When the detective parted from Miss Lamb he was more and more convinced that the beautiful sister of the criminal was honest, and really intended to put him on a "lay" that would indeed advance him to the top rung of the profession.
An hour later Oscar met Cad, who wore a very serious look upon her face, and she waited for a little time, when with a glitter in her eyes she demanded:
"Who was that creature you dined with to-day?"
Oscar laughed in a merry way. He read the thoughts that were chasing through Cad's mind, or, rather, heimaginedhe did so.
"Did you see her, Cad?"
"Yes."
"Did you mark her beautiful, innocent face?"
"Her innocent face?" repeated Cad in a sneering tone.
"Yes, innocent face."
Cad fixed her brilliant black eyes on her partner, and her lovely face was ashen white and her voice trembled as she asked in what might be termed a husky voice:
"Are you joking, Oscar, or were you really deceived?"
"I was not deceived, Cad."
There came a look of relief to the Italian girl's face as she said in a less sharp tone:
"What a goose I was; certainly you were not deceived by that vixen."
Oscar started.
"What do you mean, Cad?"
Again there came a glitter to the girl's eyes as she said in a cold, incisive tone:
"Oscar, I really believe you are in earnest, and were deceived by that expert schemer. Brother, that woman was playing you for a fool and I see you were played."
OSCAR AND CAD PLAY SOME FINE DETECTIVE WORK AGAINST THE CUTEST ROGUE THAT EVER SET OUT TO DOWN A DETECTIVE.
OSCAR AND CAD PLAY SOME FINE DETECTIVE WORK AGAINST THE CUTEST ROGUE THAT EVER SET OUT TO DOWN A DETECTIVE.
"Cad, what do you mean?" demanded Oscar.
"I mean just what I say, brother."
"You saw that lovely girl?"
"I did.".
"Did you hear her strange tale?"
"I did not; but I watched her face while she was talking to you."
"I did not see you."
"No, I did not come under your gaze."
"And you did see the lovely lady who was talking to me?"
"I did."
"And what was your conclusion?"
"My conclusion was and is that she is one of the most subtle deceivers that ever set out to hoodwink a good man, for she succeeded."
Again Oscar laughed and the glitter in Cad's eyes became even more brilliant as Oscar said:
"Cad, had you overheard her story you would not think me quite as big a fool as it appears you do."
"Tell me the story," said Cad in sharp, quick tones.
Oscar did repeat word for word all that had passed between him and the woman and then added:
"You see, Cad, how for once you have reached a too hasty conclusion. That woman was really doing us a great service. I'll bet my life on her sincerity."
"You will?"
"I will."
"It's lucky I am here to save you from being trapped. Oscar, I am ashamed of you, but a blond beauty can fool any man, that is plain, and that woman has fooled you."
"Nonsense, Cad."
"I see through the whole scheme."
"You do?"
"I do."
"All right, sister; I will never pooh-pooh anything you say, but this time you are at fault."
"I am, eh?"
"Yes, you are."
"Are you sure?"
"I am sure."
"Oscar, I've a revelation for you."
Oscar's face assumed a serious expression, and Cad continued:
"My dear brother, I was on that woman's track when she accosted you. I am on to their whole scheme, for I have been at work."
Oscar stared and then said slowly:
"I am to meet her to-night."
"Certainly, you will meet her, but when you do will you know her game? She is the beautiful siren who is to lure Ulysses into the den where he is to be slain with merciless precision and cold-blooded exactness."
Again Oscar stared, but seeing the glitter in Cad's eyes he fell to a conclusion and asked:
"Is my beautiful partner jealous?"
"Yes, I am jealous for your life. I do not wish to see you beguiled and imperiled by that woman."
"Cad, you speak like one who knows what she is talking about."
"I do."
"Have you information?"
"I have."
"Forgive me."
"No, there is no need to ask forgiveness, but let me tell you something: this little game they are playing is one of the shrewdest tricks ever attempted. I would have been deceived; you are deceived, for a more reasonable and probable tale has never been told; and yet, Oscar, that woman is the right bower of the criminals. Her fertile brain conceived the whole plan to entrap you. It is the play of these men to remove every one inimical to their success, and they, having marked your identity, have conceived a scheme to drop you out. They know you are dangerous. I know you are brave, strong, and valiant, but they have arranged a plan against which courage and cunning count as naught."
"You are sure, Cad?"
"I am sure."
"What are you on to?"
"I am jealous for your safety, and after those men had your identity I determined to get on the track of the man Girard. He is a wonderful man in his way. I followed him; I saw him dispatch a messenger boy. I kept upon his trail."
"Under what disguise were you?"
Cad laughed.
"Great ginger! Cad, can it be possible?"
