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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Oscar the Detective, by Harlan Page Halsey
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Oscar the Detective
+       Or, Dudie Dunne, The Exquisite Detective
+
+Author: Harlan Page Halsey
+
+Release Date: September 19, 2006 [EBook #19335]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OSCAR THE DETECTIVE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+OLD SLEUTH'S SPECIAL DETECTIVE SERIES.
+PRICE, 25 CENTS.
+
+OSCAR THE DETECTIVE.
+
+By "OLD SLEUTH."
+
+[Illustration: THE DETECTIVE CAUGHT]
+
+
+
+
+OSCAR THE DETECTIVE
+
+OR,
+
+DUDIE DUNNE, THE EXQUISITE DETECTIVE.
+
+An Odd but Stirring Detective Narrative.
+
+By OLD SLEUTH.
+
+Copyright, 1895, by Parlor Car Publishing Company.
+All Rights Reserved.
+
+NEW YORK:
+J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
+57 ROSE STREET.
+
+
+
+
+DUDIE DUNNE, THE EXQUISITE DETECTIVE.
+
+BY OLD SLEUTH.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+DUDIE DUNNE PLAYS A GREAT TRICK TO RUN DOWN A
+CRIMINAL--AS SIMPLE JOHN HE APPEARS INNOCENT, BUT
+WHEN HIS MASK GOES OFF THE "FUR FLIES."
+
+
+"Oh, fellers, look at this! he's strayed or stolen; let's go for him."
+
+A group of little toughs were gathered at a street corner in a low
+locality in the city of New York when a dude of the first water with the
+regular Anglo step and exquisite airs walked leisurely down the street
+peering through his single eyeglass at the surrounding tenements. He was
+a splendid specimen in appearance of the dudie sweet, and the moment the
+eyes of the gamins fell upon him they saw a chance for fun. It was at
+first intended as a raid for fun, but in the end it became plunder.
+
+The dude walked along until he arrived opposite the spot where the boys
+were gathered, where they lay like little Indians in ambush ready to
+leap forth to slaughter. The dude stopped short, gazed at them with a
+smile which was all simplicity and asked:
+
+"Can you boys tell me where Maggie's aunt lives around here? Tell me and
+I'll give you a cent apiece."
+
+"Here!" said one of the boys, and a second queried:
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Where did this thing drop from?"
+
+"Well, ain't he a sweetie!"
+
+"Oh, dear boys, I am so weary. I've been looking for Maggie's aunt. She
+lives somewhere down here. Maggie is our cook and she is under the
+weather--yes, very much under the weather--and I agreed to notify her
+aunt, but hang me if I can find her aunt. I don't know her aunt's name;
+I forgot to ask her what her dear aunt's name is, and all I know is that
+she lives down this way somewhere, and she is Maggie's aunt. If you lads
+will take me to her I will give you a penny apiece--I will, yes--I am in
+earnest--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+The laugh was something to hear, and the lads, all in chorus, imitated
+the simpleton's laugh with a "hee, hee, hee!" which sounded very
+ridiculous, and the dude said:
+
+"Oh, you rude boys, I really believe you are mocking me--yes, I do. Now
+don't be naughty, but come and show me where Maggie's aunt lives--hee,
+hee, hee!"
+
+Again the lads in chorus "hee, hee, hee-d."
+
+"Boys, what have we struck?" came the question.
+
+"Now don't be rude, boys, don't be rude, or I will chastise you--yes, I
+will chastise you. I don't want to do so, but you may compel me to
+chastise you."
+
+The boys just roared at this threat, and one of them stealing behind
+the dude gave him a "thumper" with his toe where the exquisite's pants
+were drawn the tightest under his long coat.
+
+"Oh, oh, you wicked boy! What do you mean? Stop, I say, stop, or I'll
+call the police, yes, I will."
+
+"Say, Dudie, there are no police around here; we slaughtered and burned
+'em all last month; you'll find their graves down under the rocks there,
+so don't holler."
+
+As the spokesman uttered the words quoted he let drive and knocked off
+the dude's hat, which one of the gang immediately appropriated, and then
+the onslaught commenced. They just tore at the poor dude as a wolf tears
+at a carcass, and in less time than it takes to tell it they had
+stripped the poor fellow. One had put on the long coat and commenced to
+walk English style, another donned the robbed man's hat, a second
+secured the eyeglass, a third his undercoat, a fourth his nobby vest,
+and so they stripped him of all his outside apparel, assumed it
+themselves, and then the circus commenced. They just paraded around
+their poor victim, imitating in a grotesque manner all the airs of a
+genuine dudie sweet. Two or three rough-looking men were standing at the
+door of a low groggery opposite and they enjoyed the fun and laughed as
+merrily as the boys who were conducting the affair. "What have we
+struck?" the lads kept repeating, and the dude stood denuded to his
+shirt and trousers, appealing to the lads to restore his wardrobe, and
+his appeals were pitiable to hear.
+
+"Oh, boys, you good boys, now you've had lots of fun, but dear me, I'll
+freeze--yes, it's an awful good joke--hee, hee, hee--but I'll freeze,
+and to think, boys, how I look! Why, I'll become a laughing-stock, but
+it's an awful good joke--yes, I've enjoyed it; we've had lots of
+fun--hee, hee, hee--but now restore my clothing, please do."
+
+The boys instead of returning the dude's clothes began to maltreat him.
+They kicked and cuffed him around until one of the men walked over and
+said:
+
+"Here, you rascals, stop this now."
+
+Another of the men came, and they seized the lads one after the other,
+took the stolen clothes away from them and restored the goods to their
+rightful owner. Well, this may appear very nice on the part of the men,
+but the sequel will show that they were actuated entirely by selfish
+motives. They discerned that the dude might prove good plucking for
+themselves, and they were very kind and consoling as they assisted him
+to resume his garments and he said:
+
+"Well, we've had lots of fun, the poor dear boys; I did feel as though
+they went too far and I should punish them, but I hadn't the heart--no,
+I haven't the heart--I am so tender-hearted. I am almost a woman when it
+comes to the heart, everybody says so."
+
+The men exchanged winks and laughed. It looked to them as very
+ridiculous--this delicate-looking dude punishing that gang of rough and
+vigorous gamins.
+
+The dude was speedily re-robed and one of the men said:
+
+"Let's go over and have a drink."
+
+"Thank you, gentlemen, thank you, I am much obliged certainly. We shall
+have a drink, but I will treat--yes, I will treat. But didn't we have
+fun! and I am so glad I maintained my temper and did not hurt those poor
+little boys. It was all play, you know--gentlemen, all play. I enjoyed
+it very much--yes, very much."
+
+"They were getting a little rough," said one of the men.
+
+"Yes, but you know I was getting a little rough myself. Really, I hope I
+didn't hurt any of them. I didn't mean to. I'm very vigorous, for I
+belong to an athletic club. I dare not trust myself to play rough with
+men, let alone boys--yes, I didn't dare strike. I didn't want to hurt
+any of them."
+
+"You were very gentle," said one of the men.
+
+"I intended to be. Yes, I am as gentle as a lamb unless I am aroused,
+then I become a lion--everybody says so--yes, I am very ferocious when I
+get mad, and I have to restrain myself."
+
+"I can see you are very powerful. I wouldn't like to provoke you," said
+the man with a wink to his companions and an unrestrained look of
+contempt.
+
+"I hope you never may. No, I do not like to lose my temper. I become
+very rough--yes, very rough indeed, my friends all tell me so; but I
+like fun--yes, I am a thoroughbred, I am, clean through. I gamble, I
+do--yes, I am a regular sport, and I am so glad I did not hurt any of
+those boys."
+
+"Yes, you were very considerate."
+
+"Oh, certainly, I am always considerate--my friends all say so. I am
+naturally kind and gentle, but terrible when I get aroused--yes, I am
+just awful; so, gentlemen, don't provoke me in any way."
+
+"You can bet we won't provoke you. I tell you I don't want to get it in
+the eye from one of those mauleys of yours, and get knocked into the
+middle of next week."
+
+"Hee, hee, hee! how observant you are, and now you've really discovered
+that I am an athlete! Well, I try not to betray the fact--yes, I am very
+careful to not let people know, and I try to keep my temper. I don't
+like to get aroused."
+
+The men went into the barroom and the dude called for a bottle of wine,
+and the miserable apology for wine was put on the counter. As the dude
+pulled forth a big wad of bills to pay for it the eyes of the men
+glittered and they exchanged winks and looked longingly at the roll of
+greenbacks.
+
+The wine was consumed and the dude ordered segars, and he became quite
+talkative and drank a glass of whisky that was placed before him. Then
+he became still more talkative, and all the time he was the dude to
+perfection and boasted of his powers.
+
+"Do you know," he said, "I once had a run in with ----?"
+
+The man named was a noted boxer.
+
+"How did you come out with him?"
+
+"Oh, I was gentle with him--very gentle. He winked and I understood what
+he meant and let up on him and permitted him to punch me. Yes, it was
+business with him, you know, and I could have knocked him out before all
+his pupils, so I just let him punch me."
+
+"He is a pretty hard hitter they say."
+
+"Oh, no, I didn't mind his blows. He is very active--yes, very active."
+
+"Did he bleed you?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I let him bleed me a little. I was gentle, you know, and I
+took a black eye which I carried for a week, and he afterward
+apologized. Yes, he was very grateful because I was so gentle and let
+him punch me. I spared him, but when I looked in the glass I told him
+that next time I'd have to rap back a little."
+
+The men all laughed and one of them said: "I reckon he will not tackle
+you again?"
+
+"No, I guess not--hee, hee, hee! I tell you when I threaten a man he
+looks out--yes, he does--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+"I reckon you are a lucky gambler."
+
+"You bet I am."
+
+"Yes, you educated fellows are always quick in making combinations. I
+like to play with a good player and learn his 'points.' I am always
+ready to lose to learn. What do you say for a little game with a light
+ante?"
+
+"Well, now see here, I don't want to rob you gentlemen--you've been so
+kind to me."
+
+"Oh, we don't mind losing a few dollars. You see, we are contractors.
+We do big jobs for the city; we've plenty of money, only we ain't
+educated, see, that's all. We've worked our way in the world. We are
+self-made men."
+
+"Well, do you know, I've got the highest regard for self-made men. My
+daddy was a self-made man. He was a government contractor, and when he
+died he left my mamma a million, and it will all come to me some day.
+Yes, I am the lucky only child, I am; but I don't want to rob you
+gentlemen."
+
+"Oh, we've all plenty of money to lose, and it's an honor to play with a
+real gentleman. We don't always have that privilege, and it's real
+condescending in you."
+
+"Oh, yes, I am very condescending--yes, yes--hee, hee, hee! But really
+I'd only rob you gentlemen. I call you gentlemen because you are
+gentlemen. I always judge of a man as I find him, as Bobby Burns bid us
+do, see--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+The party had drank several times and the dude began to show the effect
+of his drinks. He was a dude as true and genuine as ever lived.
+
+"Let's go upstairs and have a quiet game," said the man; "we don't want
+to play down here where we will be disturbed by every low fellow that
+comes in. I tell you, gentlemen, we must protect our guest from
+annoyance--he is so kind as to give us a game and teach us a few
+points."
+
+"Say, gentlemen, I am not aristocratic; I don't put on airs; I'd just as
+soon play down here."
+
+"No, it is much nicer upstairs. We can have a quiet game and take our
+refreshments," and addressing the bartender the man asked:
+
+"Are you putting up the best every time, Sandy?"
+
+"Sure, I do; I knows me business, I do; I knows when a gentleman stands
+in front of the bar."
+
+Young reader, this may be a lonely sort of siren play, but it is true
+to life and should prove a lesson. The men were flattering the dude, and
+flattery is always based on design and a selfish motive. Beware of the
+flatterer in the first place. Eschew gambling--if you are only playing
+for fun it costs as much as though you were playing to make money. It is
+demoralizing every time, and often leads to greater crime. Gambling is a
+very dangerous amusement. These men were working the dude, and it is, as
+we have intimated, an actual incident we are describing. The
+conversation we reproduce verbatim. They were alluring the young man to
+rob him, and if the stake had been big enough these birds of prey would
+willingly have murdered their victim in the end to cover up the lesser
+crime with the greater, for they were believers in the false logic that
+"dead men tell no tales." We say false logic, for dead men, though their
+lips are silent, as a rule--ay, almost always--leave silent testimonies
+behind that speak for them, and crime is always revealed. The silence of
+the murdered is a dangerous release, for murder "will out," though, as
+stated, the lips of the victims are sealed in death.
+
+Dudie Dunne played well his part. He did not readily consent to go
+upstairs. He was playing a great game, playing on novel plans, taking
+great chances, and for the rascals who were alluring him he had a great
+surprise in reserve.
+
+After much persuasion he consented to go upstairs, but still continued
+to assure the men that he had no idea of robbing them.
+
+"But you will teach us some new points."
+
+"You'll have to watch me then, for I am giving nothing away."
+
+The men ascended to a room on the second floor, a rear room.
+
+The men sat down at a table and Dudie Dunne put on all the airs of a
+"Smart Alec" to perfection. The game commenced. Our hero was dealer and
+a winner, and the way he "hee, hee, hee-d," as he raked in his pot was
+amusing to watch.
+
+The game proceeded for fully half an hour when a most startling
+interruption occurred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE EXQUISITE'S GAME PROVES A WINNING HAND, BUT
+NOT AT THE CARDS--HE PERFORMS ONE OF THE GREATEST
+STREAKS OF DETECTIVE WORK TO DATE AND CAPTURES A
+MAN WHOM FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD HAD FAILED
+TO FETCH.
+
+
+As intimated, the game had proceeded and our hero was winning and
+losing, when suddenly the door of the room opened and a man of
+remarkable appearance entered the room. His entrance was followed by an
+exhibition as though a ghost had suddenly appeared at the conventional
+midnight hour and demanded a hand, as he reached forth his rattling
+joints of bone. The men stared, even our hero for just one instant lost
+his equipoise, but he recovered when like a wink he asked, as though no
+one had entered the room:
+
+"What do you do?"
+
+The men, however, just sat and stared while the intruder said, a pallor
+on his emaciated face and a glitter in his eyes:
+
+"I heard the game going on, boys, and I could not resist--oh, I love a
+little game at times."
+
+"You are not well enough to sit up yet, Mr. Alling."
+
+"Oh, yes; I feel better to-day; but whom have we here?"
+
+One of the men winked and said:
+
+"A friend of ours--one of the four hundred--but he ain't proud. He is a
+gentleman clean through."
+
+The man who had asked the question fixed his glittering eyes on our
+hero. The dude appeared unconscious of the fact that he was undergoing a
+study beneath the gaze of a man who could read the human face like a
+book.
+
+As intimated, the man was a very remarkable-looking individual. He was
+one who would attract attention anywhere, owing to the singular sharp
+expression on his face.
+
+The man appeared to be satisfied with his study, and said, as he sat
+down to the table: "Give me some cards. Ah, this is just glorious after
+having lain in a sick bed for a month."
+
+The dude, who was studying his cards, did not appear to overhear the
+newcomer's remark. He had been a loser and seemed absolutely absorbed.
+
+The game proceeded and drinks were ordered. The dude got seemingly very
+drunk. He lost his money--some hundreds of dollars, and his watch, and
+produced a diamond pin which he lost, and then he appeared to drop off
+in a maudlin slumber.
+
+The man let him snore in his chair and deliberately divided his money
+among them. Then they dealt for the watch and pin, and finally the
+question was asked:
+
+"What shall we do with him?"
+
+"Throw him into the street."
+
+"That won't do," said the man who had entered the room at the last
+moment. "You fellows don't know how to manage these things."
+
+"What shall we do?"
+
+"Let him sleep. He will sleep until morning--sleep like a top--and then
+the first thing he will call for will be a drink; give him one, then
+take him to some other house, fill him up, and leave him one by one. He
+will forget afterward where he lost his watch and money. At least you
+fellows can all swear he had his watch and money when you left him.
+Throw him into the street, and he will be found, dragged in, and in the
+morning will give the whole business away. That is the way you lads
+always make a mistake. You don't go slow enough."
+
+The men agreed to Alling's plan, and then turning the dude over on the
+floor, fixed his coat under his head for a pillow and left him, locking
+him in the room, and there the poor dude lay. One of the men returned in
+about half an hour, looked the sleeper over and left. Downstairs he told
+his pals:
+
+"He will never wake. I reckon the man is full to the ears. He will sleep
+until eleven o'clock to-morrow."
+
+After the man had glanced into the room the dude most strangely awoke.
+He drew from his pocket a tiny mask lantern, and he pulled a tiny watch
+from his pocket, glanced at the time and muttered:
+
+"I've got a long wait, but it's all right. I'll have my man."
+
+The hours passed. The dude lay upon the floor and actually slept a
+natural sleep, but after some hours he awoke, glanced at his watch and
+muttered:
+
+"Now it is time to operate."
