Cad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist | Page 6

are following down to a close shadow on us," said Oscar.
"Yes, and I am looking forward to the surprise we have in store for
them."
"It will be very enjoyable; but, Cad, I've been thinking."
"I call you down before you speak."
"What was I going to say?"

"You were going to say there was risk, and I must not scare it."
"Partner, you are a mind reader."
"I can read your mind when it runs in a generous direction."
"It is not a matter of generosity but of precaution. Those fellows look
like a desperate trio."
"Certainly, but they are off their guard."
"They are?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Oh, you know well enough, we've acted so as to throw them off. Do
you know how they have measured us?"
"I have an idea. What is yours?"
"They think you are a flat."
"That's certain."
"They think I am playing you."
"Right again."
"They think a slight rap on the ear will send you squealing."
"Yes, that's correct."
"Then they will go through me, and as I am, as they believe, a thief like
themselves they fear no risk from me."
"Admitting what you say is true----"

"We will give them a great surprise."
"Sure, but after they discover their mistake----"
"It will be too late for them to do any harm. We will have them
flattened out, or we will have forgotten an old way of managing these
things. Oscar, it is a great thing to meet an antagonist who really
underrates you."
"That is true."
"And so in this deal I tell you I think we are on a better lay than we are
aware of. After we have downed these fellows we will know what to
do."
"Yes, we will follow them up."
"Certainly, and we will have a great lead."
Oscar and Cad lingered a long time at the table. They desired "wind
and tide," as we will put it, to be just right for them.
It was well on toward five o'clock when the confederate detectives rose
from the dinner table and walked down toward the beach. They walked
very slowly and all the time maintained the rôle they had started out to
assume. They passed the bathing pavilion, walked along beyond the
Oriental Hotel and then turned toward the beach at a point bordering on
the inlet, and there they halted and stood to admire the incoming waves.
Twilight was beginning to cast its lengthening shadows over land and
sea.
The men who were set to rob the couple meantime dodged along on
their trail, keeping far in shore toward the Sheepshead Bay, and their
leader was chuckling all the time. He said:
"Oh, covies! how am I for a prophet? I'm a mind reader, and I'll set up
for a professional. These fagots are carrying out my programme to the
letter. I tell you I know the ways of smart gals like the one who has that

poor dude in tow. She is going for him right smart. She will clean him
out. I shouldn't be surprised if she sandbagged him and left him lying
on the beach. Well, well, won't we have a haul! I saw that wad, and I
tell you it's a big one; and the watch and the diamonds! Ay, ay, we will
just have a jolly time for a week. Talk about betting, eh! well, this little
trick beats all betting. We play to win, not to lose, every time. There is
no chance here. That gal is walking the dude right into our trap. We've
got the wad already, and won't we have a surprise for the smart,
bright-eyed little miss! Why, she is laying out her cash already, she is
so sure of getting all the chap has; but we'll do the shopping on his wad,
not she, you bet."
As stated, Oscar and Cad wandered down to the beach and here as
before they enacted their rôle to perfection, and it was at this moment
that one of the men asked:
"How shall we do it?"
It was then the man uttered the words with which we open our
narrative:
"Let's duck him and steal the girl."
The three laughed. It all looked so easy. The young fellow was, as they
supposed, such a "sweetie," such a little darling, who would turn pale
and plead for mercy the instant one of the three men spoke to him. The
latter discussed their plan, and it was arranged that their leader should
approach the young people and engage them in conversation. The man
did approach and Oscar remarked to Cad:
"Now the fun commences. Well, well, what a real pretty surprise we
have in store for those rogues! Cad, I enjoy this; yes, I do--it's
immense!"
"Don't forget yourself, Oscar,