So I stayed to look
after it. I never killed a man in Chicago. I never minted a
dollar in my life. Those I gave you were as good as any others;
but I never spent money better. But I knew the way into your
good wishes and so I pretended to you that the law was after me.
It all worked just as I thought.
"So I joined your infernal lodge, and I took my share in your
councils. Maybe they will say that I was as bad as you. They
can say what they like, so long as I get you. But what is the
truth? The night I joined you beat up old man Stanger. I could
not warn him, for there was no time; but I held your hand,
Baldwin, when you would have killed him. If ever I have
suggested things, so as to keep my place among you, they were
things which I knew I could prevent. I could not save Dunn and
Menzies, for I did not know enough; but I will see that their
murderers are hanged. I gave Chester Wilcox warning, so that
when I blew his house in he and his folk were in hiding. There
was many a crime that I could not stop; but if you look back and
think how often your man came home the other road, or was down in
town when you went for him, or stayed indoors when you thought he
would come out, you'll see my work.
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