Returning to the hotel, he procured pen and ink, retired to his room and studied Jack"s check intently.
The signature to it was a very peculiar one that the most expert forger in the world would have found it almost impossible to imitate.
But the rest of the writing was easy to copy.
The bandit practiced the formation of the different letters for over an hour, and made a good imitation of them.
"And now to raise Wright"s cheek," he muttered in tones of exultation, when he saw how successful he was.
CHAPTER II.
SWINDLING THE INVENTOR.
The date, number, amount, and figures designating the amount of money Jack"s check called for were written.
Jesse now took one of the blank checks Frank got for him, and imitating Jack"s writing, he filled it in with the same number as the good check; after the words: "Pay to the order of---" he wrote, "Bearer," as Jack had done; before the word "Dollars," on the next line he wrote "Five thousand," and after the mark "$--" he put "5,000."
He left out the date and signature.
These were unnecessary in the trick he was playing.
Having satisfied himself that his writing bore a close resemblance to that on Jack"s check, he laid the check he had filled out one top of the one Jack gave him with the greatest care, so that all the lines on one were exactly opposite the lines on the other.
This he ascertained by holding them up to the light and staring through the thin paper.
When he had them matched exactly, he located a spot across the width of both where no writing was seen.
Holding the checks tightly together he tore them in two, just as if the two checks were one thickness of paper.
Consequently both were torn exactly alike.
Taking off the two top pieces he laid them side by side, joining the edges where they were torn, and then did the same with the other check.
This done he took the right hand piece of Jack"s check, upon which were the date at the top and signature at the bottom.
He then took the left hand piece of the check he had made out and put it to the piece with the signature which Jack inscribed.
The check now, instead of being for ten dollars, called for $5,000 and although a composite thing the signature was no forgery, and that was the princ.i.p.al writing studied by the paying tellers of banks.
It looked like a perfectly genuine check torn in two, for as both checks had been torn together, the curves of one fit the grooves of the other piece to perfection.
Jesse now burned up the remaining two pieces.
"Eureka!" he exclaimed, with an evil smile. "I"ve done it well. The most experienced bank clerk in the country would fail to detect the deception. Now to get it cashed!"
He put on his hat, and holding the two pieces of check in his hand, he left the Sea Spider House.
Making his way to the Wrightstown bank, he coolly entered, and approaching the paying teller"s little bra.s.s barred window, he thrust in the two pieces of check and said blandly:
"Please cash that for me."
"You"ve torn the check in two," said the paying teller.
"I had it in my breast pocket, and as I was coming in the door I put my hand in my pocket to draw it out, when the end of the check caught in some books and it ripped in two."
The paying teller matched the torn ends.
They fitted with the utmost accuracy.
He then keenly scanned the signature.
Familiar with Jack Wright"s checks as he was, he saw at a glance that the signature was genuine.
Without the slightest hesitation he cashed the check, paying the bandit with one hundred dollar bills.
Jesse requested him to give him bills of smaller denomination for one of the bank notes, and when this was done, he leisurely counted the money, placed it in his pocket and strolled out into the Street.
Here he came face to face with Jack.
The young Inventor was just about to enter the bank.
The shock upon a man of weaker nerves than Jesse James had, to thus meet Jack, would have been awful.
But the bandit king bad nerves of steel.
He did not start, turn pale, or twitch a muscle.
On the contrary he a.s.sumed a cheerful smile, shook hands very heartily with Jack, and said in apologetic tones:
"I deemed it best to pay for my railroad fare in cash, so I came here and got the money for your check, Mr. Wright."
"It"s just as well you did," replied the Inventor. "I"m a director of this bank, and hold the position of president. The board meets to-day, and as I need some cash, I"m killing two birds with one stone."
"Very clever," said Jesse. "Good-bye. I must be off."
"Good-day, sir," said Jack, and he entered the bank.
The bandit strode swiftly to the Sea Spider House.
He found his companions dining, and joining them, he made a good meal, and at its conclusion all hands repaired to the bar again, and indulged in several more drinks.
Jesse then startled his companions by pulling out his big wad of bills, and paying the landlord for their fare.
The moment the gang got him alone, Frank whispered:
"Where did you get the roll, Jess?"
"From Jack Wright," laughed the outlaw.