California, carried her with him.

"When we landed in New York I offered to announce her as my wife,
but she refused, saying that her presence would excite comment and
perhaps attract the attention of Walcott's relatives. We therefore
arranged that I should go alone into the city, claim the property,
and announce myself as Samuel Walcott, and that she should remain
under cover until such time as we would feel the ground safe under
us.

"Every detail of the plan was fatally successful. I established my
identity without difficulty and secured the property. It had
increased vastly in value, and I, as Samuel Walcott, soon found
myself a rich man. I went to Nina San Croix in hiding and gave her
a large sum of money, with which she purchased a residence in a
retired part of the city, far up in the northern suburb. Here she
lived secluded and unknown while I remained in the city, living
here as a wealthy bachelor.

"I did not attempt to abandon the woman, but went to her from time
to time in disguise and under cover of the greatest secrecy. For a
time everything ran smooth, the woman was still devoted to me above
everything else, and thought always of my welfare first and seemed
content to wait so long as I thought best. My business expanded.
I was sought after and consulted and drawn into the higher life of
New York, and more and more felt that the woman was an albatross on
my neck. I put her off with one excuse after another. Finally she
began to suspect me and demanded that I should recognize her as my
wife. I attempted to point out the difficulties. She met them all
by saying that we should both go to Spain, there I could marry her