Blake was fooled by it.
After it became definitely known to Simms that Blake was back in
Richmond with his assistant, David was permitted to emerge gradually
from his seclusion. The first thing he did was to go with Joey
Grinaldi to a savings bank where, under the name of John Snipe, he
deposited two thousand dollars, retaining five hundred for
emergencies. Part of this he turned over to the clown, part to Ruby
and the rest to the trusty contortionist. Twice during the week
Braddock bullied him into giving up twenty-five dollars to "fix it"
with town officials. At least once a day he was importuned to deliver
the "leather" into the safe keeping of the proprietor, who solemnly
promised that it would be returned. Moreover, in drunken magnanimity,
he guaranteed to pay three per cent interest while the money was in
his ticket-wagon safe, sealed and inviolate if needs be. On the subtle
advice of Joey Noakes David did not tell Braddock that he had
deposited the money; it would have been like the "boss" to fly into a
rage and deliver him up to the authorities.
Braddock drank hard during the days following the departure of Colonel
Grand, who stayed with the show no longer than twenty-four hours--an
unusually brief visit, according to Joey.
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