_June 27th._
As soon as I heard that you and S. F. were all right I went to bed as
you instructed. It seemed to me that I had scarcely fallen asleep when
I was awakened by my landlady at my door to say that a man wanted to
see me. It was no more than daybreak then. Hard upon her knock Jumbo
entered the room. I had barely time to pull on my false hair and fix
it. Hereafter I shall have to sleep in it.
Jumbo was in a state of no little excitement. He gave me his version
of what had happened. Lorina, having apparently just escaped from her
room, had called him up about half an hour before. I am not sure but
what Jumbo came to me because she had suggested a suspicion of me.
However, I think it more likely that he just wanted moral support. He
was badly frightened. Jumbo for all his bluff, is not a strong
character. He is dependent both on Foxy and on the woman, and now
seems disposed to lean on me. If he was suspicious my sleepiness and
bad-temper upon being awakened must have reassured him.
I dressed and we went right up to the Lexington avenue house. Being
Sunday, I had the day to myself. Mrs. Mansfield had gone out leaving
word that we were to wait until she came in or telephoned. The maids
believed that she had gone to consult the police. These two were full
of highly-coloured accounts of the supposed robbery of the night
before. The hulking black man, however, was silent and sullen. He
knew. I wonder what you did to him. I don't think I ever saw a more
repulsive human creature--or one more powerful.
Foxy arrived shortly after we did. I am now admitted to terms of the
closest equality by these two. The understanding is that each knows
enough to the discredit of the others to ensure faithfulness all
around. We all chafed at the enforced inaction, but dared not go
against Lorina's instructions. She is the boss. The other two half
expected the police to descend on the house momentarily.
About ten o'clock Mrs. Mansfield returned in a taxi-cab. This taxi, by
the way, is her property and the driver is one of the gang. The woman
was handsomely dressed without disguise of any kind.
We had a conference in the sitting-room up-stairs. Mrs. Mansfield gave
us some further details of the previous night. As soon as she
succeeded in breaking out of her room after telephoning to Jumbo and
Foxy she hastened up to S. F.'s house, also to your place, both of
which addresses she knew. She said that she was disguised, so she must
have some place outside where she changes her clothes. She found she
was too late at both places. You had carried off S. F. in your
automobile.
Mrs. Mansfield then went down to Fortieth street. From the park
opposite, she watched your office for four hours. You got inside too
quick for her, she said, but when you came out she spotted you. Her
eyes gleamed like a devil's as she said it. Fancy how my heart went
down.
She had then changed her clothes and come straight home. She couldn't
tell how seriously she had wounded you. A general prayer went around
the table that it would be your finish. She said we should hear
presently.
She seems to have an unlimited number of men subject to her orders.
While she waited for you at your office she had sent for several, and
posted them near. They mixed in the crowd that surrounded you when you
fell. One of them had been instructed to make away with your satchel.
Another was to follow the ambulance to the hospital. A third was to
recover her gun after the excitement was over and return it to her.
The first of these, an evil-looking young blackguard, came in while we
talked. He reported no success. The satchel was strapped to your
wrist, he said, and when he started to unfasten it the crowd began to
murmur. He said that you had been shot in the shoulder, and had been
carried to Bellevue. He gave it as his opinion that you were not as
badly hurt as you made out. This cheered me greatly. Bitter
disappointment was expressed around the table.
Later another of Lorina's men reported by telephone that he had learned
through an orderly in the hospital that you had suffered only a slight
flesh wound, and would be able to leave the hospital next day. On
hearing this she gave her orders to have every exit from the hospital
watched. Instructions were to shoot to kill. If it can be found out
in advance what time you are going to leave, she means to be on hand
herself.
As soon as I could get out without exciting suspicion, I sent you a
warning by telephone.