Within the hour the door opened and Dodge and a companion, who subsequently proved to be E. M. Bracken, alias “Bradley,” an agent employed by Howe and Hummel, left the room, went to the elevator and descended to the dining-room upon the second floor.  Jesse watched until they were safely ensconced at breakfast and then returned to the fourth floor where he tipped the chambermaid, told her that he had left his key at the office and induced her to unlock the door of room Number 420, which she did under the supposition that Jesse was the person who had left the chamber in Dodge’s company.  The contents of the room convinced Jesse that he had found Dodge, for he discovered there two grips bearing Dodge’s name as well as several letters on the table addressed to him.  The detective returned to the hall and had a little talk with the maid.

“The old gentleman with you has been quite sick,” she said.  “How is he to-day?”

“He is some better,” answered Jesse.

“Yes, he does look better to-day,” she added, “but he sho’ly was powerful sick yesterday.  Why, he hasn’t been out of his room befo’ fo’ five or six days.”

This statement was corroborated by Dodge’s physical appearance, for he looked haggard and worn.

Jesse was now confident that he had found Dodge, in spite of the reports of the New Orleans police to the contrary, and he was also reasonably sure that the fugitive was too sick to leave the hotel immediately.  He therefore telegraphed his superiors that he had discovered Dodge and that the latter was ill at the St. Charles Hotel.

At three o’clock in the afternoon Jesse received a wire from New York as follows: 

     New Orleans police department claims party not there.  Left for
     Mexico three weeks ago.  Ascertain correct destination and wire at
     once.

Jesse at once replied: 

     No question as to identity and presence here at this time.

He now took up the task of keeping his quarry under absolute surveillance day and night, which duty from that moment he continued for a period of nearly ten months.

During the remainder of the afternoon and throughout the night Dodge and Bracken remained in room Number 420, and during the evening were visited by several strangers, including a plain-clothes officer from the New Orleans Police Head-quarters.  Little Hummel, dining in Long Acre Square in the glare of Broadway, was pressing some invisible button that transmitted the power of his influence even to the police government of a city two thousand miles away.

The following day, January 26th, at about 8.40 in the morning, Dodge and Bracken descended to the lobby.  Bracken departed from the hotel, leaving Dodge to pay the bill at the cashier’s window, and Jesse heard him order a cab for the 11.30 a.m.  Sunset Limited on the Southern Pacific Railroad and direct that his baggage be removed from his room.  Jesse did the same.