Again Cad laughed and said:
"Yes, I was at hand."
"You were the messenger boy?"
"I was."
"Girl, don't call Girard a wonder. You are the wonder of the age; but go on."
"I carried his message, and the sweet-faced girl who has been giving you the beautiful tale concerning her enchanted brother is the party to whom I carried the message. They met, and under a changed disguise I overheard a part of their scheme. I saw her when she accosted you, and I knew that from you I would learn enough to connect the whole plan; I have."
"And what is their plan?"
"That girl's purpose is to win your absolute confidence. She has a party who will represent her brother, and by degrees and methods of her own, aided by her confederates, they will run down our side of it, and then at the last moment every one of us will be separately lured and done up. And they will make their plans so there will be no help for us, or rather there would be no help for us did they catch us unawares. But that they will never do; we will catch them in their own netting."
"Oh, Cad, how much I owe to you! and now what shall I do?"
"Meet her, and I will wager that there will be some of her gang hovering around. We can play a very ingenious trick and open up their scheme."
"How will you do it?"
"I can make up for you."
"You can do it perfectly."
"To-night I will go to meet this siren."
"No, no, I will meet her."
"Yes, you shall meet her, but listen: I will go to meet her; you will be onmytrack. You will see who will follow me, believing that they are following you. We can arrange where, at a given point, I will disappear and you will reappear, and then when you go to meet this siren you will know just exactly how the ground lays. You will have the whole business down on them."
"Cad, this is a great scheme."
"It is, if we play it out right. This girl will be working you for an innocent; you can afford to give her a great deal of information, and—" The girl stopped short.
"Go on," said Oscar, "what will you be doing?"
"Why, man, between us, matching them at their own game, we will get the identities of every member of the gang. We will learn where their shops and where their plates are."
"How will we do it?"
"We will know just whom to shadow for each separate bit of information."
"By ginger! you are right."
"Now that you are up to this siren's movements I can trust you, Oscar."
"I might have gotten on to her plans. I was not about to surrender on demand, but it is better as it is. Time is saved, and to-night we will work our scheme. You shall be Oscar; I will be Cad, and at the proper moment we will resume and let the game go on."
"That is my idea."
That night at the proper hour an individual who looked very much like Oscar might have been seen hovering in the vicinity of the restaurant where the interview between the detective and the siren was to take place.
Our readers can grasp what was going on. Oscar, gotten up as a female, was on the "shadow," and very speedily all that Cad Metti had told him was confirmed. He saw two men following his talented counterfeit, and he followed them, and at the proper moment rejoinedCad. The second change was made and Oscar proceeded to the restaurant to meet the siren. He found her at the appointed place, and together they entered the dining-room and took seats at the same table where they had held their original consultation. The woman appeared to be in excellent humor and said:
"Oh, I feel so greatly encouraged."
"I will encourage you still further. I have considered the matter and I have determined to rescue your brother, but I must have your full confidence. What is your name?"
"Libbie Van Zant."
"Very well, Miss Van Zant, when am I to meet your brother?"
"You are not to meet him right away."
"Why not?"
"I do not wish him to suspect that I have betrayed him. I must have time to prepare him for the meeting with you."
"That is all right."
"And now let me tell you something: these are very desperate men; you must secure aid."
"Oh, certainly."
"I want you to select the men who will aid you. We must not make a mistake. You must have men with you when you make the raid on the place."
"I certainly will."
"Will you introduce them to me?"
"Why should I introduce them to you?"
"I wish to know them, so I can arrange for my brother's safety."
"Oh, I see; well, in good time you shall meet them."
"We must go slow and sure in this matter."
"Oh, certainly, and you are becoming quite a detective."
"I am working for my brother's safety—his salvation. I am willing to brave almost everything to save him."
"We will save him."
"By to-morrow I will arrange for my brother to have a meeting with some of those men with whom he is associated, and I will arrange that you shall be hidden in a place from where you can overhear everything that is said. You will secure considerable information. You will know how to use it. Yes, we will move slowly, but surely. There must be no mistake made, no failure, or it will cost my brother's life, and I also may become their victim."
"Very well, you can depend upon me."
"I have your confidence?"
"Yes."
"Can we not arrange signals between us?"
"Certainly."
"I am going to start in as a regular detective in this affair, and at any moment I may want to signal to you; yes, warn you in case anything appears to be going wrong at a critical moment."
"I am delighted to work with one as shrewd and thoughtful as you are," said Oscar.
"Can you not come to my home to-morrow?"
"I fear I will not have time."
"We must practice those signals. I will not ask you to visit me across the river. I have the privilege of receiving company at the rooms of a friend of mine in this city. If we could meet there some time to-morrow morning, you might bring one or two of your friends with you and we will practice the signals together."
