Oscar the Detective | Page 7

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