WhileJessehadfoughtawinningbattleuptothispointhewasattheendofhisresourcessofarastheextraditionoftheprisonerwasconcerned，forDodgewasnowatliberty，pendingthedecisionsuponthehabeascorpusproceedingsoftheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtofAppealsatFortWorth，andtheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtatWashington。ButhisordersweretoBRINGDODGEBACKTONewYork。Hence，withtheaidofsomenewmensenthimfromtheNorth，hecommencedanevenclosersurveillanceoftheprisonerthaneverbeforebybothdayandnight。
　　MeantimeKaffenburghdepartedforNewYork，fleeingfromthewrathofJudgeBurns，whohadissuedasummonsforhimforcontemptoftheFederalCourtonthegroundthathehadinducedDodgetoattempttojumphisbond。InplaceoftheblusteringKaffenburghwassentanothermemberofthefamouslawfirmofHoweandHummel，DavidMay，anentirelydifferenttypeofman。MaywasasmildasadayinJune——asurbaneasKaffenburghhadbeeninsolent。HeflutteredintoHoustonlikeawhitedoveofpeacewiththeproverbialolivebranchinhismouth。FromnowonthetacticsemployedbytherepresentativesofHummelwereconciliatoryintheextreme。Mr。May，however，didnotlongremaininHouston，asitwasapparentthattherewasnothingtobedonebyeithersidependingtheactionofthecourts，andinanyeventDodgewasabundantlysuppliedwithlocalcounsel。ThetimehadnowcomewhenHummelmusthavebeguntofeelthatthefateswereagainsthimandthatatwenty-yearterminstateprisonwasaconcretepossibilityevenforhim。
　　Inthemeantime，DodgeandBrackenhadtakenuptheirheadquartersattheRiceHotelinthemostexpensivesuiteofroomsinthehouse，anewschemeforgettingtheprisonerbeyondthereachoftheNewYorkcourtsapparentlyhavingbeenconcocted。Dodgewasnowindulgedineveryconceivableluxuryandvice。Hewasplungedintoeverysortofexcess，therewasnodebaucherywhichBrackencouldsupplythatwasnothisandtheirrapidmethodofexistencewassoonthetalkofthecountyandcontinuedtobesofortenlongmonths。Thereismorethanonewaytokillacatandmorethanonemethodofwipingouttheonlyexistingwitnessagainstadesperatemanstrivingtoescapetheconsequencesofcrime。
　　Dodge’sdailyroutinewassomewhatasfollows：Heneversleptathisownhotel，butaroseinthemorningbetweentenandeleveno’clock，whenhewasatoncevisitedbyBrackenandsuppliedwithnumerousdrinksinlieuofthebreakfastforwhichheneverhadanydesire。Atnoonthetwowouldhaveluncheonwithmoredrinks。Intheafternoontheywouldretiretothepoolroomsandplaytheraces，and，whentheraceswereover，theywouldthenvisitthefarobanksandgambleuntilmidnightorlater。LaterontheywouldproceedtoanotherresortonLouisianaStreetwhereDodgereallylived。Herehisdaymaybesaidtohavebegunandherehespentmostofhismoney，frequentlypayingoutasmuchasfiftydollarsanightforwineandinvariablyendinginabeastlystateofintoxication。ItisquiteprobablethatneverinthehistoryofdebaucheryhasanyonemaneverbeensoindulgedinexcessesofeverysortforthesameperiodoftimeasDodgewasduringthesummerandfallof1904。Thefugitiveneverplacedhisfootonmotherearth。Iftheyweregoingonlyablock，Brackencalledforacab，andthetwoseemedtotakeaspecialdelightinmakingJesse，asJerome’srepresentative，spendasmuchmoneyincabhireaspossible。TheHoustonjehusneveragainexperiencedsoprofitableatimeastheydidduringDodge’swetseason；andthelifeofdissipationwascontinueduntil，fromtimetotime，theprisonerbecamesoweakfromitseffectsthathewasforcedtogounderthecareofaphysician。Afewdaysofabstinencealwaysrestoredhisvitalityandhewouldthenstartoutuponanotherroundofpleasure。
　　DuringthisperiodJessemaintainedacloseandvigilantpersonalespionageovertheprisoner。Forovertenmonthshesleptlessthanfourhourseachday，hisfatiguebeingincreasedbytheconstantapprehensionoftreacheryamonghisownmen，andthenecessityofbeingeveronthealerttopreventsomemoveonthepartofthedefensetospirittheprisoneraway。DuringthesummerattemptswererepeatedlymadetoevadethevigilanceofJesseandhismenandseveraldesperatedasheswerefrustratedbythem，includingoneoccasionwhenBrackensucceededinrushingDodgeasfarasGalveston，wheretheywereforcedtoabandontheirdesign。