+
+He rose from his coat pillow and put his coat on, fixed himself to go to
+the street, then deftly opened the door of the room, peeped out and
+listened. All was still. Indeed it was two o'clock in the morning. The
+dude passed down the stairs, and through the hall to the street door. He
+unlocked it as deftly as he had unlocked the room door. He put it just
+in the swing, then he ascended the stairs and passed to the top floor of
+the house. He knew just where to go for the purpose he had in hand, for
+he had overheard a little while he was being robbed at the game of
+cards. He stopped at the rear room door and listened, then he deftly
+opened the door and drew from his pocket the tiny mask lantern. He
+flashed the slenderest of lines of light toward the bed and thereon lay
+a man. Could one have pierced the darkness at that moment and have seen
+the face of the dude it would have been a most startling revelation,
+especially to one who had seen him some hours previously.
+
+The dude on tiptoe advanced toward the bed. Quickly he clapped a silken
+handkerchief to the mouth and nostrils of the sleeping man, and then
+from the big dude coat he drew a gag and some cords; quickly he
+proceeded and soon had the man gagged and bound. A moment only he
+rested, and then the dude, the delicate-looking dude, after having
+slipped on a few outside garments, raised the bound and gagged man in
+his arms, handled him as though he had been an unresisting lad of ten or
+twelve years, and carried him down two pair of stairs to the street
+door. He stepped forth and walked off with his burden. He met no one
+until he had traversed several squares, when a policeman accosted him:
+
+"Hold on! what have you there--a dead body?"
+
+"No, a man pretty thoroughly alive, and I want your aid--he is getting
+heavy."
+
+The dude made an explanation and the policeman aided in carrying the
+man. He was taken to the station house, where the gag was removed, also
+the cords, and the man was free.
+
+"Who is he, Dunne?" asked the sergeant in charge.
+
+The dude whispered a name and the sergeant started back aghast.
+
+"How did you pick him up?"
+
+"Oh, it's a long tale, but I've got him."
+
+Handcuffs were put on the prisoner and, accompanied by two detectives,
+Detective Dunne started with his man for headquarters. The fellow Alling
+meantime said, speaking to the supposed dude:
+
+"You played it well, but your play will cost your life in the end."
+
+"Hush, Jimmy, don't threaten while the darbies are on you; but it will
+be a long time before you will again enjoy your favorite game."
+
+"One word, Dunne."
+
+"Go it."
+
+"Was I betrayed?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Those fellows didn't give you the pointers to get a whack at the reward
+offered on me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"That is square between a square man and a thief?"
+
+"It is the truth."
+
+"You swear it?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"All right, I am to hold you alone responsible for this?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You worked it out yourself?"
+
+"I did. Your pals don't know yet you are gone."
+
+"Oh, I wish I had suspected."
+
+"Do you?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Say, Tommy, you make a mistake."
+
+"I do?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"You appear to think that all those whom you dislike have to do is to
+stand up and be shot like deserters. Let me tell you something. Had you
+recognized me you would have been a dead man, that's all, and it is
+possible several of your pals might have gone the journey with you. It's
+better for you and them that you did not recognize me."
+
+"The walls won't hold me long."
+
+The detective laughed.
+
+"When I am out I'll make it my business to settle you before I go back."
+
+"Tommy, you surprise me."
+
+"Do I?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I thought you were a gamer man. Game men don't bark; you are barking."
+
+"I'll bite; you did me up well; you've had your turn, I'll have mine."
+
+"Yes, you'll get your turn. As far as I am concerned I don't care if you
+get out the day after you are sent up. I may have a chance then to do
+the state better service."
+
+"You're barking now."
+
+"No, I am only cautioning you, that's all. Tommy, I don't fear you."
+
+A little later the party arrived at headquarters and the prisoner was
+turned over--one of the most dangerous rogues New York had known for a
+long time. The fellow had led a gang into a bank, had almost killed the
+watchman, had stolen over a hundred thousand dollars in money, and at
+least two hundred thousand more in negotiable securities, and he was a
+dangerous chap, and one of the most successful eluders the police had
+ever attempted to run down. Dudie Dunne had performed a great feat and
+yet he was to secure no public credit for it, for he was a secret
+special, and never in all his experience had he performed a deed that
+better earned him his right to be on the secret special force.
+
+"How about the 'swag,' Dunne?"
+
+"I don't expect to get it; but I am going back to look around."
+
+"Better take some one with you."
+
+"Not to-night--no, no."
+
+Dunne returned to the place from which he had yanked his man. He entered
+by the door which he had left on the swing for the purpose of a second
+visit. Dunne ascended to the room from which he had carried his prize,
+and he commenced a search, and no burglar ever moved with greater
+noiselessness or ease. He was busy fully half an hour, going around with
+his tiny mask lantern, and finally there came a pleased look to his
+face. He drew a few instruments from his pocket and set to work, and
+soon he had removed several bricks from the chimney piece, and finding
+an aperture thrust in his hand and drew forth some bonds. He recovered
+all the securities, and about half the cash in bills of large
+denomination, and having completed his work he stole down the stairs and
+returned to headquarters, made his report and went off to his room for a
+few hours of genuine restful sleep.
+
+On the morning following the incidents we have described the gang who
+had robbed him on the previous day assembled in the barroom. It was
+about eight o'clock, and as the last two came in they asked the man who
+was there ahead of them:
+
+"Have you been up to take a peep?"
+
+"No."
+
+The men all laughed and one said:
+
+"So you've heard nothing from our sweet little dude, eh?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Let's go up and take a peep at him and have a little fun; we will stand
+a heap of 'guying' when he awakes with his roaring headache."
+
+The men with cheerful faces ascended the stairs. They opened the door
+and peeped in; the first man started back, his face pale, and he
+exclaimed:
+
+"Great Scott!"
+
+"What's the matter?"
+
+"He's gone."
+
+"Gone!" ejaculated the other two.
+
+"Gone, as sure as guns, and rain storms."
+
+The men passed into the room, then they all laughed.
+
+The fools had not noticed until they commenced to laugh that they had
+found the door open. They really enjoyed the surprise for a moment until
+one of them suddenly appeared to fall to a suspicion.
+
+"Hold on, fellows," he cried, "maybe we are laughing too soon. I don't
+understand this; come to think, if that chappie got out of here he
+wasn't as big a fool as we thought him."
+
+"Oh, come off."
+
+"I think we'd better go up and see Tommy--hear what he has to say."
+
+The three men ascended to the room where the dude had gone for his game.
+They found that door open; they peeped in and Tommy was gone. He had
+disappeared, and they saw the opening where the "swag" had been secured.
+They looked into each other's faces and one of them said:
+
+"This begins to look serious."
+
+They descended to the barroom. The owner of the place had just appeared.
+
+"Where is Tommy?" they demanded.
+
+"Up in his room, of course."
+
+"Is he?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you think he's there?"
+
+"He is there."
+
+"He is not."
+
+"What?"
+
+"He is not there."
+
+"Where is he?"
+
+"By all that's strange and miraculous, boys," cried the man who had
+first shot forth a suspicion, "we have been played. The dude was a
+'copper,' and poor Tommy is in harbor at last."
+
+The men sent out and got a paper, and the first headline that met their
+eyes was:
+
+     "A Great Capture--Tom ----, the Worst Thief and Most Dangerous Bank
+     Robber New York has Harbored for Many Years was Captured Last Night
+     by a very Clever Piece of Detective Strategy and is Now at Police
+     Headquarters."
+
+The men trembled and one asked:
+
+"What will we do?"
+
+Another answered:
+
+"I don't think the climate of New York agrees with me at this season of
+the year."
+
+The others came to the same conclusion, and one said:
+
+"We're in luck if we get away, but there is no time to lose."
+
+The three men quietly glided from the saloon with countenances on which
+was written all evidences of terror.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+A FEW WORDS AS TO THE REAL IDENTITY OF DUDIE
+DUNNE--THE DETECTIVE STARTS OUT ON A FRESH "LAY,"
+AND AS A CHAPPIE SWEET CLOSES IN ON COMRADE NUMBER
+TWO.
+
+
+There was nothing noteworthy in the career of Dudie or rather Oscar
+Dunne up to the time he entered upon the police force beyond the fact
+that he was of a very remarkable physical make-up. He was a young man
+possessed of very delicate features, girlish blue eyes and a clear red
+and white complexion. He was what is called a very effeminate-looking
+young man. We have seen others like him. We have previously alluded in
+this connection to two very striking examples similar to the case of
+Dudie Dunne, many years ago in New York. There were two men, both famous
+as athletes; one of them was noted as one of the most desperate
+rough-and-ready fighters in the city. He was a colonel in the late war,
+afterward a member of congress, and noted for his physical strength and
+daring, while he looked like a woman in the face, so delicate were his
+features, and so soft and fair his complexion. The other man was a
+notorious ring fighter, and he too possessed the same delicacy of
+feature and complexion, and yet was a man of wonderful physical
+strength. So with Oscar Dunne. He was pretty when a child and when a
+youth, and the boys nicknamed him Girlie Dunne, and yet he outstripped
+all his boy companions in feats of strength and athletic performances.
+He was educated in the public schools of New York, and when quite young
+received an appointment as clerk to one of the city departments, and it
+was while acting in that capacity that he was led upon one occasion to
+attempt the running down of a notorious criminal. He tracked his man,
+had a desperate encounter with him, and captured him. This feat
+attracted attention toward him and one day a well-known detective
+remarked:
+
+"Oscar, if I had your face and strength and nerve I'd become the
+greatest detective on earth."
+
+Oscar brooded over the remark and later on secured a position on the
+regular police with a view to being promoted to the detective force, and
+his powers soon won him his promotion, and his services as a detective
+became so valuable, and his advantages as a detective became so marked,
+he was soon raised to the position of a secret special. It was just
+following his last promotion that he made the great capture we have
+recorded.
+
+It was about a month following the incidents detailed when one day the
+chief sent for him and said:
+
+"Oscar, I've a peculiar case for you. A great robbery was committed in
+Rome, Italy. Some very valuable heirlooms were stolen, besides a large
+collection of gems of great value. A large reward is offered for the
+thief, and it is believed by the Roman officers that the man is in New
+York."
+
+"Did they send over a description?"
+
+"No, they do not suspect any one man. All they suspect is that the thief
+fled from Rome and is in New York."
+
+Oscar Dunne smiled as he remarked:
+
+"A man must start on nothing in this case."
+
+"That is about the size of it."
+
+"They don't know whether the man is an Italian or not?"
+
+"No, but they do know that he is a desperate fellow. He killed one of
+the servants in the house at the time he committed the robbery. They
+believe he is an Italian."
+
+"Have you a photograph of any members of the family that was robbed?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Nor a photograph of the servant who was murdered."
+
+"No."
+
+Oscar was thoughtful a moment and then said:
+
+"Chief, a man who is blindfolded in a dark room can't see a crack in the
+wall."
+
+"Hardly."
+
+"There are thousands upon thousands of Italians in New York."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And many of them are hard characters--desperate fellows."
+
+"You are right. But there are a great many excellent Italians in New
+York--men of the highest character and integrity."
+
+"I know that."
+
+"They will aid you."
+
+"How can they aid me? Italy is a very big country. I'd look foolish
+merely to tell them that a robbery had been committed in Rome and that I
+wanted to find out something about it."
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"I want something to start on."
+
+"The Roman police have given us all they can."
+
+"They haven't given us anything."
+
+"Then you think it's no use to start in?"
+
+"I didn't say so. If the man is in New York I'll find him, but I must
+have something to work on."
+
+"I don't know what I can give you."
+
+"I want a photograph of every member of the family that was robbed. I
+want a photograph of the servant that was killed, and then I want
+certain questions answered direct from the family."
+
+"We will have to send to Italy."
+
+"Good enough. I will prepare my questions at once. You can send to Rome
+for what I want, and in the meantime I will be looking around. It will
+take about three weeks or a month for us to get a return from Rome. By
+that time I may have something to start out on, at least a subject for
+the working of the plan I may form after I hear from Rome."
+
+"I see your point, Oscar; it's well taken."
+
+Dudie Dunne prepared the questions he wished answered and started out
+for a little tour of observation. He was gotten up as the dude, but he
+had half a dozen different types of the dude with which he alternated in
+getting up his disguise. He also was able when occasion required to work
+the female racket as a cover beyond any other man who had ever attempted
+the role.
+
+There was one feature of Dudie Dunne's disguises. He acted the
+character he assumed. He never lost his head or forgot himself, and
+going around as he did under the guise of one of the most harmless of
+mortals, he had excellent chances for getting information. Under the
+fleece of the lamb was the hide of the lion, and there was just where he
+came in when the crisis was presented. Oscar was standing on the corner
+of a street waiting for a car to pass when he saw a man suddenly leap
+off the car, and immediately afterward an old lady ran out to the
+platform screaming, "Stop thief! stop thief!"
+
+The conductor did not even stop the car, but Dudie was at hand. He made
+a leap forward, only a leap, for the thief ran close to him, and he
+seized the rascal, when immediately a second man who had jumped off the
+car ran up while Oscar was struggling with the thief. The second man
+proved a confederate of the first, and he grabbed hold of Oscar. There
+was no policeman near, but a crowd had gathered and the people merely
+looked on, not understanding the cause of the struggle. They thought it
+was great fun, and one of the crowd created a laugh by yelling:
+
+"Hang on to him, chappie; hang on to him."
+
+Well, he did not hang on to him--he did better. Thief number two had
+hauled off to deal Oscar a tremendous blow. He was a large man and
+appeared to possess great strength, but to the surprise of everybody,
+chappie, as the crowd had dubbed our hero, let go the man he had been
+holding just in time to dodge a blow aimed at his head, and he countered
+with a stinger which sent his assailant staggering to the street. He
+then as quick as a wink, to the amazement of the crowd, dealt the man he
+had first seized a sockdologer and down he went, and at the same instant
+the old lady arrived on the scene. She had beheld the capture and saw
+the thief knocked out. The crowd cheered at the powers of chappie when
+the truth went flying around that the two men whom the chappie downed
+were pickpockets, and that the old lady was their victim. Our hero
+followed his man and took from him quick as lightning the purse which
+the thief had slid to his bosom. This he handed to the old lady, who
+quickly disappeared, and at the same instant a policeman arrived. The
+thief was a quickwitted fellow and he said:
+
+"Arrest that man. He just robbed an old lady of her pocketbook."
+
+Oscar did appear most like a thief and the policeman seized him.
+
+"Hold on, officer, there's your man," said Oscar, pointing to the
+retreating thief.
+
+"Oh, you can't play that on me," said the officer, and he commenced
+without further inquiry to cuff his prisoner over the head in a very
+rough manner, when suddenly the dude wrested himself clear and let the
+officer have one on the ear, and then the crowd laughed and jeered as
+the cop went reeling. Another officer arrived on the field. He also
+happened to be a fresh Alec. He didn't stop to ask a question but drew
+his club and made a rush at the supposed thief; the latter had no time
+to make an explanation. It was take a knock on the head or fight. He
+decided to fight and explain afterward, so he let "copper" number two
+have one, and it did appear marvelous, the ease with which he dropped
+the knights of the brass buttons. Cop number one had regained his feet,
+and drawing his club was about to make a rush, when Oscar threw back the
+lapel of his coat, and the officer's eyes rested on a little silver
+badge that caused him to recoil as though he had been confronted by a
+ghost.
+
+Both policemen fell to their blunder and the detective said:
+
+"Go and hunt up your right men now and don't be so fast next time."
+
+Assuming his chappie walk our hero ambled away. On the following morning
+there appeared an account in the papers, telling how a detective, very
+smartly dressed, had knocked out and captured two pickpockets when a
+policeman came along and mistaking the detective for the thief permitted
+the real thief to depart.
+
+A day or two passed when our hero, who made a daily practice to look
+over the personals in all the journals, saw a little advertisement which
+read as follows:
+
+     "If the detective who recovered an old lady's pocketbook will send
+     his address to Mrs. I. F., Station B, he will hear of something to
+     his advantage."
+
+"Well," ejaculated the officer, "that means me. Now let us see--what
+shall we do?"
+
+It did not take the detective very long to decide upon his course. He
+wrote the letter, and proceeding to Station B, mailed it, then he lay
+around for several hours until he saw a very nice-looking young lady
+call and ask for a letter addressed to "I. F." The letter was delivered
+and the girl started off with the detective on her track. He trailed her
+to an old-fashioned house in a very excellent neighborhood.
+
+The girl meantime entered the house and delivered the letter to an old
+lady--the same old lady who had been robbed. The latter said, as the
+girl entered the room to the left of the hall:
+
+"What! you have an answer already?"
+
+"Yes, aunty."
+
+The old woman took the letter, opened it and read:
+
+     "MADAM: I saw your advertisement. I will call upon you. When a card
+     is presented with the name of the undersigned you will know it is
+     the detective.
+
+     "Yours,
+
+     "OSCAR DUNNE."
+
+"Well, I declare," exclaimed the old lady; "he will call on us."
+
+"But how will he know where to call, aunty; you did not give your
+address in the advertisement."
+
+"That is so. I had forgotten that. Why, how will he know where to call.
+I fear I have made a mistake. A man who is as big a dunce as that can be
+of no service to us."
+
+"But wait, aunty, these men sometimes have dark and mysterious ways of
+their own for finding out facts. Let's wait and see if he does call."
+
+Even as the girl spoke there came a ring at the door bell, and a few
+minutes later a servant presented a card on which was the name, "Oscar
+Dunne."
+
+"Why, Alice, he is here; it's wonderful."
+
+"Will you see him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Alone?"
+
+"Yes, retire, my child."