"All right, it is not a bad idea."
"Then I will take a walk in Washington Parade ground to-morrow at about eleven o'clock, and you shall meet me and I will lead you to my friend's room, and then and there we will complete all our arrangements. Yes, yes, I will save my brother and earn the money to start him out on an honest course."
"Your affection for your brother appears to be very great."
"It is. I idolize him."
"Then at eleven o'clock to-morrow we are to meet by chance."
"Yes."
Our hero and the siren separated. She said she was to meet her brother who was to accompany her to her home. The siren passed out ahead of our hero after a merry good-night. When Oscar came forth he had wrought a change. He stepped down to the curb and glanced. He saw a little chalk mark. It would have looked to an ordinary observer like a mere accidental scrape of chalk. To Oscar it spoke volumes, and he knew that his faithful strategist had succeeded in falling to a trail; and he knew that he would soon be on the trail like a sleuthhound following its prey. The detective started forward. At the first street corner he drew a little mask lantern and flashed its light around quickly and deftly, and there again under its glare he beheld a tiny chalk mark.
"Right," he muttered as he read his sign and moved on; and so he proceeded until he arrived at a certain corner, when he came to a halt; and a few moments later a messenger boy came up close to him and said in a low tone:
"She met her man."
"Well?"
"They went in that house across the street."
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Oscar, "are you sure, Cad?"
"Yes."
"The woman and how many men?"
"One man only."
"And that man?"
"Was Girard."
"Sis, you can call up our aids and have them ready."
"We can snake them into the house."
"It's lucky; yes, it's lucky, Cad, and yet, it's risky."
"Why?"
"Credo may be in with them."
"But he knows you hold his life as it were in your hands, and——"
"Well?"
"He knows if you have trailed these fellows down so close that there is no show for him and he will be on your side."
"By ginger! you are right, so here goes. We are down on these people for fair now."
"We are, Oscar."
Cad Metti, the strange, weird girl, who could flit from place to place like a shadow, who could change her appearances as readily as a change actress on the stage, glided away, and our hero, who also, as our readers will recall, had worked a change, boldly went to the house which Cad had indicated as the place where the woman and Girard had entered. He stepped into the dark hall of the house, and then quickly worked a second change; then he stepped to the street. The house was one well known to the police; its character, we will say, was established as the headquarters for the lowest sort of rogues. The owner pretended to keep a respectable hotel. He had rooms to let, and on the first floor he ran a barroom, and although the building itself was an old tumble-down affair the barroom was quite expensively fitted up.
Oscar staggered into the house, and as good luck would have it only the proprietor of the place was present at the moment and he was acting as bartender. Oscar staggered up to the bar, his eyes rolling in his head, but as they rolled, under their seemingly drunken glare shot forth a keen, observant glance.
As stated, he staggered up to the bar and fell over on to his elbows, demanding a drink.
"Where's your pile?" came the answer from the proprietor, a fellow named Credo, who was a good-looking octoroon.
Oscar displayed a big roll of bills.
"All right; what will you have?"
"Whisky."
The man placed a bottle and glasses on the bar when the detective reached over, caught the man's eye, and said in a very low but sharp, decisive tone:
"Mart, on your life, look to business now."
The man started, his swarthy face assumed a ghastly hue, and there came a look of terror to his eyes.
"You know me?"
"It's Dunne."
"Yes."
"What's your pull to-night?"
"You have visitors in your house."
The man trembled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, and mark me, I know it all; yes, all. There is nothing for you in it only through me. Mark well my words: I can trust you; if not, it's bad for you."
"What is it you're after?"
"I am close down on this whole business."
"What business?"
"You want it straight?"
"Yes."
"Redalli."
Credo fell back like a man suddenly surprised. He appeared for an instant to lose his breath, but he managed to almost gasp:
"Are you on to that?"
"I am on to the whole scheme and just ready to close in. I tell you there is nothing for you in it, and you're lucky."
"I am?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"You will make a good stake through me."
"What do you want?"
"I want to overhear every word that is spoken here to-night."
"You are dead on to it all?"
"I am."
"Good enough, I am with you, and you know that when I say so I mean what I say."
"I do."
"You shall have the whole business if it's opened up here to-night. Follow me."
LUCK AND SKILL RUN OUR HERO INTO A GREAT "OPENING" ON TO THE BIG ORGANIZATION, AND LIGHT STRIKES IN VERY DARK CORNERS.
LUCK AND SKILL RUN OUR HERO INTO A GREAT "OPENING" ON TO THE BIG ORGANIZATION, AND LIGHT STRIKES IN VERY DARK CORNERS.
