"I had every reason to suppose that this Abe Slaney was an
American, since Abe is an American contraction, and since a
letter from America had been the starting-point of all the
trouble. I had also every cause to think that there was some
criminal secret in the matter. The lady's allusions to her past
and her refusal to take her husband into her confidence both
pointed in that direction. I therefore cabled to my friend,
Wilson Hargreave, of the New York Police Bureau, who has more
than once made use of my knowledge of London crime. I asked him
whether the name of Abe Slaney was known to him. Here is his
reply: `The most dangerous crook in Chicago.' On the very
evening upon which I had his answer Hilton Cubitt sent me the
last message from Slaney. Working with known letters it took
this form:--
ELSIE .RE.ARE TO MEET THY GO.
The addition of a P and a D completed a message which showed me
that the rascal was proceeding from persuasion to threats, and
my knowledge of the crooks of Chicago prepared me to find that
he might very rapidly put his words into action. I at once came
to Norfolk with my friend and colleague, Dr.
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