+
+The niece retired and a few moments later Oscar was ushered into the old
+lady's presence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+DUDIE DUNNE LISTENS TO A STRANGE STORY AND ENTERS
+UPON A TRAIL THAT LEADS TO MANY VERY STARTLING
+ADVENTURES.
+
+
+"I am surprised to see you here."
+
+"Is that so, madam?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why should you be when you expressed a desire to see me?"
+
+"When did I express such a desire?"
+
+"The desire was implied in your advertisement."
+
+"But I did not put my address in the advertisement. How did you
+establish my identity?"
+
+The detective smiled and said:
+
+"It was a very simple matter, madam."
+
+"I do not understand it."
+
+"I will explain."
+
+"Please do."
+
+"We detectives are compelled to be very careful in all our movements. We
+have enemies who are constantly seeking to trap us."
+
+"What has all that to do with the fact that you knew my address?"
+
+"I read your advertisement."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I did not know whether it was genuine or a decoy sent out by the
+thieves who robbed you."
+
+"But even that does not explain how you obtained my address."
+
+"By a very simple plan, madam."
+
+"Tell me your plan."
+
+"I mailed the letter to you."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I knew you would send a messenger for it."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"I lay around the post office for your messenger. When she came I
+followed her here."
+
+"Oh, I see; well, how stupid I am. It is evident I am not a female
+detective. I never should have thought of that expedient."
+
+"It is a very simple one. If it had been a trap the parties sending the
+letter would have taken precautions not to be trapped that way."
+
+"I see, yes, I see; well, you are not a dunce after all."
+
+"Thank you. You wished to see me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Madam, what is your name, please?"
+
+"My name is Mrs. Frewen."
+
+"Who is the young lady who called for the answer to the advertisement?"
+
+"My niece."
+
+"And her name?"
+
+"Alice Frewen. She is my brother's daughter. She is an orphan."
+
+"You wished to see me on business?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why did you send for me?"
+
+"I will tell you. I read in the papers that you were a detective. I saw
+your bold act in catching the thief who had robbed me, and a little
+incident occurred that suggested to me that I had better consult with a
+detective. I had beheld your gallant action and my niece suggested the
+plan of the advertisement for your employment."
+
+"Very well, madam; on what business do you desire to consult me about?"
+
+The old lady produced a letter which read:
+
+     "DEAR MADAM: You are in danger. Remove all the portable valuables
+     from your house; leave nothing around that thieves can carry away.
+
+     A FRIEND."
+
+The detective read and re-read the missive and finally asked in a simple
+sort of way:
+
+"Who sent this, madam?"
+
+"You see the signature."
+
+"A friend."
+
+"That is all I know."
+
+"Can you form the least idea as to who this friend, or rather this
+so-called friend is? Have you the least suspicion as to his identity?"
+
+"I have not."
+
+"Has your niece?"
+
+"No."
+
+"This letter would suggest that there is a scheme on foot to rob you."
+
+"That is the suggestion that came to me when I first read the note."
+
+"Have you any articles of special value in the house?"
+
+"You are a detective."
+
+"I am."
+
+"I believe your identity and respectability are sufficiently well
+established for me to answer you frankly."
+
+"Madam, you can reserve your answer if you choose until you thoroughly
+establish my identity and respectability."
+
+"It is not necessary. I am satisfied. Yes, I have articles of special
+value in this house."
+
+"Who would be likely to know the fact?"
+
+"No one beyond my niece."
+
+"You cannot think of any one who would be apt to know that you had
+articles of special value in the house?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Is there any one whom you suspect of wishing to scare you?"
+
+"No, the fact is we have no acquaintances in New York. We have lived
+abroad many years and only returned to New York about six months ago.
+This house came to me by inheritance. It was leased for ten years to a
+family whom I never knew. My agent leased it. It stood idle for six
+months, until I came and reopened it upon my return home about six
+months ago."
+
+"When you were abroad where did you reside principally?"
+
+"In Paris; my niece attended school in France."
+
+"I suppose you had a great many friends in Paris?"
+
+"No, very few; I am not of a social turn at all. I do not seek friends.
+I live a very secluded life for reasons which it is not necessary to
+explain."
+
+"Then there are none of your Paris friends whom you would suspect as the
+author of that warning note?"
+
+"No."
+
+The detective re-read the note, examined it very carefully, and finally
+said:
+
+"We can form no suspicion from the note itself."
+
+"No."
+
+"Madam, have you an album?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Will you let me look at it?"
+
+"For what purpose?"
+
+"I wish to look at the pictures of some of the people you knew in
+Paris."
+
+The old lady smiled and said:
+
+"The album belongs to my niece. It is merely a collection of prominent
+French characters--public men, statesmen, army officers, musicians,
+painters and actors--the photographs do not represent friends of ours."
+
+"Still you have no objection to my seeing it?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Please let me see it, and if you have no objection let your niece be
+present. She may recall facts that have possibly slipped from your
+memory."
+
+"You are a very strange young man."
+
+"Yes, I am a very strange young man and I go about my business in a
+strange manner. Madam, you did the right thing when you sent for me. You
+and your niece are two lone ladies living in this house. It is evident
+some one has discovered that you have valuables in your house. A scheme
+of robbery, it would appear from the warning note, is contemplated. Some
+one friendly to you has learned of the intended robbery and has warned
+you. This warning may not only save your property but your life, and it
+is necessary that we should make every effort to learn who sent the
+warning note. I desire to see the photographs."
+
+Mrs. Frewen summoned her niece and requested her to bring her photograph
+album. The niece entered the room and was introduced to our hero, and
+she failed to conceal her surprise upon being informed that the handsome
+young man, so exquisitely attired, was a celebrated and successful
+detective. If Oscar noted her surprise he did not indicate it, but took
+the album and deliberately commenced turning over its pages, and the
+niece standing over him said:
+
+"You will only find pictures of well-known characters in the album. I do
+not think there is a photograph of a single friend of ours in the book."
+
+"Then you have another book?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You do not keep pictures of your friends?"
+
+"No."
+
+"It is unfortunate under the present circumstances; but, miss, what
+public character is the original of that photograph?"
+
+The girl blushed and answered:
+
+"I had forgotten that the picture was in the album."
+
+"Ah, I see; but who is the original?"
+
+"Oh, he is a young man whose mother I knew in Paris. Aunty was very kind
+to the mother and also to the young man at the time he was sick."
+
+"Did you ever see this young man?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Did your aunt ever see him?"
+
+"Yes, she remained with the mother one or two nights, aiding in nursing
+him, and she supported them during his illness."
+
+"What created your aunt's interest in the young man?"
+
+"His mother had been her maid many years previously."
+
+"What is the character of the young man?"
+
+The girl did not answer.
+
+"You do not answer me."
+
+"It is a very singular question."
+
+"It is?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I never saw the young man, how should I know anything concerning his
+character?"
+
+Mrs. Frewen had been an interested listener to the conversation, and
+turning to the aunt our hero said:
+
+"You know this young man?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He is a very handsome young fellow, I should think, from his picture."
+
+"Yes, and a very unfortunate young man."
+
+"Unfortunate?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"In what way--simply because his mother was poor?"
+
+"No, there is a mystery connected with his life."
+
+"A mystery?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What is the mystery?"
+
+"I believe his father is a nobleman, although his mother was my
+governess."
+
+"Ah, your governess?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Not your maid?"
+
+"She acted as governess and maid both. She was a very handsome woman. We
+were in Italy when she eloped and ran away."
+
+"Did she run away and get married?"
+
+"She claimed she was married."
+
+"Whom did she marry?"
+
+"She would never reveal the man's identity."
+
+"Do you know that it was a nobleman?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You only suspect?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What led you to the suspicion."
+
+"Hints that Madam Donetti dropped from time to time."
+
+"This young man's name is Donetti?"
+
+"He is known as Alphonse Donetti."
+
+"An Italian name."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you conclude his mother married an Italian?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Was he a sober, industrious young man?"
+
+"No, he appeared to feel very much embittered at the idea of being poor.
+He claimed to be of high birth. Indeed I have suspected that his mother
+was a woman descended from a good old French family; at any rate the
+young man is very high-blooded, fond of gay life, and unable to gratify
+his desires."
+
+"Did he ever to your knowledge commit a crime?"
+
+"Never to my knowledge."
+
+"Did you ever hear it whispered that he was a criminal?"
+
+The old lady did not answer.
+
+"You do not answer me."
+
+"I fear he caused his mother a great deal of anxiety at times."
+
+"His mother still resides in France?"
+
+"She is dead."
+
+"Where is the young man?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"Where did you see him last?"
+
+"In Paris."
+
+"How long ago?"
+
+"About a year ago."
+
+"When and where?"
+
+"I saw him upon the street."
+
+"Did you address him?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+The woman did not answer.
+
+"Please answer me."
+
+"He was in the hands of a sergeant de ville."
+
+"He was under arrest?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"For what offense?"
+
+"I never inquired, and the day following my niece and I started for
+London."
+
+"You have no reason to suspect that Alphonse Donetti is in the United
+States, in fact in New York?"
+
+"The suggestion did not arise in my mind until you began to question me
+about him, then I did ask myself the question: Could it have been
+Alphonse Donetti who sent me that warning note?"
+
+The detective meditated a long time and then said:
+
+"The chances are that Alphonse Donetti sent you that warning note."
+
+"I cannot think who else could have sent it, and yet I have no knowledge
+that he is in the United States."
+
+"The note is written in good English."
+
+"Yes, Alphonse was educated in England; his mother devoted her life to
+him, and as long as she had a cent she denied him nothing. All her money
+was spent when she came to me, and I aided her."
+
+"And Alphonse knew of your generosity to his mother?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And she married an Italian?"
+
+"I believe it was an Italian with whom she eloped. We were living in
+Florence at the time. She deserted me and ran away."
+
+"And you did not see her until many years afterward?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And then you met her in Paris?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Was Donetti her married name?"
+
+"I have every reason to believe it was an assumed name. I firmly believe
+she eloped with some man of high family, even though he may not have
+been a nobleman, but I believe he was a nobleman."
+
+"You say Madam Donetti was a handsome young lady?"
+
+"Very handsome--a beautiful woman and refined, also highly educated.
+There was a mystery about her while she was acting as my governess."
+
+"Governess to whom--yourself?"
+
+"No, an older sister of Alice."
+
+"She was a Frenchwoman?"
+
+"I always believed so, but as she assumed the name of Donetti it is
+possible she may have been Italian, or her parents may have been Italian
+people."
+
+"She spoke Italian?"
+
+"She did indeed. She spoke all the continental languages, also English,
+and her son is a splendid linguist."
+
+"Madam, that note came from Alphonse Donetti."
+
+"And what does it portend?"
+
+The detective meditated a few moments and then said:
+
+"I can only theorize."
+
+"And what is your theory?"
+
+"I fear Alphonse has gotten into bad company. I fear he is associating
+with thieves. He may have learned that there was a scheme on foot to rob
+you. He did not dare warn you fully, but sent you this missive, and the
+fact that he sent you this note would indicate that no matter how bad a
+man he has become he still possesses the quality of gratitude. A very
+rare quality, madam; few possess it. Forgetfulness and selfishness
+prevail as a rule."
+
+"What are we to do?"
+
+"Will you leave the decision with me?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"We will guard against a robbery, and in the meantime I will hunt up
+this young man Donetti; if he is in New York I will find him."
+
+Mrs. Frewen meditated a few moments in turn and then said:
+
+"I do not know as I wish to renew his acquaintance, especially as he has
+probably become a criminal."
+
+Oscar smiled, but the smile on his face vanished as he caught an
+expression on the face of the niece Alice as she said:
+
+"Aunty, we have no reason to assume that Al--I mean the young man has
+become a criminal."
+
+The girl started to say Alphonse but checked herself and said, "the
+young man."
+
+Oscar was a regular mind-reader, and he remarked in a tone indicating a
+forgetfulness that the question had once been answered:
+
+"So you never had the pleasure of seeing this young man, Miss Alice?"
+
+The girl blushed and appeared restless and uneasy as she answered:
+
+"No."
+
+The detective turned to Mrs. Frewen and said:
+
+"It may be necessary to hunt up this young man in order to run down the
+criminals who, we are to assume, are about to make an attempt to rob
+you."
+
+"I fear the young man is a criminal."
+
+"But, aunty, he is very considerate when he warns us."
+
+"Yes, he owes it to me, and I am glad he evidently possesses at least
+one good quality; but I fear his deeds were the death of his mother. She
+did not reveal to me all she knew about her son, that is evident, and
+now under the new light I can see clearly and interpret many little
+incidents that before I could not understand."
+
+"I will ask to borrow this picture, madam."
+
+"You can take it," said the elder lady, but the younger one said:
+
+"No, no, aunty, do not let the gentleman have the picture."
+
+"Why not, my child?"
+
+"Well, it is better that he does not discover the young man. In case his
+theories are correct it might lead to mortifying incidents. We do not
+know the young man, and probably it is better that we let him drop from
+our memories forever."
+
+"I will see that no complications arise from the discovery of the young
+man. If he is a criminal who has come over here from France it may be as
+well to cut him short in his career of crime on this side of the ocean
+as quickly as possible."
+
+"And what would you do?"
+
+"It is my duty to note every criminal as far as I can, and run him down
+if he makes himself answerable to our laws."
+
+"You have no proof that this young man is a criminal."
+
+"No, I have no proof, but I am satisfied that he is a criminal, and it
+is possible I can already associate him with a very grave crime."
+
+The face of Alice became ghastly as her aunt asked:
+
+"Alice, why do you show such interest in this criminal?"
+
+"Aunty, I only show the interest that is natural, considering the esteem
+in which you held his mother."
+
+The keen eyes of the detective were on the girl and he reached a very
+startling conclusion, and other very strange and startling suggestions
+and suspicions were running through his mind.
+
+"I will take the photograph," he said, "and will guarantee no
+unpleasant incidents will follow my possession of it; and now, madam,
+one more point--I will come to your house to-night between eleven
+o'clock and midnight and remain here as a private watchman in order to
+anticipate the visit of the burglars in case a raid on your house is
+meditated."
+
+"I am glad to have you do so, and I will have a room prepared for you,
+and I will pay you according to what you may think your services
+demand."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+DUDIE DUNNE LAYS LOW FOR THE HOUSEBREAKERS, MAKES
+A GREAT CAPTURE, AND ALSO MAKES A VERY PECULIAR
+DISCOVERY.
+
+
+The detective completed his arrangements for spending a night in the
+house. He also gave instructions to Mrs. Frewen and her niece just what
+they were to do under the possibilities of the approaching night. A
+little later and the detective took his departure, and still later met
+the chief, to whom he said:
+
+"Strange incidents meet us in our profession, chief."
+
+"Well, I should say so. What have you struck now?"
+
+"I am not sure, chief, but I've an idea that I have run by accident
+right on to the Roman burglar. If I have it's the most extraordinary
+chance that ever occurred in our profession."
+
+Oscar proceeded and related to the chief what had occurred. The latter
+listened and said:
+
+"I don't see where the Roman robbery comes in."
+
+"You don't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Well, you've been busy, and your mind is not clear."
+
+"I feel pretty clear in my head."
+
+Oscar opened up the key to his theory and the chief exclaimed:
+
+"Dudie, you're a genius. By all that's strange and wonderful I should
+not be amazed if you are right, and do you know there is the biggest
+sort of a reward offered for the capture of the thief."
+
+"Chief, if my ideas are fully confirmed we may not seek the reward. I
+don't know but my suspicions run a great way in this case, and if the
+fact proves true--well, we'll talk it over after we locate, identify and
+prove the crime on our man."
+
+It was just about eleven o'clock when Dudie Dunne turned the corner to
+go to the house where he was to spend the night. He was walking along
+lost in a brown study when suddenly a hand was laid lightly upon his
+shoulder. He turned and beheld a veiled woman.
+
+Now, reader, don't exclaim, "There comes one of Old Sleuth's veiled
+women again," for I tell you veiled women are floating around every day
+and night in great cities, and especially those who, like our veiled
+women, are out at such a late hour on special business.
+
+"Can I have a few words with you, Mr. Dunne?" came the question.
+
+"Great Scott!" thought our hero, but the exclamation did not escape his
+lips.
+
+"Certainly, Miss Alice," he answered.
+
+"I can rely upon your honor that what passes between us shall be
+strictly confidential?"
+
+"Yes, miss."
+
+"You will not even reveal the fact that I met you?"
+
+"I will not, but will not your aunt miss you?"
+
+"No, she retired over an hour ago. She is a heavy sleeper; even the
+prospect of a visit from burglars would not keep her awake as long as
+the prospect was only a suspicion. She is a very brave lady; my aunt is
+a very remarkable woman."
+
+"No doubt; but now what can I do for you?"
+
+"A crisis compels me to be singularly frank with you."
+
+"It is better so if I am to serve you in any way."
+
+"I am about to make an extraordinary request."
+
+"All right."
+
+"It is possible those burglars may visit our house to-night."
+
+"Yes, it is possible, not probable. I tell you now I am only exercising
+due precaution, I do not really anticipate a visit from the
+housebreakers."
+
+"I do."
+
+"You have a reason for your conclusion?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Never mind; but I wish to make a request."
+
+"Proceed."