It is not necessary to explain to our readers our hero's great hold on the man Credo; but he knew his man well and knew that when Credo said, "I am with you," the fellow did mean just what he said. Credo led our hero to a rear room and once there he remarked:
"It's dead against me what I am doing. I had a big stake in this enterprise."
"You haven't lost one, old man, the lines are drawn close."
"That's all right so far; but is it necessary that I tumble from anything you may pick up to-night?"
"No, you are safe; you will not come into it."
The man's face was at once wreathed into a smile.
"I know you, Mr. Dunne."
"Yes, and I mean it. You will not in any way be involved."
"They need never know that I keeled 'em over?"
"Never."
"You know your business. When you talk you know what you say. I am satisfied, and I am going to let you into a secret, Mr. Dunne. I can fix you out just lovely. You will have the whole business, for the king-pin is to be here to-night. You'll get the muggs of all the big men. If you were ready to close in you couldn't have a better chance; for as I said the king-pins will all be here to-night. But I don't see how I can run clear of suspicion."
"I tell you that in no way will you be involved. I will open up from another quarter. What I pick up here to-night is only side evidence. I've got almost all I need."
"And you won't forget me?"
"No, sir."
"You know I've always been faithful."
"You have, and it's a good streak of luck that they covied right here in your den."
"Yes, they have covied here for a long time."
"Are you into this affair?"
"Only partially. I am not one of them, but they have paid me well; never asked me to go in."
"Then you can't locate anything?"
"Only the men."
"You know them all?"
"Only the big fellows, and they will all be here to-night. Their big gun, the boss of all of them, is in town, and to-night he receives reports up there. Yes, sir, you will get it all. Is it luck or Dunne?"
"It's a little of both, old man."
"You've got it good, that's all. You are against thedeck every time, and I did not look to you for a drop in on this thing—no, never. But you've got it all; yes, sir, that's certain."
The man Credo carefully locked the door leading into the room where he and the detective stood. He then disclosed a remarkable sight to Dunne. He slid aside a movable panel covered with paper at the side of the projecting fireplace and revealed a door. Oscar stared.
"You see, I like to know what's going on, Mr. Dunne. I made this little arrangement myself. No out knows of it but you. This opens into the chimney, and there you see a spiral staircase that leads up to the room where the meetings are held. When these chaps come here I always give them that one room, and I have gathered some strange secrets at the head of those steps. You see I've let each party into the arrangements of the room where they meet. They think I have prepared for them a wonderful meeting place. I have arranged for escapes to the roof. Indeed, I've got all manner of ingenious contrivances for them; but you and I are the only ones who know of this little arrangement here. Yes, I am credited for picking up a great deal of criminal news. There's where I get it, up there, and there is where you will get it to-night. I've given you the whole business, Mr. Dunne."
Oscar fixed his keen eyes on his man, and a cold chill ran around our hero's heart. He knew in some things he could trust the man, and he also knew that his own death would relieve Credo of many terrors. He knew that away down in his heart Credo hated him, and there was something suspicious in the revelation the man was making. It struck our hero that the fellow was acting with too much readiness. There was no need for the man to discover this very important secret. Was it possible that Credo was putting up a job to do away with the man who held him in his power? It was indeed possible at least,and our hero was slow and cautious. He did not intend to be trapped like a mouse nibbling at a piece of cheese. The idea of honor among thieves is a myth. A rogue is a rogue all the time, and criminals will betray a companion or a friend ninety-nine times out of a hundred. There is no romance in crime; it is always a dark record.
"Credo," said Oscar, "you have it nicely arranged here."
"Yes, sir, it's perfect for the matter you have in hand."
"What matter have you in hand?"
"You know."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"I get the information and trade it. I've traded valuable information to you."
"That is true, and between us it is business. You were not aware that I was on to this arrangement?"
The man stared.
"No, I was not."
"Well, I am going to avail myself of this trick staircase, but keep very shady. Some of the lads are outside; they must not close in if I am gone some time. Give them a signal when they rush in, or they might do something rash. The rest of the fellows have not the confidence in you that I have, and they might suspect something. Be on the lookout, and if necessary show one of them where I am, for my orders have been very strict."
There was no misunderstanding on the part of Credo. He smiled and said:
"I take what you mean. No, no, I've no such notion. It's business with us; that's right. I am not going to free myself this way, and here it is on the square. I'd rather make a stake this way, for if a man dies, he dies sudden—he don't linger."
"We understand then?"
"Yes."
"All right, I am going to take in the meeting upstairs."
Oscar drew his mask lantern, slipped into the opening after a thorough examination of the whole contrivance and then he said:
"Close the door, old man, close the door."
The door did close and immediately our hero opened it. He looked out and said:
"Play very close to-night, Credo: don't let your customers, if you have any, fall to us."