　　FromtimetotimeBrackenwoulddisappearfromHoustonforaweekortendays，statingonhisreturnthathehadbeentoNewYork，afterwhichtherewasinvariablysomenewmovetogettheprisoneraway。Timeandspacepreventgivingadetailedaccountofallthemarchesandcounter-marchesthattookplaceinthisbattleofwitagainstwit。
　　InAugust，1904，BrackenmadeoneofhisperiodicalvisitstoNewYork，andwhenhereturnedsoughtoutJesseandsaid：“Blocher，youmightaswellbeagoodfellowandgetyourswhileyoucan。ImeanthatDodgeisnotgoingbacktoNewYork，evenifitcostamilliondollarstopreventit。“AfewdayslaterBrackensentagamblernamedWarnertoJesse，whoofferedthelatterthirty-fivehundreddollarstoget“lost“longenoughfortheprisonertoslipovertoMexico。Actingupontheadviceofhisattorney，Jesseencouragedthisattempt，underthebeliefthatifhecouldgettheHummelforcesinthepositionofhavingattemptedtobribehimtheprisoner’sbailcouldthenbeforfeitedandDodgehimselftakenintocustody。Hummelbecamewary，however，andapparentlyabandonedforthetimetheideaofbribery。LateronBrackenagaindisappeared。OnhisreturnamarkedchangewasnoticeableinhisdemeanorandJesseobservedthathewasinconstantconsultationwithDodge，fromwhichthedetectivedrewtheinferencethatsomelastdesperatemovewastobemadetowardstheescapeoftheprisoner。
　　OnoneoccasionJessesawBrackenshowingDodgeamapandsomedrawingsonpaper，whichsoexcitedhissuspicionsthathefollowedthetwowithunremittingassiduity，andwithinadayortwowasrewardedthroughBracken’scarelessnesswithanopportunityforgoingthroughthelatter’scoatpocketsinthebilliardroom。HerehefoundacompletesetofplansworkedoutineverydetailforspiritingtheprisonerfromSanAntoniointoMexicoduringtheStateFair。Theseplanswereveryelaborate，everyitemhavingbeenplannedoutfromthepurchaseoftickets，andpassingofbaggagethroughthecustoms，tohotelaccommodationintheCityofMexicoandTampico，andsteamshipticketsfromTampicotoEurope。
　　TheplanhadbeentosecurepermissionfromtheCourtforDodgetoleaveHoustonlongenoughostensiblytoattendthefairatSanAntonioandto“lose“himduringtheexcitementandcrowdedconditionofthecityatthattime。
　　Itis，ofcourse，needlesstosaythattheseplanswereabandonedwhenBrackendiscoveredthatJessehadbeenforewarned。
　　AlmostimmediatelythereaftertheCircuitCourtofAppealsatFortWorth，Texas，decidedoneofthehabeascorpuscasesadverselytoDodge，butitstillpermittedhimtoretainhislibertypendingthefinaldeterminationofthequestionsinvolvedbytheSupremeCourtatWashington。
　　TheHummelforceswereapparentlylosinghope，however，forearlyinOctoberanotherattemptwasmadetobribeJesse。Brackenenteredhisroomoneeveningandinformedhimthathecouldgethisownpriceifhewouldonlybeagoodfellow，andevenwentsofarastoexhibitaquantityofmoneywhichhestatedwastwenty-fivethousanddollars。TheonlyresultofthisofferwastoleadJessetoredoublehisprecautions，forhearguedthatthesituationmustindeedbeacutewhensuchanoffercouldbedeemedworthwhile。
　　ThereafteritwasobviousthattherevelryofDodgeandhiscompanionswasontheincrease。AccordinglyJesseaddedtohisforceofassistants。
　　OnDecember2，1904，NathanielCohen，anothermemberofthefirmofHoweandHummel，arrivedatHouston，andthenextdaytheSupremeCourtatWashingtondecidedtheappealinthehabeascorpusagainsttheprisoner，whowasatonceorderedbyJudgeBurnsintothecustodyofUnitedStatesMarshallWilliamM。Hansen。
　　ThingslookedblackindeedforDodgeandblackerstillforHummel。
　　Howthelittleattorney，eatinghismiddaylunchfourthousandmilesaway，atPontin’srestaurantonFranklinStreet，musthavetrembledinhispatentleatherboots!Hislastemissary，Cohen，atonceprocuredanassistantbythenameofBrookmanandwithhimproceededtoWhartonCounty，Texas，wheretheysecuredanewwritofhabeascorpusandinducedthelocalsheriff，oneRich，toswearinapossecomitatusofonehundredmenforthepurposeofcomingtoHoustontotaketheprisonerbyforceofarmsoutofthehandsoftheUnitedStatesMarshal。