+
+"If the robbers do enter our house, the moment you spring upon them they
+will attempt to escape of course."
+
+"That will naturally be what they will attempt, I should say."
+
+"If you surprise them they will be defeated."
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"They will not have taken anything."
+
+"Possibly not."
+
+"Then let them escape."
+
+"That is your request?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It is indeed a very singular one."
+
+"I cannot explain why I make such a request, but please let them escape.
+I repeat I cannot explain why I make the request."
+
+"You cannot explain why you make such a strange request?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You need not."
+
+"Thank you, and I am to understand that my request is granted?"
+
+"Oh, no."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean you need not make any explanation, that is all."
+
+The girl stared. Our hero could not see her eyes, for she was veiled,
+but her attitude indicated that she was staring at him and he knew with
+a look of surprise on her face.
+
+"Why do you not seek an explanation of such an extraordinary request?"
+
+"Simply because it is really unnecessary. I know why you make the
+request. I fully comprehend your motive."
+
+An exclamation escaped the veiled lady.
+
+"You understand?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"No, no, it is impossible that you understand."
+
+"I will prove to you that I do understand. You fear that Alphonse
+Donetti will be one of the burglars. You do not desire him to be
+captured. See what a mind-reader I am."
+
+"Why do you assume that Alphonse will be one of the robbers?"
+
+"Merely because you do, that's all."
+
+"How do you know that I do?"
+
+"You would not make the extraordinary request unless that was your
+fear."
+
+"You are a strange man."
+
+The detective laughed and answered:
+
+"And you are a very strangely acting lady. It is indeed a strange thing
+for a lady who expects robbers to visit her house to ask that they be
+permitted to escape. I must do my duty, miss, I cannot grant your
+request unless you ask that I let Alphonse go and arrest the others."
+
+"No, that will not do," she exclaimed, "for the others would betray
+him."
+
+"Aha!" ejaculated the detective, "human-like you have given yourself
+away. Do not again deny your real motive for making the request."
+
+The girl recognized that indeed she had betrayed herself, and in a tone
+of distress she muttered:
+
+"Oh, what shall I do?"
+
+"I can tell you."
+
+"Please do."
+
+"Make a full confidant of me."
+
+"Will you believe me?"
+
+"I know of no reason why I should doubt your word."
+
+"I have already deceived you."
+
+"Eh! you have already deceived me?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"In what direction?"
+
+"I told you I had never seen or spoken to Alphonse Donetti?"
+
+"I remember."
+
+"My denial was false."
+
+The detective was silent.
+
+"I did not dare let my aunt know that I had ever seen him."
+
+"And you have met?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Often?"
+
+"Yes, very often. He has confided in me."
+
+"One moment! are you his affianced wife?"
+
+"On my honor, I am not; but knowing his real story I sympathize with him
+most heartily."
+
+"He has revealed to you more than his mother ever revealed to your
+aunt?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Tell me what he revealed to you."
+
+"I cannot."
+
+"Oh, but you can."
+
+"No, I am bound by an oath; I cannot break my oath."
+
+The detective meditated and then asked:
+
+"Do you know that Donetti is in New York?"
+
+"I do not."
+
+"Have you reason to suspect that he is?"
+
+"I had no reason to so suspect until you indicated that he was possibly
+the author of the warning note, then I did suspect that he was in New
+York."
+
+"Have you any grounds for believing that he is a criminal?"
+
+"I have not."
+
+"Then why do you fear he may be with the robbers to-night?"
+
+"I do not know to what desperate deeds his many wrongs and privations
+may have driven him. If he is in New York I will find him. If he is
+being driven toward the career of a criminal I will save him. If you
+arrest him I cannot save him, and yet he deserves to be saved, for he is
+the victim of a great wrong."
+
+Again the detective meditated. He was revolving strange theories in his
+mind, and mentally he concluded: "This is a very unfortunate girl, but
+she is only one of a type of woman who can be thus fascinated." After an
+interval he said:
+
+"I do not think Alphonse will be one of the robbers."
+
+"You believe he is in New York?"
+
+"Yes, I believe so."
+
+"How would he know of the intended robbery?"
+
+"That is a question I cannot answer. Indeed I can advance no theory, but
+I do not believe he will be one of the robbers."
+
+"It is possible he is not in New York at all."
+
+"Yes, it is possible, but the probabilities are that he is."
+
+Alice appeared very unhappy, and our hero could not console her with a
+promise, simply because he had reason to believe that Alphonse Donetti
+was possibly already liable to arrest for a previous crime.
+
+"You can give me no comfort?" she said at length.
+
+"No, beyond the fact that I will agree to let Alphonse escape in case he
+is among the burglars who may possibly enter your house."
+
+"And the others will betray him."
+
+"No, you need not fear that; but time passes, I must go and take up my
+position. You had better return to your home and I will appear later."
+
+The girl slowly walked away and our hero muttered:
+
+"Well, this is a complication. That girl loves a thief, possibly an
+assassin."
+
+A little later and Oscar Dunne entered the house. All was as it had been
+agreed it should be, and yet the detective commenced a search. There was
+a hall pantry off the rear parlor. The detective tried the door; it was
+locked, but by a little trick of his own he opened it and flashed the
+light of his tiny mask lantern inside, and there sure enough stood Alice
+Frewen. The girl colored, but assumed a very defiant look as she said:
+
+"You had no business to force yourself into my room."
+
+"Your room is of very narrow dimensions, but under the circumstances I
+was compelled to force my way in as I wish to use this room as my hiding
+place, and further I do not propose that you shall give the burglars
+warning. I am here to catch them and I will."
+
+"Never; I will warn them. I will light the gas and sit up all night."
+
+"Oh, you will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do not resolve upon so rash a proceeding."
+
+"I shall do as I threaten."
+
+"I am sorry, but I shall be compelled to arouse your aunt and inform her
+of your intention; also as an explanation, reveal to her all that you
+have revealed to me."
+
+The girl burst into tears and exclaimed:
+
+"I am at your mercy; what shall I do?"
+
+"I'll tell you what to do."
+
+"Please tell me."
+
+"Trust me. Trust my judgment and consideration for your feelings."
+
+"Let me explain."
+
+"Yes, you are at liberty to explain."
+
+"I wish to save that young man simply because I believe he is the victim
+of a great wrong. I do not believe he is bad at heart--not a criminal by
+nature."
+
+"I will not question your motive, but you cannot interfere with the
+performance of my duty, but I will promise you that no harm shall come
+to the young man until I am convinced that he is an irreclaimable
+villain. If he is the victim of wrong he shall have my aid and sympathy.
+I can promise you no more than that, beyond the assurance that I am
+sincere, and I know just what to do."
+
+"I will trust you."
+
+"You are wise."
+
+"You will keep my secret?"
+
+"As long as you obey my instructions."
+
+"I will obey your instructions."
+
+"Then retire to your room and do not come forth until I summon you, or
+you are summoned by your aunt."
+
+The girl ascended the stairs and our hero prepared for a night's vigil.
+He was acting, as he stated, merely as a matter of precaution. He did
+not anticipate the advent of the burglars, but he was just as watchful
+and careful as though he knew for a certainty that they would come. He
+did not sleep, but lay down on a sofa in the rear parlor, raising the
+two windows so as to overhear any noise in case the thieves should put
+in an appearance. He knew the habits of the robbers well enough. He knew
+how their methods would be adapted to the lay of the house they were to
+enter. The house was detached, and there was a storm shed in the rear
+protecting the back kitchen door. Here was where he anticipated they
+would make their entrance. Once in the storm shed they could take their
+time in opening the kitchen door, and could also make all their
+arrangements for escape in case of discovery.
+
+The hours passed until about three o'clock in the morning, when the
+detective, who despite all his doubts had been on the alert, heard a
+sound. He peeped out, and there sure enough he beheld three men in the
+yard, and he muttered:
+
+"By ginger! they are here. Well, I didn't expect them, but I will
+welcome them."
+
+Dudie Dunne was a very resolute young man. He wore moccasins and with
+noiseless tread passed to the kitchen stairway and there took up his
+position. He knew the men would advance by the stairs the moment they
+succeeded in getting into the house. Holding his position he waited, and
+was not surprised at the celerity of their movements, for within ten
+minutes after his first recognition of their presence in the yard he had
+evidence that they were in the house--and there he stood at the head of
+the kitchen stairs prepared to lay them out.
+
+The men were old hands at the business. They wasted no time, but started
+to ascend the kitchen stairs just as Oscar had calculated they would. He
+lay low until the foremost man was just at the last step, when a club
+cut the air; there followed a thud and an outcry and the man went over
+backward upon the man who was following him.
+
+The detective leaned down the stairs. He stepped over the man he had
+struck and arrived at the foot of the stairs just as robber number two
+had risen to his feet, having been knocked down by his pal's fall. Again
+the club cut the air and robber number two received a clip that disabled
+him and the detective sprang along to the kitchen. Robber number three
+had been on the watch. He knew some thing had gone wrong and ran to the
+kitchen to hear what had occurred. He arrived just in time to run up
+against that effective club, and he too went down, and as he fell the
+detective leaped upon him and fixed the darbies on him. He then retired
+to the basement hall stairs, and arrived just as number two had a second
+time risen to his feet; the man received a second dose from the club and
+went down again, and in less time than it takes to record it the darbies
+were run on him. Robber number one had not moved; the blow he had
+received had sort of settled him for a little rest, but the detective
+put the steel bands on him all the same, and then he turned on the gas.
+None of the burglars had masks on, although they had their little
+face-hiders hanging to their lapels like a pair of eyeglasses.
+
+Oscar went to each man and flashed the light of his lantern in their
+faces one after the other, and then he muttered:
+
+"Well, he is not here; so far so good."
+
+The detective went to the front door and swung his light, and in less
+than two minutes two men appeared. They were admitted and led down to
+the kitchen where they seized the robbers. Our hero had recognized two
+of the men. They were the fellows who had played him for a "chappie."
+
+The three burglars were led through the kitchen door to the yard and
+marched off, three of the most surprised housebreakers that were ever
+captured; and right here we have a word to say. There is nothing
+romantic and daring in housebreaking. It is one of the most atrocious
+crimes on the criminal calendar. It is simply terrible to think of
+people defenseless and helpless in their own homes and beds when masked
+men, prepared to do murder, steal in to rob them. There is no palliation
+for this offense, for there is no crime, save that of forgery, that is
+conducted with so much forethought, decision and calculation--yes,
+calculation to do murder if it becomes necessary, for they go prepared
+to kill; and it is a grand thing when one of these cruel scoundrels is
+caught and punished. They are not entitled to sympathy, despite the fact
+that some mawkish Sunday-school books sometimes present the good-hearted
+burglar. If there is any crime that deserves death anywhere near the
+liability of murder it is the crime of burglary, for a man who will
+enter a house to steal is the meanest criminal on the face of the earth,
+and it is well when they are shot down right in their tracks and in the
+act of their crime.
+
+The three burglars, as stated, were led away, and our hero, who had
+effected the capture so neatly, ascended the stairs and at the parlor
+door met Alice Frewen.
+
+"They have been here."
+
+"You have disobeyed me."
+
+"I did not until I knew it was all over."
+
+"Did you know it was all over?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I was watching and listening."
+
+"Well, they did come. I did not expect them, I will admit."
+
+"You have captured them?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"All of them?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did you see their faces?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And----"
+
+"_He_ was not among them."
+
+"You are sure?"
+
+"I am sure."
+
+"Remember, he may have been under a disguise."
+
+"He was not with them. I recognized all the three men. I know them. No,
+he was not with them, and the chances are all our theories were wrong,
+but we will learn later on."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+DUDIE DUNNE STARTS OUT ON A QUEST AND ENCOUNTERS
+SOME VERY CURIOUS ADVENTURES, TOGETHER WITH
+SEVERAL RUN-INS WITH MEN WHO TAKE HIM FOR A
+CHAPPIE.
+
+
+The girl Alice appeared to be greatly relieved and retired to her room
+while our hero lay down on the sofa and slept. He needed some rest and
+was glad of the opportunity to secure it.
+
+On the following morning he saw Mrs. Frewen. That good lady had slept
+along undisturbed while the exciting incidents we have recorded were
+transpiring. Our hero related to her all that had occurred, and she
+said:
+
+"Well, you are a very faithful man, and I desire a confidential talk
+with you."
+
+Mrs. Frewen and the detective were in the rear sitting-room. The old
+lady closed the door and said in a low tone:
+
+"What I say to you is purely confidential."
+
+"All right, madam."
+
+"You captured the burglars?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"You saw their faces?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Plainly enough to identify them in case you had known them?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did you recognize any of them?"
+
+"I recognized them all."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"What is it you want to know?"
+
+"Was _he_ among them?"
+
+"Who?"
+
+"The young man Alphonse Donetti?"
+
+"No."
+
+There came a disappointed look to the old lady's face and she said:
+
+"I am sorry."
+
+"You are sorry, madam."
+
+"Yes, I am sorry."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I have no confidence in that young man."
+
+"Do you know that he is in New York?"
+
+"I do not know, but I suspect that he is."
+
+"And you wanted him captured as a burglar?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"After he sent you the warning note?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The detective was silent, but there came a curious expression to his
+face.
+
+"It may appear strange to you."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I can trust you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Yesterday I made a discovery, or rather you made one for me."
+
+"I did?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By the finding of that photograph in that album. I have long suspected
+a certain fact, now I have evidence that there are grounds for my
+suspicions."
+
+"Will you speak plainly, madam?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"Again I ask, can I trust you?"
+
+"You can."
+
+"In a matter purely personal?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then I will declare that I have reason to suspect that the rascal,
+Alphonse Donetti, has fascinated my niece, and I fear the girl has been
+deliberately deceiving me."
+
+Our hero made no comment, and the old lady continued:
+
+"At the terror of fearing that my own flesh and blood has been
+fascinated by a thief--in my opinion a born thief--the son of a thief--a
+low, vile, reckless scoundrel, yes, that is what I fear. It was this
+suspicion that caused me to leave Paris. And now, Oscar Dunne, you can
+make your fortune. I am a very rich woman; I can pay a great price. I
+want you to aid me to save my niece, even if she is compelled to gaze on
+the dead face of her lover."
+
+"Madam, what do you mean? Can you believe that money will tempt me to
+commit a murder?"
+
+"No, sir, I am not a murderess, but I believe money will induce you to
+bring a murderer to justice, and have him hung as he deserves."
+
+"Well," thought the detective, "here is a pretty kettle of fish right in
+one family."
+
+"Madam, are you sure you have made a discovery?"
+
+"Yes, I have other evidences. What I learned yesterday was only
+confirmatory."
+
+"I see you are disposed to trust me."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Let me say for myself that your confidence is not displaced, and if you
+have reason to believe that your niece is in love with a criminal, and
+if we prove the man to be a criminal, I will aid you in removing the
+human toy beyond her reach. I will send him up to the gallows."
+
+"Well, now, you are assuming that he is a murderer."
+
+"I have every reason to believe that he is, and I think the evidence can
+be secured to convict him; but why should he seek to marry your niece?"
+
+"He knows she is an heiress--yes, a great heiress. She is heir to
+millions, and will have the money in her own right without any restraint
+upon her use or misuse of it whatever."
+
+"When?"
+
+"When she becomes of age."
+
+"How old is she now?"
+
+"In about three years she will come into absolute possession of her
+fortune."
+
+"And this man, you think, has bewitched her?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"And yet she denied ever having met him."
+
+"I know it, and I will say this in her favor; she is a noble and
+truthful girl. She believes that wretch innocent. She thinks I am
+unwarrantably prejudiced, and that under the circumstances it is not
+wrong to deceive me. She thinks he is a wronged young man. She has been
+assailed on a woman's weakest side--her sympathies."
+
+"Have you positive evidence that the young man is the villain you
+believe him to be?"
+
+"Not positive evidence, not convicting evidence; that is what I want you
+to obtain."
+
+"Is it not possible that your niece is right?"
+
+"Right!" almost screamed Mrs. Frewen.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Right, how?"
+
+"Is it not possible that the young man has been wronged and is
+innocent?"
+
+"No, she is not right. He is guilty, and you must obtain the proofs, and
+I will pay you an enormous reward."
+
+"Madam, I will try and earn the reward, and in order to do so you must
+tell me what evidence you have of this young man's guilt."
+
+"I have no evidence."
+
+"You have no evidence?"
+
+"No actual evidence."
+
+"On what do you found your suspicions?"
+
+"His general character."
+
+"What is his general character?"
+
+"I don't know positively. All I know is what I have heard and general
+rumor."
+
+"One more question. Have you any evidence that he is in America?"
+
+"Here again I have no evidence, but there are certain circumstances that
+point conclusively to the fact that he is in New York."
+
+"And do you believe he sent you the warning note?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"What could have been his object?"
+
+"Oh, it was a cunning trick on his part. He is making evidence, that's
+all."
+
+"Making evidence?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"To establish what?"
+
+"That he is a pure young man and has been wronged. I really believed he
+would be with the burglars. You are to establish the fact that he
+instigated the robbery, that these men are his pals, as you detectives
+call them, and you are to follow him up and establish his career as a
+professional thief and criminal."
+
+"I must find him first."