"The people are all at a ball. I'll have no visitors to-night except it may be a straggler."
"All right, close the door."
Oscar believed he had taken every precaution, and indeed he had; and under all the circumstances he was very cool, but for him it was a big night and the most important consequences were destined to follow, and he knew it.
With his lantern properly adjusted he ascended the stairs and in good time arrived at the place where he was to take in his news. He had been fully instructed and he found everything just as the man Credo had stated. Well, the arrangement was indeed a good one, and he mentally concluded:
"That fellow Credo is a genius; it's a pity he is not an honest man."
Oscar could see into the room and could overhear every word—almost hear a whisper, so cunningly had the eavesdropping trap been contrived. Oscar peeped in, and there was his siren, and there also was his whilom friend Girard. He and the siren were alone. Both wore a pleased look upon their faces; they were in a merry mood, and the man Girard said as our hero got fixed to take in their sayings:
"He thinks himself a very smart fellow."
"Don't make any mistake; he is a smart fellow—the smartest fellow that ever started out to shadow us, and he would be too much for us but for one fact."
"And what is that?"
"He is honest and sympathetic, otherwise I would never have succeeded in fooling and getting him in tow, but now I've got him."
"You feel assured of that?"
"I do. I've secured him on the only weak side he's got. He is the hardest man to secure I ever started out to gain, but I've gone for him on just the right tack. I will handle him with care; I will learn all he knows. I will learn just who is working in with him, and then——"
"What then?"
"Alas! it's sad to think of it. He is a good fellow, but he mustwalk the planklike the rest of them."
"Look out you don't lose your heart to him."
The woman laughed in a merry manner and said:
"I've won his. I can read it in his eyes."
"Woman's vanity," thought Oscar, and he did mutter: "That is her weakest point."
"You have measured pretty well. What is your conclusion?"
"I'll tell you; he is going it alone. He is the only one who has any points on us; of that I am certain. But, as I said, I'll woo until I know just who is in with him, if any one."
At that moment the talk was interrupted and three men entered the room. Well, our hero was surprised. One of the men he recognized at a glance and he muttered: "Can it be possible?"
As the three men entered Girard rose to his feet and greeted the man whom our hero had recognized. He exclaimed as he extended his hand:
"Redalli, I am glad to greet you, and let me tell you that you have arrived just in time."
"Bah! I've heard all about it. You gentlemen are too easily frightened. There is nothing to fear."
"That man is now known as Redalli, eh?" muttered Oscar, and there came a gleam in his eyes which few could read.
"We do not scare, as easily as you think, Redalli. I tell you there is a man on our track who is quietly running us down, and if we do not dispose of him he will spoil all our work of years."
"We will dispose of him; but what have you gentlemen been doing? Why did you not dispose of him?"
"We have completed our plans."
Girard proceeded and related all the arrangements for disposing of Oscar and all the other men who might be working with him. Redalli listened attentively and finally said:
"That is all right; but, gentlemen, we will make a fortune anyhow. We can move on while these men are locating us. We are all ready to shoot forth one of the greatest floods ever sent driving over this or any other land; in fact we will sweep over Canada and Mexico. I have managed our affair, I believe, in a satisfactory manner. One day this week all the agents will be in New York. We will distribute the stuff and send them abroad. The sweep will commence in three days. Under our present arrangements we will have gathered in several millions of dollars. No such plan was ever attempted or worked out."
"How many agents are there?"
"There are eleven men."
"And where are all the documents?"
"Here in New York."
"Where are the plates?"
"The plates are all here in New York."
"Where will the distribution be made?"
"I have secured a furnished house. In that house we will have all the goods and all the plates. The latter we will bury in the cellar, there to lie forever until New York shall crumble and some future archæologist digs them up from the ruins to be put on the shelves of some future museum. Yes, everything is complete."
"But these detectives?"
"We will go ahead and dispose of them. There must be no mistake. We will secure them, take them on board a vessel we can secure, run them out to sea, hang them and throw their bodies heavily-weighted overboard. That is the plan; so let our good girl there, Libbie, carry out her plan. I am here now; there will be no surprises, no rushing in of detectives. I will have a well-armed and drilled force who will nail them all, and we will quietly dispose of them. The game is all in our own hands. We have nothing to fear. Our organization is too large, too far-reaching; and when once we have made the sweep we will make good our agreements and free every member of the gang that has been arrested. Yes, we will free them all, and as to the officers we will say good-by to them after the sweep and sail away to enjoy a heaven such as Mahomet has described. Yes, it's all right; let Libbie play her game. In another ten days the cyclone will have passed and we will all be rich men—rich as Monte Cristos, dead sure."
