"Yes."

"And I have your promise that under no circ.u.mstances is my brother to be arrested?"

"We may arrest him and let him turn state's evidence."

"No, no, never. I am only anxious to save him from disgrace. I am revealing this to you in order to save him from disgrace. Yes, it is for this purpose I am betraying his confederates."

"Can you meet me to-night?"

"I can."

"I must have time to think this matter over."

"We must act quickly."

"Yes."

"It would be better were you to make arrangements to go to my house by to-morrow night at the latest."

"Yes, I will."

"Where shall I meet you to-night?"

"Here. We have dined together; we will sup together."

"We will meet near here?"

"Yes."

A corner was named and a little later the woman, who did not give her name, and our hero separated. Later Oscar called upon Miss Lamb. He learned from her that she had met a lady at the typewriting school where Miss Lamb was a subst.i.tute teacher, and Miss Lamb had really referred the lady to our hero upon gaining her confidence, and having learned that she had need of a detective in a very delicate affair, the nature of which had not been revealed to Miss Lamb.

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, he _imagined_ he 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."

CHAPTER VIII.

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."