+
+"Yes, you must find him, and I think you will succeed. You have his
+photograph; it is an excellent picture; when she got it I don't know,
+and I tell you it was hard for me to dissimulate yesterday, but I do not
+desire her to know that I suspect, even when we have all the proofs, and
+want it to come as a revelation to her. I never wish her to know that I
+ever suspected the truth."
+
+"Madam, I will undertake to establish the fact that this young man is a
+criminal, or the victim of cruel suspicions."
+
+"He is a criminal, I am sure of it."
+
+"One moment; do you wish it to be established that he is a criminal,
+whether he is or not?"
+
+The detective fixed a keen look on Mrs. Frewen's face as he asked the
+question. A moment the old lady hesitated and then said:
+
+"Yes."
+
+Promptly the detective answered:
+
+"Under these circumstances, madam, you will have to secure the services
+of another person."
+
+"But do not forget your reward."
+
+"Madam, all your wealth would not induce me to manufacture evidence
+making it appear that an innocent man was a criminal."
+
+There came a pleased look to the old lady's face and she said:
+
+"I said that to try you. I know now I can trust you--yes, trust your
+honor and your judgment. I will amend my answer. It will please me very
+much to learn that the young man is innocent. All I ask of you is to
+prove his guilt if he is guilty, his innocence if he is innocent."
+
+"With that understanding I will undertake the case, and I will say here
+that at present evidences point to the suspicion that he is a guilty
+man, possibly guilty of the crime of murder."
+
+The old lady dropped her voice and her utterance was husky as she asked:
+
+"What evidence have you?"
+
+"No evidence yet, but I have a suspicion. I propose to follow it up."
+
+"Tell me about it."
+
+"I can tell you nothing at present. My first object will be to establish
+the fact that Alphonse Donetti is in America, and that he wrote the note
+to you. I will communicate with you later."
+
+The detective went straight to the Tombs. He was admitted to the cell of
+one of the burglars. He was under a new disguise and he played a great
+game for information. His object was to identify Alphonse Donetti with
+the burglars. He did not succeed, but by skillful maneuvering he got a
+hint that caused him to pay a visit to an outlying district on Long
+Island, where there is located quite a colony of Italians. It was a warm
+and pleasant afternoon; our hero was gotten up as Dudie Dunne, and he
+attracted considerable attention as a genuine chappie. Indeed, on the
+car when riding to his destination he was made the subject of
+considerable merriment by a number of men in the car. He paid no
+attention, but he marked one of the men pretty well. This latter
+individual was particularly insulting, and there was no occasion for his
+insults. Simply because our hero had done nothing and had a perfect
+right to dress as a chappie if he so elected, that fact did not warrant
+actual insult. As the car stopped and our hero alighted the man who had
+made himself conspicuous as an insulter said:
+
+"Let's get off, fellers, and I'll give you an exhibition."
+
+The men were under the influence of liquor and the whisky had made
+"Smart Alecs" of them, as it frequently does with men who have little
+brain and reason even when sober. The men all appeared to think it would
+be a good joke to see the exhibition and they left the car. Oscar had
+heard the man's invitation, and having made up his mind that it was an
+opportunity to teach one ruffian to mind his own business he took a
+course favorable for the exhibition, and started to go across an open
+lot; the men followed, and just as our hero arrived near a quagmire the
+man who was to give the exhibition ran forward and grasped Oscar.
+
+The latter appeared to be terribly scared and exclaimed:
+
+"Don't; let me alone; I have not harmed you."
+
+"I think I know you."
+
+"Oh, no, you don't know me--hee, hee, hee! I am a stranger around here.
+You are mistaken; you never saw me before."
+
+"Yes, I have seen you before."
+
+"You have?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Around here."
+
+"Oh, no, you _are_, you _are_ mistaken."
+
+"Yes, I recognize you, mister. I saw you insult a lady--yes, I saw you
+insult a lady."
+
+"Oh, no, never, never! What! I insult a lady! No, no, I admire the
+ladies."
+
+"But I saw you insult one, and I am going to punish you."
+
+"You are mistaken, my friend--yes, you are mistaken, if you saw me speak
+to a lady. It was a bit of gallantry, that is all. Yes, I am very
+gallant to the ladies, I am a sort of defender of the ladies--their
+champion--yes, sir, their champion."
+
+Dudie Dunne rather spunked up in manner as he spoke, and the men all
+laughed merrily.
+
+"You did insult a lady, and I challenge you to fight me."
+
+"Ou! ou! my dear friend, you are mad!"
+
+"Yes, I am mad enough to knock you into the middle of next week, but I
+am going to give you a chance. You must fight me."
+
+"Fight you, my friend?"
+
+"Yes, fight me."
+
+"You had better be careful. Don't challenge me to fight you. I am a
+gentleman, I am, and an athlete. You are only a common man; you can't
+fight me."
+
+The men all laughed at the idea of the dude's being an athlete.
+
+"I know you are an athlete, but you must fight me all the same."
+
+"I beg your pardon, my friend, I cannot fight you here on the public
+street."
+
+"You need not fight me here."
+
+"But I don't wish to fight you at all."
+
+"But you must fight me."
+
+"Where can I fight you?"
+
+"Oh, we can go right over there in the grove--no one will see us--but
+you must fight."
+
+"You do not want me to thrash you, do you?"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"You are not seeking for a fight, are you?"
+
+"Yes, I am."
+
+"Why, my friend, you'll get a surprise if you fight me. I am a regular
+fighter, I am--hee, hee, hee! I don't want to take advantage of you."
+
+Little did those fellows dream as they laughed that the supposed chappie
+was telling the truth. Indeed he had a surprise for them and he intended
+to work up to the climax for all it was worth.
+
+"Come on, I am going to make you fight me."
+
+The challenger was quite a lusty fellow, and on appearances one would
+have thought he would knock the chappie over with a mere side-swing of
+his arm.
+
+"Say, you fellows are foolish. Don't provoke me; I am a terror--yes, I
+am--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+"All right, I am looking for a terror."
+
+"And you want me to go over to the grove?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you insist upon it?"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"Well, I'll go over with you."
+
+The party, full of glee, walked over to the grove.
+
+There was the challenger and two friends and our hero, and he amused his
+friends by a display of his agility, his muscle and sinew. When they
+reached the grove the fellow who was to fight threw off his coat and
+Oscar said:
+
+"See here! It's a good deal of trouble for me to thrash you; it's like
+work--I don't like work. I'll give you fellows fifteen cents to go to
+get your beer and call it off."
+
+The men guffawed.
+
+"Come on," said the challenger, walking up and squaring for Oscar. The
+latter stood with his hands at his sides, a picture of effeminacy, but
+when the man tapped him on the nose a most singular and astonishing
+result followed. Seemingly without an exertion the dude let drive,
+caught his assailant and insulter on the forehead and sent him tumbling,
+heels up. It was one of the cleanest knock-downs on record.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+OSCAR HAD PROMISED A SURPRISE AND HE MAKES GOOD
+HIS PROMISE, AND AFTER SERVING OUT THE MAN AND HIS
+FRIENDS HE STARTS OUT AND ENCOUNTERS MORE SERIOUS
+ADVENTURES.
+
+
+Our hero had promised the men a surprise, and he kept his word. A more
+surprised man than the fellow who caught the stinging blow never went
+whirling to the ground. It is stated that a similar scene frequently
+occurred with Billy Edwards, the light-weight champion, years ago, who
+gave no evidence in his appearance of being the athlete and powerful
+hitter that he really was.
+
+The man who got it was a little dazed when he recovered his feet. He
+looked surprised indeed, but made a rush, possibly thinking there had
+been some mistake and he had been kicked by a mule instead of receiving
+the sockdologer from the effeminate-looking dude. He made a rush, as
+stated, when Dudie Dunne got into shape, worked his attitude, and
+dancing around his antagonist a moment he let drive again, and a second
+time the astonished insulter and challenger went whirling to the ground,
+blood spurting from his nose while his eyes began to swell.
+
+The two other men were so surprised they just stood and looked on.
+Indeed it was a curious sight, but Oscar did not intend them to have the
+laugh so easy. Like the Irishman and the bull they had had their laugh
+before they went over the fence. It was their turn, thought Dudie Dunne,
+and as he gave his first assailant the second clip he swung round and
+quick as a flash light of a photographer he let the two men successively
+have it square on the forehead and over they went, heels up. When they
+recovered their feet they used them--used them to good advantage--in
+getting away, while chappie went for number one again, but the fellow
+begged---actually begged--and our hero picking up his coat flung it at
+him and commanded:
+
+"Get away, you dirty dog, and mind what you are at next time you attempt
+to insult a man who did no harm to you."
+
+The whole tone and manner of the supposed dude had changed, and as the
+three men joined each other at some distance one of them said:
+
+"What was it we struck?"
+
+"I reckon we struck against a stone wall or a flying brick, from the way
+my face is swelling."
+
+The men had gotten their surprise, and our hero, as a matter of
+prudence, being alone in the grove, changed his disguise, dropped the
+chappie role altogether, and walked off in an opposite direction. He had
+visited the neighborhood for a special purpose, and his run-in with the
+three rowdies had only been a side diversion.
+
+Oscar walked over to a row of dilapidated-looking houses, where he had
+presented a view of the miserable condition in which human beings can
+live and thrive. On the way over he passed the three men whom he had
+served out, and so complete was his disguise they failed to recognize
+him. He walked past the cottages several times and only attracted a
+passing glance; or it is more probable that those who saw him did not
+recognize that he had passed and repassed. Oscar was going by for the
+third time when he saw a face--a dark face with glittering black
+eyes--appear at one of the upper windows just for an instant. Our hero,
+however, was one of those who can take in a great deal at a glance and
+he muttered:
+
+"Aha! a fish has seen the bait, now there will come a nibble."
+
+The detective after a little passed down by the row of houses for the
+fourth time, and he kept his eyes seemingly in one direction, when in
+fact his glance was directed toward the window where for one instant he
+had seen the dark face. The face did not appear again, and he muttered:
+
+"That was a nibble, sure. Now we will see."
+
+He repassed the houses for the fifth time, going very slowly, but
+seemingly attracted no attention. He was aware, however, that he was
+being very closely observed, not from the window where he had seen the
+face, but by a female and a rather pretty-looking young Italian woman,
+and as our hero passed she smiled upon him very sweetly--and she could
+smile sweetly--and her glittering black eyes were illuminated with a
+brilliance that was charming.
+
+Our hero stopped short, stepped toward the stoop on which the girl was
+sitting, and asked:
+
+"Do you speak English?"
+
+"Yes," came the answer, and again the maiden smiled a bewildering smile.
+
+"Do you live in these houses?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you know a young lady named Fennetti?"
+
+"That is my name," and the girl smiled even more sweetly than before.
+The detective did not smile, however, but the regret shot through his
+mind: "Why in thunder did I chance to pitch upon that name?"
+
+"I am looking for a Miss Fennetti, a drawing teacher."
+
+"I am a drawing teacher," came the startling answer.
+
+The detective for a moment was knocked endways, but he was a young
+officer of wonderful resource and he said:
+
+"I am glad to meet you. I was told that you could tell me where I can
+find a gentleman named Argetti."
+
+Our hero had manufactured the name, but the dark-eyed beauty with the
+glittering black eyes at once answered:
+
+"I know Signor Argetti."
+
+The detective was matched, but he discerned that he had not only caught
+a nibble, but a regular bite, and he was in danger of being bitten if he
+did not play just right.
+
+He was the cool-headed, nervy man to do it, however, and he said:
+
+"Will you furnish me the direction?"
+
+"I will take you to his house."
+
+"Oh, do you know where he lives?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is it far from here?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+The girl had made a slip. She had given our hero a chance to hedge. She
+was bright and smart, but she would have been a mind-reader had she
+successfully parried our detective clear to the end of his diplomacy. He
+appeared to stop and think, and the girl asked:
+
+"Shall I guide you?"
+
+"I was thinking."
+
+She exclaimed quickly:
+
+"It is not very far. It will only take us about ten minutes."
+
+While talking to the pretty Italian girl our hero was letting his glance
+wander around. He was looking for a _bigger fish_. The girl, meantime,
+raised her hand to her brow as though to recall something to her mind;
+as she did so Oscar observed a gem of rare value glittering on her
+finger, and mentally he ejaculated:
+
+"Aha! I reckon I am getting into deep water."
+
+"Will you go?" she asked.
+
+"And you will guide me?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"My business with Mr. Argetti is not really pressing, but I will go for
+the pleasure of having such a lovely guide."
+
+"Hold! hold! no flattery, please. I am merely obliging a stranger."
+
+The girl's eyes flashed with a different light than that which
+illuminated them when her eyes embellished her smile.
+
+"I don't mean to flatter you. I but spoke the truth."
+
+"You wish to see Signor Argetti personally?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You will not be able to see him before night."
+
+"And will I be compelled to wait until to-night?"
+
+"To see him, yes."
+
+"Can you not go and show me where his house is located, and then I can
+call upon him at my leisure?"
+
+"I cannot go with you until to-night."
+
+Again the girl smiled one of her bewildering smiles.
+
+"At what hour shall I come here?"
+
+"At about nine o'clock."
+
+"And then I will surely find him at home?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you will meet me to guide me to his home?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"At the railroad crossing."
+
+"You will be there at nine?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"I will meet you and be very much obliged to you," said our hero, and
+raising his hat like an Italian count he walked away.
+
+Oscar understood his risk, but he understood more. He knew that he was
+on the track of some one. A great game had been played. He connected all
+the little incidents--the face at the window, the dark face of a man
+with glittering eyes, then the woman so handily on the stoop of an
+adjoining house. Then again her admissions to a false identity, for our
+hero had invented both names that he had given the girl. All these
+little incidents proved that he had been observed, that he had aroused
+a suspicion as to his design, and that the observation and suspicion
+could only be aroused in one who feared something--possibly feared being
+seen and tracked.
+
+After the girl had seen our hero pass from view, she entered the house
+at the window of which Oscar had seen the dark face. In the room was a
+desperate-looking man--a man one would fear to meet at night alone, for
+every lineament betrayed the man to be a desperate scoundrel.
+
+When the girl returned the man asked, as she entered the room, he
+speaking in Italian:
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"I do not know."
+
+"What is his purpose?"
+
+"I leave you to judge. I will repeat the conversation."
+
+"Do so."
+
+The girl exhibited a wonderful preciseness of memory by repeating every
+word that had passed between herself and the stranger. The man listened,
+and when the recital was concluded he said:
+
+"You are bright; you intended to be very cute, but alas! if he is a foe,
+as I believe he is, he invented those names. He knows you confessed to
+an identity that is false, and therefore knows that there is something
+wrong."
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"He is to meet you to-night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You are to guide him to the house of Argetti."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will be Argetti and you shall introduce him to me. He will be led to
+the little cabin out on the marsh. I have had it fitted up for an
+emergency. After you have brought him to me you must be on the watch to
+learn if there are others at his back; if there is you must signal me,
+if not you must signal me."
+
+"And then?"
+
+The man laughed in a strange, weird manner and said:
+
+"I have a grave under the cabin floor."
+
+The girl's face assumed a very thoughtful expression.
+
+"Well, what now?"
+
+"You may be too rash."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I do not think there is any necessity for putting a body in the grave.
+You can play a shrewder game."
+
+"I can?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Maintain the character of Argetti."
+
+"That depends."
+
+"Upon what?"
+
+"The discoveries I make concerning this man?"
+
+"He appears very harmless, very much of a gentleman. He may not intend
+harm. He may not be a foe."
+
+"I would be glad to agree with you, but I have experience. If he were an
+American, I would believe as you do, but he is English."
+
+"How do you know he is English?"
+
+"By his dress and walk. I observed him very closely."
+
+"Suppose he is English?"
+
+"Then he has come over here to look for me."
+
+"That man is not a detective."
+
+"He is not?"
+
+"No."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"He is a weak and very dainty young gentleman."
+
+"Is he?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I tell you that when one becomes a fugitive he must judge people
+by their acts, not by their looks; I believe the man is either a
+detective, or a detective's decoy. His innocent looks aid his trick, but
+I will know after he has visited me in the cabin."
+
+"Oh, I hope you will do him no harm."
+
+"What! has his handsome face bewitched you?"
+
+"No."
+
+"It would appear so."
+
+"I would save you."
+
+"Save me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"By having me captured. No, no, girl, I know how to take care of myself.
+I've been fighting the police of different countries for too many years
+to fear an encounter now."
+
+At the hour named our hero was on hand, but during the time he had been
+waiting he had become conscious that he was under surveillance, and the
+man who appeared to "dog" him was an Italian. The fellow was very cute
+in practicing his game of dodge and peep, and our hero was unable to see
+his face, so he finally determined to make it a counter dodge and peep,
+but his man dodged out of the way like the man at the window, and Oscar
+lost sight of him.
+
+As stated, he appeared at the meeting place and the girl was there
+waiting for him.
+
+"You are on time," he said.
+
+"Yes, I am here."
+
+"You are very kind."
+
+"I promised."
+
+"I will pay you for the trouble you have taken."
+
+The girl was thoughtful and silent. She did not start, but stood, as
+intimated, lost in deep thought. Finally she asked:
+
+"Will you tell me why you wish to meet Argetti?"
+
+"I wish to ask him some questions."
+
+"No, that is not your purpose."
+
+"Well, no, that is not my purpose, but I am permitted to name my
+business to Argetti only."
