Cad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist | Page 5

one of them said:
"Great sea waves! what a wad she has got!"

"And here we are, chummies, dead broke--not been able to make a bet."
"Not a bet," came the doleful refrain.
"We'll bet to-morrow," said one of the men with a knowing wink.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"They may have a coach down here and outride us."
"Don't you believe it. That chap is too happy. He'll have the gal down
to the beach for a supper. Good enough, we will take our supper later
on. He'll treat; yes, we'll dine with him without an invitation--see?"
"I don't see it yet."
"Well, just watch. Aha! what did I say? They've had enough of the race;
they are going. Good enough; I'll bet my share of the swag they go for a
ramble."
"How will we manage it?"
"We'll just lay low and learn what our chances are. They are getting
very reckless, they are. Eh! the girl may want his watch and sparkles. If
she does she will lead him away off for a long walk. She'll nip the
sparkles and the watch, and then, my covies, what will we do?"
"We'll nip her, eh?"
"You bet. Now just watch. There they go. Who was right, eh?"
"I reckon you were, old man."
"You bet I am, every time. Ah, we're in luck."
Oscar occasionally got a sly chance to glance at the three thieves, and
so cute was he, and such a face reader, he could almost have repeated

their talk without hearing a word of it. He read their conversation on
their well-marked faces.
"Let's go, Cad. We've got them well hooked. They have seen your wad;
that's what they are measuring."
The girl tittered. It was her way of working off her excitement in view
of the adventure she knew they were to pass through; and indeed a very
startling adventure was to crown the incidents of the day and night.
Oscar and Cad left their seats and had wandered like a pair of happy
young lovers toward the exit gate, and they were the observed of all
observers. Many remarks, pertinent and characteristic, were made
concerning them, and yet, seemingly unconscious that they were
attracting any attention at all, they moved along. Upon reaching the
platform they met a train that had just arrived from the city, and
boarded it to make the short run to the Island. And all the time they
maintained their frivolous demeanor, but four sharp eyes were on the
alert, and Oscar observed:
"They are swallowing the bait."
"Yes, we've got 'em."
It's strange, but about the same idea ran through the minds of the three
rogues. They had feared that their game might take a train to the city,
and when they saw them board the train bound for the Island the man
who had spotted the game said:
"What did I tell you, covies?"
"They are going to the beach."
"They are, dead sure."
"We are in luck."
"We are, you bet, and now I am going to prophesy again. That gal has
got a good thing. I tell you she will walk him away off down the beach.

She is bound to have those sparkles. She has her eye on them. Good
enough; I hope she'll get 'em, but she'll never wear 'em. No, no, it's I
and you, my covies, who will wear those sparkles. We covets them, we
do, and we's got to have 'em; yes, sir, we's got to have 'em, and we
will."
Oscar saw the man get on a rear car, as intimated, and there was
triumph in his heart.
We will here explain the theory upon which the confederate detectives
were working. Wise had said that there was an organized gang, that the
scoundrels were practicing all manner of criminality, and he had
determined upon the link by link game--a good one--a search for clues.
One thief as a rule knows another thief, and so the linking of
acquaintance goes on until a rogue is struck who suggests a
participation. The rule does not always work, but generally it is a
success, and was likely to prove so in the "shadow" Oscar was working.
He knew he might get on to the trail of a dozen or more rogues before
he struck one that was a member of the secret criminal organization. He
had every reason to hope he would succeed.
The confederate detectives arrived at the Manhattan Beach Hotel, and
as our hero had resolved to move very slowly and take notes as he went
along he led Cad to a table and ordered a dinner, and during the meal
the same amusing farce was kept up, and the thieves passed and
repassed the table where their selected victims were seated.
"They