old hotel. He was
paid $20,000 on her account, and once with the money in his possession
he determined to keep it. It was a cowardly deed, and dearly did he pay
for it. He wrote her he was going to Chicago, and would take the money
with him, as he would only remain for a day. To Chicago he came, and, as
related, robbed himself, sending off the money in a registered letter to
himself. Then he appeared at Police Headquarters with his cut pocket
and clumsy story, which appeared in the next morning's paper. He sent a
marked copy of the paper to the lady, and at the same time wrote a
hypocritical letter stating that he was so heartbroken over losing her
money that he did not have the courage to look her in the face, and
never should until such time as he could repay the money. He said he was
going to California to work, and when he had enough she would see him
again, but not before.

[Illustration: "I RESOLVED TO LEAVE A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND HIGH
RESOLVE."]

How easy it is for a man to become an unspeakable villain, and how
nicely this one was hoisted with his own petard!

Eventually this catastrophe proved a blessing to the widow. It drove her
back to her hotel again, and soon after she became the wife of one of
the bravest and best men Tennessee ever produced. I was so interested in
the fate of this lady that when in Nashville in 1893 I tried to hunt her
up. I found several who knew the whole story, and from them I heard her
after history and a full confirmation of Foster's narrative.

Foster remained four years in Chicago and flourished. He and Turtle
became very influential in politics and partners in a combine of
rascally Aldermen and police magistrates that robbed the city and the
citizens with impunity. But unluckily for him, he one day took it into
his head to pay a visit to his old haunts in England, there to display
his diamonds and bank roll to such of his former cronies as happened to
be at liberty. On arriving in London he began to play the role of a rich
American, but was recognized by the police, an old charge raked up
against him, arrested, promptly placed on trial, found guilty and
sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. Although the possessor of
considerable property, he is to-day toiling at Chatham like a slave and
probably if he lives he will come out a broken man. It is a certainty
that the very day he is liberated he will "go to sea," being sent by a
prisoners' aid society, and a few days later become