+
+The girl looked around in a furtive manner and said:
+
+"Can I advise you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do not go to meet Argetti to-night."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Do not ask any questions, but heed my warning."
+
+"Is it a warning?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why do you warn me? Why should I be warned?"
+
+"Argetti is a peculiar man--a very suspicious man."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"He is a man of very violent temper. His house is situated in a very
+lonely place. Should he become angry he could assault you and your cries
+would not be heard."
+
+"Why should he assault me?"
+
+"I cannot imagine, and yet I am warned that it is not best for you to go
+there to-night."
+
+"Yes, I must go."
+
+"Your business must be very urgent."
+
+"It is."
+
+"I have warned you."
+
+"Yes, but you should give me more definite information."
+
+"I cannot."
+
+"What would you have me do?"
+
+"Don't go, and I will tell him you failed to meet me."
+
+"Aha! he is waiting for me. Then he knows of my intended visit?"
+
+"Yes, that is why I did not guide you to his house this afternoon. I
+desired to prepare him for your visit."
+
+The girl discovered her error by the admission that our hero was
+expected, but she was quick in seeking to repair her error and besides
+she was taking chances at best.
+
+"I shall go and meet him."
+
+"You are a gentleman."
+
+"I trust so."
+
+"I have warned you."
+
+"You have."
+
+"You will not betray me?"
+
+"Not for my life."
+
+"I believe you, and trust all will come out well, but I tell you plainly
+you are taking great chances as I am."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"In warning you. If it were known that I had warned you it would cost me
+my life."
+
+"You are very frank."
+
+"I am."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because I fear you will be made the victim of another man."
+
+"The victim of another man?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Explain."
+
+"I told you Argetti had a foe."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He knows that foe is seeking him."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He has heard of your inquiring for him."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He associates you with his enemy; if it were his enemy I would utter no
+words of warning, but believing you are my friend I warn you."
+
+The detective put two and two together and at once concluded that the
+man who had been watching him during the afternoon was the foe of the
+so-called Argetti. This man had been watching our hero because he
+believed he was in communication with Argetti, or the individual whom
+the so-called Argetti represented.
+
+The detective meditated and finally said:
+
+"I must see Argetti."
+
+"You fully comprehend what I have said?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"You know there is risk?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"You know that I have advised you in all sincerity?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you really go alone to meet Argetti?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Very well, we will go."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+OUR HERO GOES TO THE LONE HOUSE ON THE MARSH--HE
+MEETS THE DESPERATE-LOOKING MAN AND SOME VERY FINE
+DIPLOMACY FOLLOWS, ALSO STRANGE AND WEIRD
+SUGGESTIONS.
+
+
+The girl did not speak another word following her remark, or rather
+command, as recorded at the close of our preceding chapter; and soon she
+turned aside to take the path through the marsh, and for the first time
+spoke. She said:
+
+"That is the house where you see the glimmer of a light."
+
+"I thought that light was on some vessel in the bay."
+
+"No, it is a cabin, and there is not another dwelling within a mile and
+a half at least."
+
+"You have been very kind to warn me."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Is the man's name Argetti whom we are to meet?"
+
+"He will answer for Signor Argetti."
+
+"He is a gentleman, I suppose."
+
+At that moment the girl stopped short. She faced our hero and said:
+
+"You have not kept faith with me."
+
+"I have not?"
+
+"No."
+
+"How have I failed?"
+
+"You have brought others with you. I tell you frankly I will warn
+Argetti."
+
+"On my honor, I have not brought any one with me."
+
+"We have been followed."
+
+"Then our follower is the real foe of Argetti."
+
+"Do you know him?"
+
+"I do not."
+
+"I shall warn Argetti."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"And you are willing that I should warn him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will tell him my suspicion."
+
+"Very well, do so; there is no deceit in my visit to Signor Argetti."
+
+The girl hesitated a moment and then said:
+
+"Very well, I am but obeying orders all round. We will proceed."
+
+Our hero was very handsomely attired, and he looked like a very
+effeminate young man--one who possessed neither courage nor stamina.
+Indeed, from his appearance, a resolute, sturdy man might expect to deal
+with him as he would with a mere boy. But our hero was one of those who
+expanded in a crisis.
+
+The girl upon reaching the cabin rapped on the door and from the inside
+came the demand:
+
+"Who's there?"
+
+"I am here."
+
+"Alone?"
+
+"No, the gentleman is with me."
+
+"Come in."
+
+The girl pushed the cabin door open, and our hero entering found himself
+in a dimly-lighted apartment and in the presence of a villainous,
+dark-faced man. The latter eyed his visitor by the aid of the dim,
+flickering light shed abroad in the room by a sputtering candle.
+
+"Be seated," said the man, and he spoke in fairly good English.
+
+Our hero obeyed and expected the girl would tell the man that his
+visitor had not visited him unaccompanied, but she said nothing beyond
+asking:
+
+"Shall I go?"
+
+"Yes, you can go."
+
+A moment later and Argetti, as the man chose to be called, and our hero
+were sitting face to face under the dim light of the sputtering candle.
+Argetti fixed his glittering eyes on our hero as though he would read
+him through and through, and at length, in a quick, sharp tone he said:
+
+"You desire to see me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, what is your purpose?"
+
+"That's all," answered our hero coolly.
+
+"That's all?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"What I say."
+
+"But you desired to see me?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And I repeat why did you desire to see me?"
+
+"I wanted to see what you looked like."
+
+"And you have no special business with me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then why did you come here?"
+
+"I wanted to see you, that's all."
+
+"On what business?"
+
+"No business. I merely desired to gratify my curiosity."
+
+"Are you a fool or do you take me to be a fool?"
+
+"Neither."
+
+"Your conduct is so strange I do not know what to think."
+
+"Can I trust you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I am using you as a guy. I am seeking to fool a man."
+
+Argetti stared with an amazed look upon his face, and our hero
+continued:
+
+"Yes, I am using you as a decoy. I find I _am_ being 'dogged,' by a
+certain man. He is on my track to-night. He was on my track this
+afternoon and I wished to act very mysterious and fool him, so when the
+girl asked my business this afternoon I told her I was looking for a
+gentleman named Argetti. My answer was a 'steer,' but the girl said she
+knew Argetti. I had invented the name and was surprised, so I conceived
+a desire to see the individual. I had, as it appears, individualized,
+for I knew no Argetti until the girl said she knew the man. Is your name
+Argetti?"
+
+"Permit me, please, to think over what you have said, and to ask you a
+few questions."
+
+"Good. I will answer your questions like a little man."
+
+Argetti appeared more and more amazed, and he sat for a long time eyeing
+our hero without speaking one word. The interview would appear to have
+been very embarrassing. When Argetti spoke there was a depth of
+suppressed passion in his tone.
+
+"Have you come here to amuse yourself at my expense?"
+
+"Yes," came the bold and really insulting answer.
+
+The Italian leaped to his feet exclaiming:
+
+"You miserable little fool, I'll wring your neck as I'd wring the neck
+of a squab."
+
+Oscar did not move or betray any fear or nervousness. He merely laughed
+his "hee, hee, hee!" and said soothingly:
+
+"Now don't become violent, old fellow; don't become violent, even if I
+am having a little fun at your expense."
+
+"You dare tell me you are here to have fun at my expense?"
+
+"Certainly," came the brazen answer.
+
+The very boldness and indifference of the detective appeared so paralyze
+to the Italian.
+
+"Do you know the risk you take?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"You think I am a mere puppet for your amusement?"
+
+"Certainly, but don't get violent, for I am an awful fellow when I get
+roused. Sometimes I have a spell come over me--yes, a strange sort of
+spell--and then I become very, very violent. So don't arouse me and
+bring on one of those spells. Just sit down and let me amuse myself at
+your expense. This is a very novel amusement for me. The idea of facing
+a terrible man right in his den and enraging him. Why, it's just jolly."
+
+The Italian's eyes glowed like coals of fire as he said:
+
+"You are lying; you came here with a purpose; you came back with friends
+whom you think you can summon at a moment's notice; but they will never
+come; I have taken care of them, and you are at my mercy. I have a grave
+all prepared under this flooring, and unless you give a satisfactory
+explanation of your visit here _you_ will occupy that grave."
+
+"Well, well, you are very amusing. You act just like some terrible
+brigand. I guess you were a brigand in your own country."
+
+The words had just escaped our hero's lips when with a yell the Italian
+leaped upon him. Oscar was prepared for the spring. He leaped to his
+feet in time to meet his assailant, and in true fistic style, as the
+man attempted to seize hold of him, our hero let fly and caught his
+dark-faced assailant on the chin and over the man went. But with a yell
+he leaped to his feet, drew a poniard and made a rush; but here our
+hero, cool as an icicle, was prepared for the would-be murderer. He had
+drawn a club, dealt the Italian a blow on the hand which knocked the
+knife from his grasp, and then dealt him a powerful stroke on the head
+which brought him to his knees, and at the same instant the door opened
+and the Italian girl peeped into the room. She immediately withdrew. Our
+hero had the so-called Argetti laid out. The man was not only dazed by
+the force of the blow, but he was paralyzed with surprise. Here he, a
+great, powerful bull-necked man, had been knocked down with perfect ease
+apparently by an effeminate dude, and when he had drawn his knife he was
+disarmed and brought to his knees with blows from a club in the hands of
+the same dude in appearance. The Italian recovered from his surprise and
+curses fell from his foaming lips. He looked like a raging demon, so
+great was his anger--he leaped to his feet and sought to seize hold of a
+stool, but ere he could do so he received a second rap on the head which
+knocked him face foremost to the floor; then Oscar sprang forward,
+rolled the man over and clapped a pair of darbies on his wrists, and
+having his man thus helpless he coolly returned, took his seat and
+waited for the man to arise and speak. The man rolled over and lay on
+his back and glared at his conqueror.
+
+"Well, Argetti," said Oscar with his "hee, hee, hee!--you have come to
+grief. Well, you are a very violent man. I warned you--hee, hee--yes, I
+told you I was bad when aroused; that I was subject to strange spells.
+You believe me now, and please just lie still and let me amuse myself.
+You have given me more amusement than I expected. I like to knock men
+down and bring them around--it's real fun."
+
+"You will pay for this fun."
+
+"Yes, certainly, I intend to give you half a dollar, and--hee, hee,
+hee--that's an awful big sum of money for just a little amusement. I
+once gave a dollar for the privilege of beating a man almost to death,
+but I nearly killed him, you know, and I've only hammered you just a
+little--yes, just a little--I did give you one hard rap, though--yes,
+one hard rap--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+The agonies expressed in the face of Argetti are indescribable. He
+glared and writhed, and his face worked as though in a convulsion, but
+when he managed to calm himself sufficiently to again speak he said:
+
+"Now, I am at your mercy, why am I arrested?"
+
+"Arrested?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who said anything about arrest?"
+
+The man held up his manacled hands.
+
+"Ah, that is a part of my amusement; but here, let's see if you know
+anything? Are you acquainted with Alphonse Donetti?"
+
+A look of abject terror succeeded the former expression of rage and
+disappointment that had distorted Argetti's face, and when our hero saw
+this change to a look of terror there came a rapid beating of his own
+heart.
+
+"I never heard the name. It is another name of your invention, I think."
+
+The detective laughed and said:
+
+"How strange it is that I so readily invent names of real personages.
+Why, I really begin to suspect that your name is truly Argetti."
+
+"Why did you ask about Alphonse Donetti?"
+
+"Then you do know him?"
+
+"No, but as you have mentioned that name it may aid me in explaining
+some grave mistake that has been made in my arrest."
+
+"Oh, there is no such person as Donetti. I was fooling you--hee, hee,
+hee--but don't you know why the irons were put on you?"
+
+"I do not."
+
+"You have a short memory."
+
+"My memory don't aid me in that direction."
+
+"It don't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then you must forget that without provocation you set to murder me, and
+you have the cheek to ask why you are arrested, and intimate there has
+been a mistake. No, no, there has been no mistake. You were arrested for
+an assault upon me--an attempt to murder me."
+
+"But you are an intruder in my house--you may be a robber."
+
+"I beg your pardon, I was introduced into your house, and you rather
+inveigled me here. I didn't know before, but now I begin to suspect that
+you are a very bad man. It is possible that you have committed a very
+serious crime in Italy, or you wouldn't be so infernally sensitive--hee,
+hee, hee!"
+
+When our hero made an allusion to a possible crime in Italy the man
+actually groaned, but said nothing.
+
+Our hero had his prisoner, and the question arose, What should he do
+with him? He had started out alone; he had no one to aid him. For some
+time he meditated. It was necessary to have some charge upon which to
+arrest the man, and he determined to carry out a bold proceeding. He
+tied and bound his man, so he could not move. Indeed, without assistance
+it would have been impossible for him to get free, and during the
+process, Argetti, as we will call him, said:
+
+"You will regret what you are doing. I am a person of some quality, and
+you will be held to a bitter responsibility."
+
+"Very well, I like to hold responsibilities, that will just suit
+me--hee, hee, hee!"
+
+Having secured and gagged his man our hero slipped forth from the
+cottage. He looked around for the Italian girl. He did not see her, and
+he muttered:
+
+"Hang it! I am anchored here; that girl will steal in and release the
+man." Even as our hero spoke he heard a shrill scream, and it was the
+voice of a female and not very far distant. He started at a run in the
+direction from which the scream had come and quickly arrived at a point
+where he beheld a man struggling with a woman. Oscar dashed forward, the
+man saw him, released the girl, and our hero saw her fall to the ground.
+He believed a murder had been committed and he ran past the girl to
+secure the murderer. The latter proved fleet of foot, and most
+mysteriously disappeared. He vanished as completely as though he had
+been suddenly dissolved into air.
+
+"Well, that gets me," he ejaculated, and after standing for some minutes
+looking in every direction, he returned to where the girl lay. He
+expected to find her dead, but as our hero approached she rose to her
+feet.
+
+"Thank heaven!" ejaculated Oscar, "I thought you had been murdered."
+
+"I believe he intended to murder me and he might just as well have
+succeeded--my life is forfeited now."
+
+"Your life is forfeited?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why do you say that?"
+
+"Those men suspect me; you have given my life away."
+
+"I have given your life away?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By your assault upon Argetti. I did not suspect that were an officer.
+They will claim that I knew--that I was in league with you, and led
+Argetti into the trap."
+
+"Is that man's name Argetti?"
+
+"No, but that is the name you gave him. We will speak of him as
+Argetti."
+
+"You know his real name?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"What is his real name?"
+
+"I dare not tell you. I have already forfeited my life."
+
+"Who is the man you were struggling with?"
+
+"One of Argetti's confederates--one of the gang."
+
+"You need not fear to confide in me. You have not forfeited your life.
+You shall be protected at all hazards."
+
+"Ah, you do not know."
+
+"Do not know what?"
+
+"The desperate character of these men."
+
+"What relation do you bear to these men?"
+
+"I am an orphan; my parents died in an English poor-house. This man
+Argetti adopted me as his child. I have traveled all over the world with
+him, but now I must flee away and hide somewhere."
+
+"You need not flee away. Argetti, as we call him, can do you no harm. We
+will take care of him."
+
+"But his confederates. Already one of them has made an attempt to
+strangle me."
+
+"Who was the man?"
+
+"I did not recognize him. Probably Argetti had him as a reserve after he
+had settled you. Oh, how unfortunate I am, to be associated with these
+men, and yet I have never committed a crime. I have no proof concerning
+any particular crime they have committed, and yet I am sure they are
+criminals. But see there!" suddenly exclaimed the girl, pointing to a
+shining object lying on the ground.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+OSCAR PRESSES FORWARD AND MAKES SOME STARTLING
+DISCOVERIES--ALSO ENCOUNTERS A CONTINUOUS LINE OF
+ADVENTURES.
+
+
+Dudie Dunne did not know whether to believe the girl's statements or
+not. He was compelled to admit a partial verification, as he certainly
+had seen her struggling in the hands of a man, and again there was no
+need for her to announce the fact that Argetti was a criminal unless she
+spoke the truth. He stooped down and picked up the glittering object
+from the ground. It proved to be a small miniature that could be worn on
+a watch chain. He drew his little mask lantern, flashed its light on the
+painted face, and uttered a cry of amazement. It was a most thrilling
+revelation that came to him. It was beyond all question the face of
+Alphonse Donetti. It had probably been torn off his guard chain during
+his struggle with the girl. He was a confederate of Argetti. He was a
+would-be assassin. Alas! he had no cheerful news for poor Alice Frewen,
+but he was verging toward a startling discovery, leading up to a clue to
+the solution of the Roman robbery and murder.
+
+"What is it?" asked the girl.
+
+"It's a miniature."
+
+"Let me see it."
+
+Oscar held the light on the picture so the girl could see it. She looked
+at it intently and said:
+
+"He is one I never saw before, but he is undoubtedly a confederate, and
+he believes I betrayed Argetti. It is a wonder he did not attack you."
+
+"He merely sought to revenge his pals on you; but now what shall we
+do?"
+
+"I must flee away."
+
+"No, you will go with me. I will find a home for you."
+
+As the detective spoke he flashed the light of his lantern square on the
+girl's face. Hers was indeed a remarkable face. She was very beautiful,
+and there was an expression upon it which Oscar, despite his discerning
+powers, could not interpret.
