Then he
and his deputies retired to their hotel for rest, refreshment, and
poker.
In less than three days the chief of police showed him a letter written
by Collins to Thorn. The missive ran:
"dear Thorn, alias Darcy,
don't let your old pal bother you eny I suppose you are having a
revival in your church about this time and converting a great many
sinners. give my kind regards to the widow Brown, and I hope she
will marry you soon. I expect to leave this hotel in ten days, so
will need $50. send post office order, St. Louis, general delivery.
Your old partner,
J. C. P. Collins."
It was evidently a blackmailing letter. The sheriff remembered Darcy of
old, and the chances seemed good that Thorn _alias_ Darcy was the other
highwayman. So, taking O'Leary along to assist in the identification, he
set out for Union City to deliver Collins' letter in person. No doubt
this Thorn was a harder man to catch than Collins. He had had sense
enough to change his name and to join a church. So Carter approached
Union City rather cautiously, leaving O'Leary with one of his deputies
in Chicago with orders to wait for a telegram.
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