Oscar could hardly believe his own ears. It was the most wonderful "pick-up" of his whole career; and again was it proven how crime, in spite of the most skillful precautions, is always sure to walk into its own trap in the end.
Our hero lay low for over an hour and learned some additional facts of the utmost importance. Indeed, he had men and evidence. He knew it would be the greatest close-in since a detective force had been organized. Itwould beat all records. He had the names of every one of the leaders. He had the lead-up to the places where the manufactured goods were to be stored. He had the hour when the gang would assemble, and he determined upon one of the most dramatic of denouements.
Oscar stole down the stairs. He passed to the door of the room and summoned Credo. To the man he said:
"Credo, your fortune is made, unless——"
"I understand. You need not fear me when I know you have them dead to rights, as you must have them after a lay-in up in that eavesdropping den of mine. No, no, they will get no hint from me. I am not in with that gang. I am in with you, and you've got 'em, and I am glad. They have not used me right anyhow."
"Then you fully understand?"
"I do."
"All right."
Oscar stole forth and Cad Metti joined him.
"What have you made out, Oscar?"
"Cad, we've worked up the job of our lives. We've got the whole business. Now then, you lay to my trail, for I must shadow Redalli."
"You've got him?"
"Yes."
"And the woman?"
"You were right. She is a siren indeed, but I will amuse her. Good-night for the present. Go, for here comes our game."
OSCAR MAKES GOOD HIS PROMISE AND AIDED BY CAD METTI, THE WONDERFUL FEMALE DETECTIVE, PERFORMS ONE OF THE GREATEST FEATS IN ALL DETECTIVE RECORDS.
OSCAR MAKES GOOD HIS PROMISE AND AIDED BY CAD METTI, THE WONDERFUL FEMALE DETECTIVE, PERFORMS ONE OF THE GREATEST FEATS IN ALL DETECTIVE RECORDS.
Like a night sprite Cad glided away and Oscar fell to the shadow of the man Redalli. He followed him to the Hoboken ferry, crossed on the same boat with him, and saw him enter a house situated in the midst of a large plot of ground covered by lines of trees.
The detective was satisfied. He had the meeting-house, as he called it, located. He had Redalli located, and he started back toward the ferry and had gone but a few squares when he was joined by Cad and another detective. Cad was in her ordinary garb as a well-dressed young miss, only that she wore a veil drawn down over her face.
"It's all right," said our hero. He was jubilant, and he proceeded to relate all that had passed while he sat listening in the Credo eyrie.
It was well on toward three o'clock in the morning when the party walked on board the boat to return to New York, and they had just seated themselves on the boat when a party of roughs, numbering seven or eight, entered the cabin. The men were very boisterous and ready for a muss, as the saying goes. They talked loud and laughed violently, and soon their eyes rested on the three detectives. The two males as they were gotten up did not look like very formidable individuals, and the fact that Cad was veiled attracted their attention. They ranged themselves on the seats directly opposite to where the three detectives were located and our hero at once detected that there was going to be a jolly row—jolly as far heand his companions were concerned—for both the men were athletes and boxers, of the first order. To them the knocking down of two or three ordinary men was a mere pastime, and as our readers know the wonderful Cad was not much behind when it came to a shindy. She could have given the famous strong woman who a few years ago appeared on the stage points in many athletic feats. One of the men looking over toward Cad said:
"There's a beauty."
The detectives exchanged looks.
They had taken the measures of the rowdies.
"How do you know?" asked one of the men.
"I'll bet on it."
"You will?"'
"Yes."
"How will you prove it?"
"I'll prove."
"How?"
"That's my end of it."
"You'll bet she is a beauty?"
"Yes, I will."
"How much?"
"A bottle."
"And you are to prove it?"
"Yes."
"I'll take the bet."
The fellow who had offered to make the bet immediately rose, crossed the cabin to where Cad sat and said:
"Say, miss, you've heard the bet. Raise your veil and let me win. I know you are a beauty."
The men all laughed. They thought it evidently the joke of their lives; to them it was immense.
It was so destined to turn out. Immense was no name for what followed, and it is very unfortunate that similar roysterers do not run up against a like party.
"Come, miss," urged the man, "I've paid you a compliment. You ain't a-going to let me lose my bet?"
Cad paid no attention to the fellow, and his companions jeered. One said:
"She daren't raise her veil, or she'll make you lose, sure."
The man who had bet exclaimed:
"You've lost; I've got a bottle on you."
"Not yet; come, miss, you won't see me lose."
All this time the two detectives had sat silent. They knew what would follow, and just when to come in with the sledge hammer part of the farce. Yes, they were ready in good time to play the anvil chorus on the heads of the lively gang of insulters. It was just their pie, as the slang phrase has it.
"You've lost," cried the better.