+
+"Do you wish me to go with you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"You have done me a service and in so doing have run yourself into
+peril. I must see that no harm comes to you."
+
+"You may intend to use me as a witness."
+
+"It is possible."
+
+"Then I cannot go with you. I will never turn against that man."
+
+"Are you under any obligations to him?"
+
+"He never abused me. He was fond of me--treated me with great kindness,
+although he is a very desperate man. No, you must be satisfied with what
+service I have done you; I can never turn witness against him. I trust
+to your generosity to save me this trial."
+
+"I will promise not to call upon you as a witness."
+
+"I had long determined to flee away. I was not satisfied with my life
+with that man, although I cannot complain of his treatment. He gave me
+plenty of money, bought me expensive clothing, gave me jewels. He claims
+I am his niece; I do not believe it is a true claim."
+
+"You say he gave you jewels?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then he must have money."
+
+"He is rich."
+
+"How it is he lives in such miserable quarters?"
+
+"That is a hiding place. He dwells there to hide his identity, but he
+has an elegant residence in New York. It is only within the last few
+weeks that he took up his abode in those miserable quarters where you
+found me."
+
+"You were disposed to act as his confederate when I first met you."
+
+"Yes, but I relented and I tried to give you warning; you would not heed
+me."
+
+Our hero recalled the warning words, and she continued:
+
+"I suddenly resolved to carry out my design and flee away. I wished to
+save your life, for I believed you were in peril. When you passed our
+house he looked from the window and concluded you were searching for
+him. He evidently within the last few weeks has feared pursuit. I acted
+under his instructions. I did not dare refuse, but I did seek to save
+you. Then I concluded you were perfectly able to take care of yourself.
+The result proves my conclusion correct."
+
+Our hero had obtained a great deal of suggestive information, but a
+little discovery had caused him considerable discomfort. He had hoped to
+reach a different result in his investigations concerning Alphonse
+Donetti. He feared now that the very worst construction must be placed
+upon his character and career.
+
+"Where is the house of Argetti in New York located?" he asked.
+
+"I cannot tell you."
+
+"You do not know?"
+
+"I know, yes, for in that house are many articles of great value
+belonging to me."
+
+"Presents from Argetti?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I am afraid it is dangerous property for you to claim."
+
+"I shall never claim anything except the money. I will need that when I
+flee."
+
+"Where will you go? Will you return to Italy?"
+
+"No, I dare not go there."
+
+"And your money is in that house?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Let me see. We will go to New York at once, and you shall go and get
+the money and then report back to me."
+
+"No, I shall not go there to-night."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+The girl made no answer.
+
+The detective again meditated; he recognized that he had a very bright
+and shrewd person to deal with, and he said:
+
+"Very well, then return to your humbler home to-night, and I will call
+out and see you to-morrow."
+
+"No, I will not return there."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I dare not. The attack upon me proves that I am under suspicion.
+Argetti's friends would not spare me."
+
+"Do his neighbors know his character?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Did he have visitors at the house where I first met you?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then how do you know he has those confederates?
+
+"They called upon him frequently at his home in New York. They must have
+warned him of danger."
+
+"You can return to your late home. Argetti will not return to that
+house. I shall take him to New York as a prisoner."
+
+"Then I must disappear at once."
+
+"Will you meet me to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"I will meet you to-morrow night."
+
+"In New York?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Very well, meet me at ----." Our hero named a place and said he would
+walk back with her. She asked to be permitted to proceed alone.
+
+"Very well, I shall remain here until morning to watch my prisoner, but
+to-morrow night I will meet you in New York at the place named."
+
+"I will meet you," said the girl.
+
+The reader will learn later on why our hero was apparently so slack in
+permitting the girl, under all the circumstances, to go away alone. She
+started off and he returned to the cabin. Once inside he determined to
+take great chances. He did not remain in the cabin, but returned by a
+straight cut across the meadows to the vicinity of the row of houses
+where Argetti had his home. His wisdom was justified. He saw the girl
+enter the house. He lay round and later saw her come forth, although it
+was after midnight. He had worked a transform and started on the track.
+She took the cars for New York; he rode with the engineer on the engine
+of the elevated train. She did not see him when she reached the ferry.
+He crossed with her and on the New York side luck favored him. He met a
+brother detective. He had just time to give the latter some directions,
+and he fell to the girl's trail again. He had made up his mind as to the
+course he would take, and again his conclusions were justified in the
+most startling manner. He had anticipated her design and in following
+her he had been compelled to be very careful, for he speedily discerned
+that she was on the watch against being followed. She evidently
+suspected that she would be, and Oscar had lain very close in order to
+avoid observation, but he was delighted at the prospect of witnessing
+the verification of his suspicions. The girl finally arrived in front of
+a very nice house--one of those narrow houses to be found uptown in New
+York in very stylish neighborhoods. The detective was actually
+compelled to throw himself at full length beside the curb in order to
+avoid observation, and he actually crept forward like a huge snail, for
+the girl was very cute and careful in ascertaining whether she was being
+followed or not. At length our hero's patience and endurance were
+rewarded; he saw the girl ascend the stoop of a house, produce a key and
+enter; and he then knew that she had returned to the lodging place back
+of Brooklyn--to Argetti's poorer quarters--for the very purpose of
+getting this key. She passed inside the house, and then Dunne rose to
+his feet, ran forward and darted down to the basement door of the house.
+Once under the stoop it took him but a little time to open the door, and
+he too passed inside the house. He did not stop to take observations,
+but hastened up the stairs, and in the rear room on the second floor he
+saw the glimmer of a light. It was a critical moment, but he was a
+winner. He made no hesitation in entering the room. He did not stop to
+watch the girl. He was fully satisfied in having located the house. He
+felt he could trust himself for all other discoveries. He peeped into
+the room and beheld the girl standing before a mirror, and for the first
+time only realized how singularly beautiful she was. He stepped into the
+room; the girl was so intent gazing at her beautiful self in the mirror
+she did not hear his entrance, but suddenly as she beheld his reflection
+in the glass she uttered a suppressed scream and turned and faced him
+with the startled exclamation, "You here!"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"This is treachery."
+
+Oscar smiled and said:
+
+"Do not use so harsh a term."
+
+"It is indeed treachery; you were to meet me to-morrow night."
+
+"Yes, and I will. I did not _meet_ you this time, I followed you."
+
+"You now have sealed my doom. They will follow me to the end of the
+world. They will know beyond all question that I am a traitress, or they
+will assume so."
+
+"I repeat, you need not fear these men."
+
+"I do not see how you succeeded in following me. I thought it possible
+and I watched; you were very clever."
+
+"Cleverness comes in the way of business with me."
+
+"What did you do with Argetti?"
+
+"He will be in jail ere sunrise."
+
+"Then ere sunrise I must be as far from New York as I can get."
+
+"You will not get far."
+
+"I will not get far?"
+
+"No."
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded the girl, her face assuming a ghastly hue.
+
+"You are not the master of your own movements."
+
+The look that overspread the beautiful girl's face was pitiful to
+behold, and she exclaimed in a tone of heartbreaking sadness:
+
+"Then you have betrayed me."
+
+"No, I have not betrayed you. I have simply made you my prisoner."
+
+"I am your prisoner?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Our hero spoke in a stern voice.
+
+There came a look of agony to the girl's face as she murmured:
+
+"It is as I feared; it is all over."
+
+As she spoke she drew something from the bosom of her dress and was
+carrying it to her lips, but the detective was too quick for her. He
+leaped forward and seized her wrist. She sought to struggle, but in his
+powerful grasp her struggles soon ceased, and as she stood pale,
+trembling and helpless, she said:
+
+"Please let me die."
+
+"Why do you wish to die?"
+
+"I do not want to live."
+
+"Answer me one question: are you a criminal, and do you fear to live?"
+
+"I am not a criminal. What I told you was the truth."
+
+"Then why do you wish to die?"
+
+"Better die now and at once rather than endure the agonies of constant
+suspense. Let me die, and I will but anticipate the dagger of the
+assassin."
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+"What difference does it make to you?"
+
+"Tell me."
+
+"My name is Caroline Metti."
+
+"Caroline, if what you told me earlier in the night was the truth this
+is the most fortunate night of your life; you have more reason to desire
+to live now than you ever had before."
+
+"Do not mock and taunt me."
+
+"I am neither mocking nor taunting you. I am telling you the truth."
+
+"I do not understand what you mean."
+
+"You will have different surroundings the rest of your life. You have
+won my interest and sympathy."
+
+"And yet you have made me your prisoner."
+
+"Only to save you against yourself. I would not bring harm to a hair of
+your head. I desire to save your life and your soul."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because I believe you are an unfortunate person and that you mean well,
+and now as far as these men are concerned you are free from them
+forever, I care not how many there are of them. Argetti is doomed, and
+every one of his friends, including the man who assailed you, will
+either be captured or driven from the country. A way will be provided
+for you to support yourself in independence. That is what I mean, and
+now I have something to tell you. I will be compelled to treat you as a
+prisoner for a little while. I do not wish to make you a party in any
+way to what I propose to do."
+
+The girl appeared perplexed when our hero put handcuffs on her wrists,
+and after a moment in a very disconsolate tone she said: "I am not
+deceived; I know I am doomed. Very well, proceed. The time will come
+when I will have a chance to free myself."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+OSCAR MAKES A THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE HOUSE, AND AT
+FIRST ONLY FINDS CERTAIN CLEWS, BUT IN THE END HE
+MAKES A GREAT DISCOVERY.
+
+
+Dudie Dunne, having a certain purpose to carry out, paid little heed to
+the girl's disconsolate remarks. He knew that she would be all right in
+the end. He commenced and searched that house from top to bottom, and
+found many little articles which he put aside for future reference. He
+also made notes of several matters, and finally, concluding his search,
+he returned to the room where he had left the girl Caroline. He found
+her sitting on a chair, her head cast down, and she was evidently lost
+in deep thought. "Come," he said, "we will go."
+
+"We will go?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You intend to keep me a prisoner?"
+
+"Yes, for the present, and for your own safety. Some very startling
+events are transpiring, and it is necessary for your own safety that you
+should be in a safe place."
+
+The detective led the girl to the home of a woman who had once been a
+prison matron. She was a very able woman. He placed the girl Caroline in
+this woman's charge with full instructions how to act. He had permitted
+the girl to take what she desired from the house, but to his surprise
+she took but very little--none of the elegant clothes---none of the
+gems; even the ring she wore on her finger she cast upon the bureau. Our
+hero did not urge her to take anything, but he did secure these gems,
+holding them for future identification.
+
+On the day following the incidents we have described, Oscar visited
+headquarters and learned that the chief had received a telegram stating
+that a representative of the illustrious Roman family was already on his
+way to New York and would probably arrive almost any day.
+
+"He must have started for New York immediately following the sending of
+the cablegram."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You telegraphed no particulars."
+
+"No, I suppose they believe we have certain clews, and instead of
+writing they have determined to come direct to New York."
+
+"So much the better. I believe we will have some very startling news for
+this representative when he arrives."
+
+The chief and Oscar had some further conversation, the nature of which
+will be explained later on.
+
+Several days passed and our hero devoted himself to one object. He tried
+to trail down Alphonse Donetti. In the meantime he held an interview
+with Alice Frewen. He had discovered the extraordinary interest of that
+fair, innocent, but resolute girl in the young Frenchman, and he sought
+to prepare her for the terrible revelations that were to come. Oscar was
+thoroughly convinced that young Donetti was a villain of the worst type
+and the confederate of villains. He was convinced that the young man had
+been concerned in the Roman robbery.
+
+One evening he called at the home of Mrs. Frewen. The latter was out,
+but Alice came down to meet the officer. Her manner was like one under a
+great mental strain.
+
+"What have you learned?" she asked.
+
+"Miss Frewen," said our hero, "I wish you would let me know just the
+extent of your interest in this young man."
+
+"My interest in him is kept alive because of my absolute belief in his
+innocence. I believe he has been wronged from his cradle. I believe that
+under terrible temptations he has remained honorable and true."
+
+"But has he not to your knowledge led a rather fast life in Paris?"
+
+"I have no proof that he has."
+
+"Answer me one more question: Have you communicated with him since he
+has been in America?"
+
+The girl started and exclaimed:
+
+"Then you know he is in America?"
+
+"Yes, I have the most positive proof that he is in America."
+
+"Have you seen him?"
+
+"Yes, I have seen him."
+
+"Why do you not tell me all about it?"
+
+"Because I do not know how deeply I may wound you if I tell you the
+whole truth."
+
+"If the truth, as you term it, is a reflection upon his honor you need
+not fear to tell me, for I know that you have been misled."
+
+"You are firm in your trust in his honor and good character?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Poor girl! you are infatuated and deceived."
+
+"You may think so."
+
+"I have the proofs."
+
+"Satisfactory to you, no doubt, but not proofs after all."
+
+"I know he is associated with vile characters."
+
+"I don't doubt it," came the answer.
+
+"You don't doubt it?"
+
+"No."
+
+The detective gazed aghast as he exclaimed:
+
+"And you still maintain his integrity?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"I cannot understand."
+
+"No; some day you will understand it."
+
+"I saw him attempt a crime. I prevented him from committing what I
+believe would have been a murder."
+
+"Not a murder," replied Alice.
+
+Oscar Dunne was no fool, but he was perplexed, for he discovered at last
+that the girl Alice possessed certain information that she was
+withholding.
+
+"There is something you know that you have not revealed to me."
+
+"I know that Alphonse is an honorable man and incapable of committing a
+crime."
+
+"You had better reveal everything to me."
+
+"I have revealed all there is to reveal. He is an honorable man, and in
+the end will establish his character before the world. He has a powerful
+enemy, one who should be his first friend, but the day will come when
+his honor will be fully vindicated, and he will stand before the world
+with a splendid reputation. I know it, and now all I can say to you is,
+hold your judgment until the denouement."
+
+When Oscar left the presence of Alice he had subject for considerable
+meditation. "That girl knows something," he said. He walked along
+thinking over the dialogue, when suddenly his attention was attracted by
+a struggle. He saw several men slashing at each other with knives, as
+he recognized by occasional bright steel gleams under the gaslight. He
+always carried his club with him. He ran forward and, seeing two against
+one, went for the two who he observed were the assailants, while the
+other was acting on the defensive. Oscar drew his club, and the men were
+so intent upon their scheme of murder they did not mind his approach,
+but two raps from his club sent both to the ground, and when they
+regained their feet they made off, while our hero sought to learn the
+cause of the attack from the party who had been assailed.
+
+The man had staggered up against a railing in front of a house and his
+drooping attitude revealed to our hero that he was wounded.
+
+"You are injured," said our hero.
+
+"Yes, the cowards came upon me from behind and plunged their knives into
+me."
+
+Oscar approached closer to the man and with a start that almost caused
+him to utter an unguarded exclamation he recognized the wounded man as
+Alphonse Donetti.
+
+"You had better let me take you to a hospital."
+
+"No, I am much obliged. I will not go to a hospital. I can take care of
+myself. If I live you will have saved my life, for they intended to
+finish me. I thank you for your intervention. I will be able to reach my
+home and will send for a surgeon."
+
+"Permit me to call a carriage, and I will accompany you to your home."
+
+The wounded man looked closely at our hero, saw that he was a gentleman,
+and said:
+
+"Yes, I need some one to close my eyes. You appear to be a kind man; if
+it is not too much trouble secure a carriage."
+
+Oscar did not have to go far before he found a carriage, and when he
+returned he found the young man still alive and apparently, under all
+the circumstances, singularly strong.
+
+He assisted him into the carriage and asked:
+
+"Where shall we drive?"
+
+"I don't know. I'll not go to my hotel in this condition; it will
+occasion too much talk."
+
+"Will you let me take you to a lodging where your condition will not
+attract attention?"
+
+"Yes; I will see that you are well remunerated."
+
+Oscar and several of the detectives had a house, an emergency house they
+called it. It was the very house to which he had taken Caroline Metti.
+He told the driver where to go and in a few moments the carriage came to
+a halt. Our hero discharged the coach and assisted his companion into
+the house, led him up the stairs to a room on the second floor, and Mrs.
+Keller, the woman, appeared to ask if she could be of any service.
+
+"I will summon you if I need you," was the answer.
+
+In the carriage the wounded man had said:
+
+"Do not send for a physician until I learn the full extent of my wound."
+
+Once in the room the young man looked at our hero and at once exclaimed:
+
+"What! you?"
+
+"Aha! you have seen me before!"
+
+"I have."
+
+"When and where?"
+
+"We will not discuss it now. We will look at my wound."
+
+The young man tore off his clothing, and going to a mirror began to look
+himself over. He was as cool as though merely looking for a wart. Oscar
+also was cool and aided in the examination.
+
+The young man Alphonse Donetti, after a moment, said:
+
+"I am fortunate."
+
+"You are?"
+
+"See, it is not a bad wound; the rascal meant to drive the knife through
+my heart from behind. He has merely driven his blade deep into my
+shoulder. I can take care of this wound myself. I do not need a
+surgeon."