　　Thiswasoneofthemostdaringanddesperateattemptsmadeinrecentyearstofrustratethelaw。JessebelievesthattherealobjectofthispossewastoprecipitateafightbetweenthemselvesandtheFederalauthorities。ItisnotinconceivablethatinsuchaneventDodgemighteitherhaveescapedorbeenkilled。Themencomposingthepossewereofthemostdesperatecharacter，andconsistedlargelyoftheso-called“feudfactions“ofWhartonCounty，knownas“TheWoodPeckers“and“TheJayBirds。“Jessehasbeeninformed，onwhatheregardsasreliableauthority，thatthismovecosttheHummelforcesfifteenthousanddollarsandthateachmemberofthepossereceivedonehundreddollarsforhiscontemplatedservicesinthe“rescue“oftheprisoner。Butcivilwar，evenonasmallscale，cannotbeindulgedinwithoutsomeinklingofthefactsbecomingknowntotheauthorities，andpriortothereceiptofthemandateoftheSupremeCourt，JudgeBurnsorderedtheprisonerremovedtoGalvestonforsafekeeping。
　　Thusthelong，expensive，andarduousstrugglecamefinallytoanend，forJudgeBurnsinduecourseorderedthatCharlesF。DodgeshouldbeconveyedtoNewYorkinthepersonalcustodyoftheUnitedStatesMarshalanddeliveredbyhimtotheNewYorkauthorities“withinthebordersofthatState。“Suchanorderwas，ofcourse，exceedinglyunusual，ifnotalmostunheardof，butitwasrenderedabsolutelynecessarybythepowerfulinfluenceandresources，aswellastheunscrupulouscharacter，ofthoseinterestedinsecuringDodge’sdisappearance。
　　Inordertothwartanyplansforreleasingtheprisonerbyviolenceorotherwise，andtopreventdelaythroughtheinvokingoflegaltechnicalities，HansenandJessedecidedtoconveyDodgetoNewYorkbywater，andonthe16thofDecemberthemarshalandhisfivedeputiesboardedaMalloryLinesteameratGalvestonandarrivedinNewYorkwiththeirprisonerontheeveningofDecember23d。
　　DodgereachedNewYorkaphysicalwreck。Howhewasinducedtotellthewholetruthafterhehadpleadedguiltytothechargeagainsthimisastoryinitself。Acompletereactionfromhisdissipationnowoccurredandfordayshislifewasdespairedof。
　　Jesse，too，was，astheexpressionis，“allin，“andtheonlypersonswhowerestillabletoappreciatethedelightsofNewYorkwerethestalwartmarshalandhisboys，whoforsometimewereobjectsofinterestastheystrolledalongBroadwayanddrank“deepandhearty“inthecafes。TotheassistantsintheDistrictAttorney’sofficetheywereheroesandweretreatedassuch。
　　HowDodgefinallytestifiedagainstHummelonthewitnessstandhasalreadybeentold。Astheysaydowntown，ifJeromehadneverdoneanythingelse，hewouldhave“madegood“bylockingupAbeHummel。
　　Nooneeverbelievedhewoulddoit。ButJeromeneverwouldhavelockedupHummelwithoutJesse。And，asJessesayswithalaugh，leaningbackinhischairandtakingalongpullonhiscigar，“I
　　guessIwouldnotdoitagain——no，IWOULDnotdoitagainforallthemoneyyoucouldgiveme。ThewonderisthatIcameoutofitalive。“Whenthereadercomestothinkaboutithewillprobablyagreewithhim。
　　P。H。WoodwardAdventuresintheSecretServiceofthePost-OfficeDepartment*
　　*TheauthorofthepagesthatfollowwaschiefspecialagentoftheSecretServiceoftheUnitedStatesPost-OfficeDepartmentduringpioneerandromanticdays。Thecuriousadventuresrelatedarepartlyfromhisownobservation，andpartlyfromthenotebooksoffellowofficers，operatinginmanysectionsoftheCountry。
　　Thestoriesaretrue，although，ofcourse，justicedemandsthatinsomecasespersonsandplacesbeusuallydisguisedunderfictitiousnames。
　　Thestorieshaveinterestnotonlyfortheirexcitingplayofhonestwitsagainstdishonest，butalsoforthecautionstheysoundagainstbelievingthings“toogoodtobetrue“fromthepenofstrangers。
　　Thereisaclassofpost-officethieveswhomakeaspecialtyofriflingtheregisteredlettersthatpassthroughtheirhandsintransitonjourneysofgreaterorlesslength。Someofthemhavemanagedoperationsveryshrewdly，intheevidentbeliefthattheyhaddiscoveredaninfalliblemethodfordoingtheworkandatthesametimeescapingdetection。Toolatetheygenerallylearnbysadexperiencethatnopatentscanbetakenoutfortheprotectionofcrime。
　　Inthisclassofcasessomethingtangiblealwaysremainstoexhibitthepeculiarstyleofworkmanshipbelongingtoeach；anditwouldoftensurprisetheuninitiatedtolearnhowmanytraitsofcharacter，whatindexesofhabitandvocation，canbepickedupbycarefulstudyoftheminutepointspresentedforinspection。