Cad Metti, The Female Detective Strategist | Page 4

the races and chum for our game."
On the following day the two detectives, well gotten up for their "chumming" scheme, started down for the Sheepshead Bay track.
They went on the course and played the r?le they had determined to play to perfection. They attracted considerable attention and that was what they most desired, for it was their "chumming" game to bring around the fish.
CHAPTER II.
CAD METTI AND OSCAR DUNNE DO SOME FINE "CHUMMING" AND SUCCEED IN BRINGING A BIG FISH TO NIBBLE AT THEIR BAIT.
Oscar Dunne and Cad Metti were indeed great experts in enacting a r?le. They took a seat in the grand stand and through a messenger boy bet on the races. They won, and they laughed and tittered in delight over their success, and, as intimated, attracted a great deal of attention, and they exhibited considerable money. Oscar was playing the r?le of a dude with plenty of "stuff," as the vulgar phrase puts it, and Cad was playing the r?le of a fast young girl who was leading the exquisite fool to squander his roll. Well, it was a great chumming game well played--played before a lot of men who were as avaricious as impecunious gamblers always are. There were men there who bet and lost. There were men there who had no money to risk, and they all thought themselves possessed of brains, and here was a silly fool loaded with money, and here also was a silly girl reaping a rich harvest in greenbacks from her enamored dude, as it appeared, and so the game went on until a man with a keen eye got them under his glance. He stood awhile and watched them, and various expressions passed over his face. After a little the man strolled away. He joined two other men, and going close to them he said in a low tone:
"I've struck a chance to make a raise."
"Good enough," was the response.
"Yes, and it's dead easy."
"What is it?"
"I'll go over opposite the grand stand; you fellows follow me. Come up offhand and I'll show where a big haul lies right in sight."
The rogues had struck a lead and so had the two sharp-eyed detectives who were playing such a neat game.
"Cad," said Oscar, "we've got a bite."
"Yes, I felt the nibble."
"It's a good thing, sis, to locate a rogue."
"Indeed it is."
"We have not chummed in vain."
"So it would appear."
This little bit of side talk was carried on while the two detectives maintained the role they were enacting, and a little while later they saw the three join each other and beheld them as furtively they watched their anticipated prey.
"We've got three bites, Cad."
"I see them."
"What shall we do?"
"Don't ask me to suggest, Oscar. No one can beat you in laying out plans."
"We'll leave here."
"And learn if they follow?"
"Yes."
"That would be my idea."
"Where shall we go?"
"We will give them a chance to follow us. We will go to the beach."
Oscar and Cad did not start right off--they were too smart for that. They were playing a great game. They did not see the three men; they did not know they were being watched. Oh, no, they were too absorbed in each other and the fun they were having and the winnings they were raking in. It was a strange incident, but one that often occurs. Oscar was not betting to win. He was merely betting as a "guy," and, as intimated, it often happens that the careless win where the careful and posted lose. A race had just been run and a messenger boy returned with the tickets he had cashed, and the girl pulled out a big wad of bills and added the winnings to her roll. The three observers noticed that she carried the bulk of the money, and 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