This is the case in the book. Edward Pierce is planning a robbery. It takes him a long time to gather information, and a long time to wait for the right moment to carry out the crime. It takes two years of research and inquiring of different people. Pierce, of course, does the questioning secretly, making sure he does not leak any bits of information or give hints so people will discover his plan. He must find accomplices carefully, making sure they won't " blow" the information to the police. It takes another year of waiting because of gold shipment delays and changes in the train schedule. Then he finally decides that it's time. " I've waited a year, and it will be tomorrow" (p. 198) .

The delays were one of the setbacks in Pierce's attempt. However, there were also many very difficult obstacles besides that. The most important was Clean Willy's (the snakesman involved) hint of a major crime to the police. Apparently, Willy was doing it for some extra money. Even though Pierce was now being watched by the police, he got rid of the setback, although it was bad the way in which he did. He ordered for the snakesman to be killed and then made the police think that the robbery had a different setting and different focus than it actually did. Any flaw in the plan, he got rid of, because he was so determined to have a successful robbery. " It can be done," (p. 198) Pierce would say when in trouble.

The other lesson is in the end of the story. Pierce is caught well after the robbery. There is a trial. He gets convicted and is to be put behind bars for a long time. Everything is going just the way it should, right? Well, not for long. Pierce is taken in the cop car, and while on his way to prison, somehow manages to get out of the handcuffs. He has a getaway who is in a cab. His getaway, whose name is Barlow, beats up a cop and Pierce takes the other by surprise. They leave the cops in the alley. They have escaped with the money. Even though they were wrong, they got away without being harmed the least bit. This says that criminals will walk and the opposite jailed, just like four people in New York were blamed first. Everything will not occur the way it is wanted. Just live life happily without caring what will happen. It's going to happen.

These two lessons are important to understand. Yes, the job was done even though it was a bad thing to do. The point is that it doesn't matter what the job is or who you are. Obviously, it should be a good and helpful job. Whatever it is, you should try not to worry, should work at full effort, and be patient, if you would like a favorable outcome.