Lock and Key Library, Magic Real Detectives | Page 6

left for the
railroad station in a cab with Dodge. Jesse followed in another. As the
two passed through the gates the detective caught a glimpse of Dodge's
ticket and saw that it had been issued by the Mexican National Railway.
Retiring to the telegraph office in the station he wired New York as
follows:
"Bird flying.--Sunset Limited. Destination not known. I am with him."
He then hastily purchased a ticket to Houston, Texas, and boarded the
train. Dodge's companion had bidden him good-by as the engine started,
and Jesse's task now became that of ferreting out Dodge's destination.
After some difficulty he managed to get a glimpse of the whole of the
fugitive's ticket and thus discovered that he was on his way to the City
of Mexico, via Eagle Pass, Texas, while from the Pullman conductor he
learned that Dodge had secured sleeping- car accommodation as far as
San Antonio, Texas, only.
So far all was well. He knew Dodge but Dodge did not know him, and
later on in the afternoon he had the satisfaction of a long talk with his
quarry in the observation car where they amiably discussed together
current events and argued politics with the same vehemence as if they
had been commercial travellers thrown fortuitously into each other's
company. Dodge, however, cleverly evaded any reference to his
destination.
When the train reached Morgan City, Louisiana, at 3 P. M., which was
the first stop, Jesse wired New York as follows:
"On Sunset Limited with friend. He has transportation to the City of
Mexico, via Eagle Pass, where I am now journeying with him. Answer
to Beaumont, Texas."

Later in the afternoon he sent an additional message from Lafayette,
Louisiana:
"Have seen transportation of friend and am positive of destination."
Dodge was occupying Section 3 of the sleeping car "Capitola," and, as
became an invalid, retired early.
At Beaumont Jesse failed to receive any reply to his various messages,
and when the train arrived at Houston no word came from New York
until it was almost the time of departure. Waiting until practically the
last moment Jesse hurried through the gates of the Union Station at
Houston and bought a ticket to San Antonio. As he was leaving the
ticket window Night Chief of Police John Howard and two officers
came hurrying up inquiring anxiously for "Mr. Jesse." The
reenforcements had arrived.
Outside on the track "The Sunset Limited" was just getting under way.
The first frantic puffs were being vomited from the funnel. Inside
Dodge was sleeping peacefully in his berth. Jesse, accompanied by
Chief Howard, hurried up to the conductor who was about to swing on
to the steps of the sleeper, and ordered him to hold the train till the
fugitive could be removed. After some argument the conductor
grumblingly complied and Dodge was aroused from pleasant dreams of
the "Creole Quarter" to the cold reality of being dragged out of bed by
a policeman. He was unceremoniously hustled out of the sleeping car
into a carriage and taken to Headquarters where he admitted his identity
and remarked:
"I know what I am wanted for, but I will never return to New York."
In his grip was found the sum of $1,563.15, as well as numerous letters
from the law firm of Howe and Hummel, and a quantity of newspaper
clippings relative to his case.
Dodge pleaded with Chief Howard not to lock him up, urging that he
was a sick man and offering a goodly sum if he might be taken to a
hotel and guarded for the remainder of the night. But what "went" in

New Orleans did not "go" in Houston, and the best that Dodge could
get for himself was a cot in the "Ladies' Detention Room" on the
second floor of the jail.
Early the following morning Jesse visited Police Headquarters and for
the first time met George Ellis, Chief of Police of Houston, for whom
he will always have a feeling of deep gratitude for his enthusiastic
cooperation and loyalty in the many stirring events that followed.
Dodge now received a telegram from New York, which was submitted
to Jesse before reaching the prisoner, to the effect that Howe and
Hummel were sending on an attorney to aid the fugitive in resisting
extradition, and informing him that they had employed Messrs. Hunt
and Meyers as attorneys to look out for his welfare. These last
immediately jumped in medias res and on the afternoon of the same
day secured a writ of habeas corpus from Norman J. Kitrell, District
Judge of Harris County, Texas, returnable the following morning.
The next day, January 28th, Kitrell released Dodge from custody.
Jesse had anticipated this and immediately swore out another warrant
with the result that the prisoner was rearrested before he