"Come, come, miss, do you hear what he says? I know you're a beaut. Raise your veil and give me the laugh on him."
Cad sat mute, and finally the man said:
"I can't lose; I've got to see your face if I lift your veil myself."
"Yes, yes, raise and expose her mugg," cried one; "if she were a beaut she would'nt let you lose that way. Lift her veil."
It was time for Oscar to interfere and he said:
"That will do, young fellow."
"Will it?" cried the man in a fierce tone.
"Yes."
"What have you got to say about it anyhow?"
"This lady is in my company, under my protection."
"Oh, is she?"
"She is."
"Well, here goes."
The man grabbed Cad's veil and raised it, disclosingher really lovely face, and at the same instant he uttered a yell of triumph, but the next moment he roared forth a yell of pain and rage, for Oscar had leaped to his feet, dealt the man a clipper square on the nose and over he went. The rest of the gang immediately set up a yell, leaped to their feet and made a rush, and the next instant there followed a regular young riot, but the fun of the thing was all on one side. The other officer also leaped to his feet and started in on the tattoo act. He just swung around like a revolving wheel with distended cogs, and every time he revolved down went one of the men, and Cad just stood up on the seat and laughed. The laugh in fact had bounded over to the opposite side of the cabin from where it first started. As the men who were downed attempted to regain their feet they got it again, and got it good. The two detectives having dropped the rascals with their fists gave them the balance of their dose with leather, and they did leather them well, kicking them over the floor of the cabin like stuffed bladders. The deck hands heard the noise, ran to the doors, and taking in the situation remained aloof. They were glad to see the rowdies get a whacking; glad that for once the assailants had run up against the wrong crowd. The rowdies bled and yelled, bled for their impertinence, yelled in dismay and terror, for they feared they would be beaten to death. They pleaded for mercy, and all the time the ferry boat kept on its way; and about the time our friends had fun enough the boat slid into her slip, and with a merry good-night to the discomfited and bleeding insulters Oscar and his friends proceeded ashore.
On the day following the incidents we have recorded our hero, Wise, the special, and several other officers held a consultation. To Wise alone did our hero reveal the importance and extent of the information he had secured, and a plan was arranged.
At the time named Oscar met the woman Libbie and he played her well—played for time, for his whole plan had been changed. One thing had led up to another, and the one little racket he had at first intended to work had been put aside for a new one under the latest developments.
He parted from the woman, threw her and her friends off his track and lay low for a fresh "shadow" on Redalli, and in due time he got on the track of his man.
Several days passed, and Cad and Oscar followed their lead. Our hero several times met the woman Libbie Van Zant and made her feel very good. He played the dupe to perfection; let it appear that he was dead gone on the siren; pretended to reveal everything to her, while in fact he was just getting his points from time to time and keeping her friends under close observation through her. He had constant access to the secret room in the house of Credo, listened to a great many consultations, and at length learned just the right facts for making one of the greatest hauls in the history of crime. He trailed to the delivery of the counterfeit goods at the house in Hoboken, and had every reason to believe that the plates also were all stowed away under one roof. Indeed, it appeared in plain words as though he were destined to capture not only all the manufactured stuff, but the complete outfit of the counterfeiters, the labor of years.
On the night when the great raid was to be made Dunne met Wise and his assistants. All the plans were completed and Wise said, at a proper moment:
"Dunne, you are the detective of the age."
At the proper time the detectives one by one stole over to Hoboken. They took up their station, waiting for signals. Oscar had fallen into the wiles of the siren. She had arranged with him to take him to the house—she had played as she supposed a great card. She believed she had the name of every detective engaged on the"shadow" and she became bolder; told our hero she had in the interest of her brother and the detective beguiled one of the gang; informed him that she could introduce him into the house where the whole gang was to meet; that she would be able to identify every man of them. She even professed to have fallen in love with Oscar, played the alluring siren to perfection, and it was in her company that our hero proceeded to Hoboken to be introduced into the house and hidden at a point where he could see and overhear. In talking to Girard the woman had said:
"I've got him dazzled. The man believes in me as he does in his own mother. He is like wax in my hands. I can do with him as I choose."
"Are you sure he is not fooling you?"
"Am I sure? Yes, I am sure. I will have him in that house to-night. You will discover him and drag him forth. The plan will be carried out: At the proper time the riot will commence and in the mêlée down he goes."
"I hope it is as you say. I would not chance even on your positive assurance, but Redalli says it is all right, and he is the boss. He takes the responsibility."
As intimated, Oscar started for Hoboken in company with the siren and two trusty men followed his steps. Our hero was determined that there should be no miss. He had provided against every possible contingency. He arrived at the house. Oscar had been seemingly persuaded that the siren's brother was to be their guide, that she had fooled him for his own eventual good. Arrived at the house the siren signaled and a young man, supposed to be the woman's brother, opened the door. The woman asked:
"Have they arrived?"
