw he had Dan up to
the proper point, and where before he would have died
rather than given a grain of information in connection
with the case, he was now anxious to tell all he knew
of it. Dan continued:
“Jim Cummings isn’t his right name any
more’n it’s mine. His name is Fred
Wittrock, and he lives in Chicago.”
“Where?”
“At—West Lake street.”
“Will you swear to that?” “Yes,
I will; he runs a coalyard there. He ana a man
named Weaver. I had nothing to do with robbing
the car. It was all done before I ran across
Wittrock near Pacific, and he gave me $2,000 to keep
my mouth shut and help plant the plunder.”
“Do you know where it is planted?”
“Part of it, yes. Weaver and another fellow
named Haight have some hid in Chicago. Some is
hid in the graveyard near Leaven worth, and some of
it behind Cook’s cooper-shop.”
“Has Fotheringham got any of it?”
“Fotheringham hadn’t anything to do with
it—any more’n you did—
Wittrock knocked him down and he couldn’t help
himself.”
“Mr. Moriarity, if all this is true, you will
be benefited by the information you have given,”
then turning to the baliff, he said, “We are
through now.” Moriarity, still cursing Cummings,
was led back to the cell, and the detectives left
the jail for Chip’s boarding-house,
“It’s plain sailing now, boys,”
said Mr. Pinkerton; “this end has been worked
dry, and you must return to Chicago with me. Cummings,
or rather Wittrock, if Moriarity has spoken the truth,
will certainly make for Chicago, and you must be ready
for him.”
The next day the three detectives were on their way
to Chicago, leaving Barney, who had played the part
of Jim Cummings in cell 43, to remain in Kansas City
and hunt for the “planted swag.”
Jim Cummings in Chicago—the
spotted house—shadowed by
Chip—Jim Cummings arrested.
When Jim Cummings, by his bold strike for liberty,
escaped the trap set for him, he pushed his horse
to its highest speed until he had put miles between
himself and the spot where the detectives had made
the attempt to capture him.
He saw that Dan was captured, and with Cook also in
jail he felt the toils of the law tightening around
him. He must get out of the United States.
To Canada, Mexico, Brazil, it mattered little, but
he must first secure some of the money he had taken
from the express car. To go to Kansas City or
Leavenworth to raise it was like putting his head into
the noose.