+
+The young man gave directions--indeed he appeared to know as well what
+to do as a surgeon; and one fact impressed itself upon our hero's mind:
+the fact that the wounded man was prepared to take great chances for his
+life without the aid of a physician, and this circumstance in itself was
+very suspicious, and, coupled with facts known to our hero, only
+confirmed the worst suspicious that had arisen in his mind. He followed
+directions, however, and the wound in a little time was properly
+attended to, and then seating himself in a chair Alphonse asked with
+perfect coolness:
+
+"Is it convenient to you for me to remain in this room for a few days?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I will tell you frankly," said Alphonse, "I wish to avoid observation;
+in fact, I wish to conceal myself for a little time, especially until I
+recover, and if it is convenient for me to remain here this is very
+fortunate for me."
+
+Oscar studied the young man's face and was forced to admit that he saw
+no signs of the villain. Indeed it was a singularly refined face, a
+classic face, more, a princely face.
+
+"You may think it all very strange," said Alphonse.
+
+"Yes, it is to me."
+
+"It is strange to me that _you_, of all men, should have been the one to
+save my life. I owe my life to you. Loss of blood was telling on my
+strength, and those assassins would have finished me if you had not come
+to my rescue."
+
+"You are right, but you will prosecute those men. You know them
+evidently."
+
+"No, I do not. I only know they are connected with a gang and they
+evidently have spotted me, as you _detectives say_."
+
+Oscar stared in amazement.
+
+"As we detectives say?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How do you know I am a detective?"
+
+"I know you are a detective, and I have a still more startling
+announcement to make. You have saved my life, but I have been lying
+about expecting at any moment to go to your aid and save yours."
+
+"Save mine?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, you do amaze me."
+
+"I knew I would, and I will amaze you still more. We are engaged in the
+same business. We are hunting down the same gang, and I believe we have
+succeeded."
+
+It is impossible to describe the sensations that ran through our hero's
+mind as he said:
+
+"You amaze me."
+
+"I will be perfectly frank with you. I know all about you."
+
+"Why did you not seek me?"
+
+"I had made up my mind to do so. I was waiting for you to come from the
+house you had entered when I was assailed by those two men; and now I
+will tell you my story, and I trust you will believe every word I say,
+for I shall tell you nothing but the truth."
+
+"Proceed and tell me your story. I am ready to believe what you tell me,
+and how is it you know about me?"
+
+"I found out who you were. I saw you first when you were on the track of
+that Spitzanni."
+
+"Spitzanni?" repeated our hero.
+
+"Yes, the man whom you tracked to the meadows, or rather you were
+inveigled to meet him. I was at hand to aid if it became necessary, for
+I also was on that man's track. I will tell you about myself." Alphonse
+told a story that agreed with all the detective knew of Alphonse, and
+proceeding said:
+
+"A great robbery occurred in Rome. A large reward was offered for the
+capture of the robbers and the recovery of particular pieces of
+jewelry--old family heirlooms. An Italian detective in Paris engaged me
+to come to the United States; he believed that the robbers had fled to
+America. He knew I spoke both Italian and English as well as French. He
+speaks only French and Italian. I came here and I have been on the track
+of those fellows for months."
+
+"Have you made any discoveries?"
+
+"No discoveries connecting them with the Roman robbery, but I have
+established the fact that they are desperate characters. This fellow
+Spitzanni arrived in America just after the Roman robbery. I propose to
+ally myself with you, if you will permit me, and I know I can be of
+great service to you."
+
+"You are acquainted with Mrs. Frewen?"
+
+"I am. She was my mother's kindest friend, but she is bitterly
+prejudiced against me."
+
+"You sent her a letter."
+
+"I did, warning her that a robbery was contemplated. I had no positive
+knowledge and dared not make a direct statement, but I sent a note
+calculated to put her on her guard, and wished she would take the
+necessary precautions. I learned that she did. She called you to her aid
+and captured the robbers."
+
+"That is all true, and this has been a most remarkable revelation to me,
+for do you know I was tracking you."
+
+"Believing me to be connected with the gang?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Had you any grounds for suspecting me?"
+
+"Only the fact that you were an Italian and appeared to know in advance
+the intentions of a gang of robbers."
+
+"I obtained my information while trailing an Italian who is an associate
+of those fellows. I got into his good favor and won his confidence. I
+rewarded him by a warning at the last moment, and that is the way I
+obtained my knowledge."
+
+"Do you know the basis of Mrs. Frewen's prejudice against you?"
+
+"I do not. She was once my friend. She has since appeared to be my
+enemy."
+
+"You were not engaged in any criminal acts?"
+
+"Why do you ask?"
+
+"Because Mrs. Frewen really believes you are a criminal."
+
+"She has no basis for her belief. I never did a dishonorable deed in my
+life. My only crime is being a poor young man."
+
+"Have you any suspicion as to your real parentage?"
+
+"Aha! you have heard about me from Mrs. Frewen."
+
+"I have."
+
+"I have no proofs as concerns the identity of my father. I have many
+well-grounded reasons for believing I can identify him. I probably will
+never obtain the proofs, never establish my claim to a noble name."
+
+Oscar held a prolonged conversation with Alphonse Donetti. He was
+perfectly frank and told him of Alice Frewen's belief in his integrity,
+and indeed concealed nothing. Our hero was fully convinced of the young
+man's truthfulness, and from him obtained many facts concerning the gang
+with whom Argetti was associated.
+
+Later on the two young men parted, Alphonse promising to remain where he
+was until he received further information from our hero. In a later
+interview with the chief it was agreed to arrest every one of the
+Italians supposed to be connected with the gang, and on the following
+day a number of officers--silent and effective men--went abroad and
+five men were arrested, who, together with Argetti made six; and our
+hero had reason to believe that every man was identified with the Roman
+robbery.
+
+A week passed and one day the chief sent word for Oscar to come to
+headquarters. Our hero meantime had been in constant communication with
+Alphonse, the girl Caroline Metti, and also Alice, and a perfectly free
+interchange of confidences had been made.
+
+As intimated, the chief sent for Oscar, and when the latter arrived he
+was informed that the representative of the Roman nobleman was in New
+York, and awaited an interview with our hero at his hotel. Oscar
+proceeded at once to the hotel, bearing a card from the chief, and met a
+very pleasant-looking gentleman who spoke English fluently, and we will
+here state that more English comparatively is spoken in Italy than in
+France.
+
+"I am very happy to meet you," said the gentleman, after the usual
+interchange of courtesies, "as I understand you have had special charge
+of the business of running down the robbers."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"You have certain men under arrest?"
+
+"I have."
+
+"Have you any proofs against them?"
+
+"That remains for you to determine."
+
+"For me to determine?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"I have in my possession certain articles; if you can identify them as
+part of the proceeds of the robbery in Rome we have the right men."
+
+"Will you let me see the articles?"
+
+"If you will accompany me I will show them to you."
+
+We will here state that the police had taken possession of Argetti's
+house. They had stationed a guard over it. Oscar had visited the house
+many times with Caroline Metti, and after many searches had unearthed a
+buried casket in the cellar, and in the casket he had found a rich
+collection of jewels. Indeed, the robbery had been of even greater
+magnitude than had been reported, and among the articles stolen were
+jewels that had belonged to the family of the nobleman during the
+pontificate of Gregory XI. These were articles that had come down in the
+family for over five centuries and were of great intrinsic as well as
+historical value.
+
+This casket had been left at the house pending the arrival of the
+representative from Rome, subject to positive identification.
+
+When the casket was produced and shown to the Italian he uttered a cry
+of delight and amazement. Indeed he fairly danced around so great was
+his joy.
+
+"Are we right?" asked Oscar.
+
+"Right, my dear sir, you are the most wonderful man on earth. I always
+believed Americans were a great people, and you are the greatest
+American I ever met."
+
+Our hero laughed and said:
+
+"It was a simple matter--a very simple matter."
+
+"Ah, to you, but to me it is a marvelous feat."
+
+"These are the stolen goods?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Are the rare souvenirs there?"
+
+The Italian made a careful examination and finally said:
+
+"Yes, everything is here. Of course there are some few articles missing
+of modern manufacture, but what my master values at millions is here.
+Oh, how proud, how happy he will be when he learns that I have recovered
+his treasures, and there is but one bit of news that I could cable to
+him would cause him greater joy."
+
+Our hero stared.
+
+"Then he has met with other losses?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"It is possible I can aid you in this other matter."
+
+"No, no, the grave has closed over the one object that would have made
+my master's heart glad. He is an old man--will soon go to the grave
+himself--and with him ends the male line of the great and ancient house
+of Prince ----."
+
+Our hero's heart stood still, and strange, wild thoughts flashed through
+his mind. He did not speak of certain facts at that moment, nor did he
+make further inquiries. He had the one business on hand. He said:
+
+"We have the robbers. It will be necessary for you to communicate with
+the Italian consul-general and proceed in a regular and legal manner to
+secure the extradition of the criminals."
+
+"Yes, I will proceed at once."
+
+The occurrences of the succeeding two weeks would not interest our
+readers, as our hero's time and attention were devoted to the furnishing
+of the evidence that was needed to extradite the robbers. As good luck
+would have it, at the last moment, as is often the case, one of the men
+"squeaked," as the vulgar professional saying has it; that is, made a
+full confession implicating every one of his late pals. Then the road
+was clear and our hero met the representative by appointment to receive
+his reward and payment for services. Oscar was not unmindful of the
+assistance he had received from Caroline Metti and she received a
+handsome sum as her share, and she did not refuse it, for under the
+advice of our hero she had determined upon her future course.
+
+Having settled the matter as concerned Caroline Metti our hero said:
+
+"There is one more party who comes in for recognition--a young man."
+
+"Name him," said the representative. "I am prepared to liberally reward
+every one who aided in the recovery of these precious heirlooms."
+
+"I will not name the party. I will show you his picture, and you can
+probably identify him yourself."
+
+Our hero had secured the photograph of Alphonse Donetti. He handed it to
+the representative in a careless manner, saying:
+
+"That is a picture of the young man, and to him we are under great
+obligations in this matter."
+
+The instant the Italian saw and fixed his eyes on the picture he
+recoiled like one gazing at a ghost. His eyes fairly bulged. He turned
+pale, trembled like an aspen leaf, and attempted to speak, but his
+tongue appeared to cleave to the roof of his mouth. He was unable to
+speak. Oscar stood by, a look of delight and gratification expressed
+upon his handsome face.
+
+The detective waited. He desired to give the Italian time to recover his
+composure, and finally, when the latter was able to speak, he asked in
+gasping tones:
+
+"Is the original of this picture alive?"
+
+"He is."
+
+"His name?"
+
+"Alphonse Donetti."
+
+"His parentage--do you know his parentage?"
+
+"Why do you ask?"
+
+"Answer my question."
+
+"When you are calmer we will talk."
+
+"What do you mean, sir?"
+
+"I mean that possibly there is something to be explained."
+
+"Is it possible you gave me this picture with a purpose?"
+
+"Yes, I handed you that picture with a purpose."
+
+"And what was your purpose?"
+
+"I desired to learn if you had ever seen him before."
+
+The Italian had fully recovered command of his nerves and he said:
+
+"No, I never saw this picture before."
+
+"Did you ever behold the original?"
+
+"Never."
+
+"Then why your excitement when you beheld the photograph?"
+
+"Was I excited?"
+
+"Sir, you must be perfectly frank with me."
+
+"Will you explain just what you are getting at?"
+
+"Not until you have explained your excitement."
+
+"I have nothing to explain."
+
+"Neither have I."
+
+There followed an interval of awkward silence, broken at length by the
+Italian who said:
+
+"There is design in all this."
+
+"Yes, there is design."
+
+"You will certainly intimate your design."
+
+"I will intimate nothing."
+
+"What is it you demand?"
+
+"I demand to know the cause of your excitement."
+
+The Italian meditated a moment and then said:
+
+"This picture bears a striking resemblance to one whom I once knew."
+
+"Who is the party?"
+
+"The son of the Prince of ----."
+
+"But you said you had never seen the original."
+
+"I never did behold the original of that picture. The prince's son is
+dead. He has been dead several years. He was much older than the
+original of this picture."
+
+Our hero was a quick and rapid thinker and he asked:
+
+"Is it not possible that the original of that picture is the grandson of
+the present Prince of ----?"
+
+"I cannot tell; the resemblance is certainly very remarkable."
+
+"Tell me about the prince and his son."
+
+"I will."
+
+"Do so."
+
+"The son of the Prince of ---- married a French lady. The marriage was a
+secret one. He deserted his wife and later married an Italian lady of
+noble birth. The second wife died without leaving any children."
+
+"How could he desert his French wife and marry an Italian woman?"
+
+"He secured a divorce."
+
+"Was he justified?"
+
+"No."
+
+"I am glad you are so frank."
+
+"I have no reason for being otherwise. His French wife was very proud.
+The prince never knew of his son's marriage to the French lady--it was a
+secret marriage. After the death of his Italian wife without issue the
+son revealed to his father, the prince, the fact of his former marriage
+and the fact of the birth of an heir. The son was killed in a railroad
+disaster, and then the old prince, being without an heir, sought to find
+his grandson. He spent large sums of money and succeeded in establishing
+the fact that his grandson also was dead. He learned that he was a
+spirited young fellow and had been killed in a duel."
+
+Our hero remembered how Mrs. Frewen had aided in nursing the young man
+Alphonse Donetti. He guessed the whole mystery and said:
+
+"Young Alphonse Donetti, the original of that picture, was wounded in a
+duel. He recovered, however, and is alive to-day, a noble young man, one
+whom his grandfather may proudly welcome as his heir--one well
+calculated to maintain all the ancient glories of his race."
+
+Our hero proceeded and told the story of Alphonse Donetti. The Italian
+listened attentively and finally said, when the relation was concluded:
+
+"I believe that indeed this young man is the legitimate heir of the
+great prince, and his grandfather will be the happiest man in Italy when
+I again cable him and tell him his heir is found alive, well, and a
+credit to his race."
+
+"You can cable him, for there is no doubt as to the real identity of the
+young man."
+
+Oscar and the Italian continued their talk for a long time and then our
+hero departed, after having arranged for a meeting between Alphonse and
+the representative of his grandfather.
+
+As Oscar proceeded to the home of Mrs. Frewen he remarked:
+
+"How wonderful are the ways of Providence, and what strange experiences
+in family histories come to our profession!"
+
+Our hero found Mrs. Frewen at home. To her he made the startling
+revelation, and added that he had the most positive and indisputable
+proofs and evidence that Alphonse was well worthy to maintain the credit
+of his honorable lineage.
+
+Later the detective saw Alice. To her he also made the revelation and
+assured her that her confidence in the innocence and integrity of the
+young man had been well sustained and verified, and then he learned that
+Alice had really met Alphonse and had learned from him his real purpose
+in visiting America.
+
+Having carried the good news to Alice, our hero proceeded to meet
+Alphonse. The young prince had recovered from his wound to such a degree
+that he was able to go out, and our hero said:
+
+"Alphonse Donetti, I have great news for you."
+
+The young Italian stared and our hero proceeded:
+
+"In the most remarkable manner the mystery of your parentage has been
+solved."
+
+Alphonse did not start or betray any undue emotion or excitement, and
+Oscar related all that had occurred, and it was then that Alphonse spoke
+and said:
+
+"The question of my parentage was never a mystery to me, but I believe I
+inherit the pride of my race. I resolved never to claim relationship to
+those who had treated my mother in such a cruel manner and who appeared
+to hate me. I supposed they knew of my whereabouts. I should never have
+claimed relationship, but--" The young man stopped short for a moment
+and then, with a glitter in his eyes, added:
+
+"I had all the proofs of my honorable title as the legitimate heir to
+the name and fortune of my cruel parent, and I did intend when they were
+dead in memory of my mother to establish my right to the fortune and
+title."
+
+"Your grandfather is innocent in this matter. You knew that your father
+was dead?"
+
+"I did not know it until you told me. I never saw my father to know him.
+If my grandfather seeks me I will go to him and reverence him as I trust
+he desires."
+
+Later Alphonse was introduced to his grandfather's representative and
+easily furnished all the proofs as to his identity.
+
+A month passed and a letter arrived from the prince. He expressed his
+delight, sent a large check and requested his grandson to return
+immediately to his ancestral home.
+
+Alphonse did not go at once, and when he did sail for Italy there went
+with him his wife, the princess, who as Alice Frewen had been so
+faithful and true to him.
+
+Mrs. Frewen returned with her niece to Italy. Our hero saw them off, and
+that same day Oscar returned and met the beautiful Caroline Metti, and
+in a laughing tone said:
+
+"Now, Caroline, if I could only gather the links to prove you a princess
+I should be a proud and happy man."
+
+"Those links you will never gather, but I am grateful to you, for you
+have restored to me an interest in life and awakened an ambition."
+
+"And what is your ambition?"
+
+"I hardly dare tell you."
+
+"Yes, tell me."
+
+"You will be jealous."
+
+"No, I will not;" but there did come a color to our hero's handsome
+face.
+
+"You are sure you will not be jealous?"
+
+"I am sure."
+
+"It is my ambition to become a great female detective."
+
+"Great Scott!" ejaculated our hero, "is that all?"
+
+"That is all. Will you aid me?"
+
+"I will, and there is no reason why you should not become the greatest
+lady detective that ever lived."
+
+"I will try."
+
+"And I will help you."
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Oscar the Detective, by Harlan Page Halsey
+
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