"No one has arrived yet."
"Then I can secrete my friend."
"Certainly; but, sister, remember, I am trusting you and believe it is for your and my eventual good that I consent to act in this matter."
"You can trust me."
"If not you, whom can I trust?"
"I am acting for your good."
To Oscar the woman explained after they had entered the house that she had her brother deceived on a false "steer," but she added: "You know it is to save him."
"Oh, certainly."
Oscar was led down the stairs, led to the basement and then to the cellar. A lantern was produced and a door was disclosed, showing that an excavation had been made and a room built under the yard of the house. All the arrangements were very cunningly made. When the door was opened our hero hesitated and the woman asked:
"What is the matter?"
In a tone of fearfulness Oscar said:
"I have been betrayed."
"Betrayed?" repeated the woman.
"Yes."
"By whom?"
"You."
The woman laughed and said:
"But I thought you were a man of courage. Go on; I will go with you."
Oscar delayed a moment, making some remark, until he heard a signal—a very tiny signal, but it was big and loud in its suggestions to him. He stepped into the passage and a moment later a second door opened. The secret room was disclosed and at least a dozen masked men who had been seated at a long table arose. At the instant, as our hero recoiled, the cold muzzles of two revolvers were placed on either cheek and a voice said:
"Go ahead; you can't back out now."
It was a supreme moment of peril. Our hero had friends at hand, but alas! ere his friends could announce themselves the deed of horror might have been perpetrated. It was indeed a critical moment, but Oscar was cool. He stepped forward and was pushed toward a seat, and the men gathered at the table. All sat down also.
There followed a moment's silence. Oscar looked around. Near him stood the siren who had allured him into the den, and her whole expression of countenance had changed. She looked like a beautiful fiend as her eyes gleamed with delight and the red glow of triumph flushed her features. She was proud. She had promised to deliver the detective into the hands of his intending assassins, and she had made good her word.
"So you have betrayed me," said Oscar.
"Yes," answered the woman, "I have betrayed you."
"The story about your brother was a lie."
"All these gentlemen are my brothers."
"And what now, woman?"
"You have just five minutes to live. You were set to destroy us; we will destroy you."
"Poor creature," said Oscar in a tone of deep commiseration.
The woman glared, for there was a terrible significance in his tones, and she shouted:
"Down him and make sure."
Alas! the arrangements fortunately were run on seconds, not minutes, or our hero would have been a dead man. As the woman shouted "Down him!" there came a second, voice, stern and commanding:
"Hold! don't let a man move or every soul of you dies."
There was a tableau at that moment such as never has been equaled on the stage under all the complexity of colored lights. It was a scene never to be forgotten by any of the witnesses, a scene awful in its intensity of dramatic effect. The woman suddenly appeared to become frozen with horror. The men removed their masks in their excitement and their pale visages shone like so many corpses as all leaned forward and listened and looked.
In the doorway stood two men, armed with repeating rifles. Behind them crowded others, and at that instant every one of those wretches know that defeat and capture stared them in the face. All their labor, all their cunning and their skill had come to naught. All realized that the greatest detective feat on record had been accomplished. All knew that there was no escape, unless quickly with their own hands they freed themselves through the grave.
The detectives filed into the room, but the siren had recovered her nerve. She saw and realized that she had not played but had been played. Quickly she drew a revolver, aimed at Oscar and fired, but our hero's quick eye detected her movement. It was not the first time he had dodged a bullet. The woman fired but the one shot. The next instant the darbies were on her tender wrists, and we will add that no resistance was offered. The men, as intimated, were well up in their trade. From the first instant they knew that in plain, vulgar language, their "jig was up." Every man quietly submitted. Life was dear to them. Every man had been behind prison walls. A surrender meant a return to jail; resistance meant death. They, as stated, all accepted the situation and quietly surrendered.
Immediately the detectives set to work to gather up their spoils and learn the full value of their wondrous victory. It proved to be a complete victory indeed. All the manufactured stock was secured, the flood of counterfeits was averted, for the well-being of the business community. The plates even that had cost thousands and thousands of dollars were captured. They werenever buried in the cellar to be found by some future archæologist. To conclude it was the greatest capture of counterfeiters' outfit ever made, and to Cad Metti and Oscar belonged all the credit; and from the profession and the government they received it. Dudie Dunne went up to the top as a great officer, and in a future narrative we will relate where these two wonderful people once more entered the field and accomplished great results. We will also tell the romance of the life of the bright, beautiful Italian girl who from choice became a female detective strategist.
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