Oscar the Detective | Page 9

to look over the personals in all the journals, saw a little advertisement which read as follows:
"If the detective who recovered an old lady's pocketbook will send his address to Mrs. I. F., Station B, he will hear of something to his advantage."
"Well," ejaculated the officer, "that means me. Now let us see--what shall we do?"
It did not take the detective very long to decide upon his course. He wrote the letter, and proceeding to Station B, mailed it, then he lay around for several hours until he saw a very nice-looking young lady call and ask for a letter addressed to "I. F." The letter was delivered and the girl started off with the detective on her track. He trailed her to an old-fashioned house in a very excellent neighborhood.
The girl meantime entered the house and delivered the letter to an old lady--the same old lady who had been robbed. The latter said, as the girl entered the room to the left of the hall:
"What! you have an answer already?"
"Yes, aunty."
The old woman took the letter, opened it and read:
"MADAM: I saw your advertisement. I will call upon you. When a card is presented with the name of the undersigned you will know it is the detective.
"Yours,
"OSCAR DUNNE."
"Well, I declare," exclaimed the old lady; "he will call on us."
"But how will he know where to call, aunty; you did not give your address in the advertisement."
"That is so. I had forgotten that. Why, how will he know where to call. I fear I have made a mistake. A man who is as big a dunce as that can be of no service to us."
"But wait, aunty, these men sometimes have dark and mysterious ways of their own for finding out facts. Let's wait and see if he does call."
Even as the girl spoke there came a ring at the door bell, and a few minutes later a servant presented a card on which was the name, "Oscar Dunne."
"Why, Alice, he is here; it's wonderful."
"Will you see him?"
"Yes."
"Alone?"
"Yes, retire, my child."
The niece retired and a few moments later Oscar was ushered into the old lady's presence.
CHAPTER IV.
DUDIE DUNNE LISTENS TO A STRANGE STORY AND ENTERS UPON A TRAIL THAT LEADS TO MANY VERY STARTLING ADVENTURES.
"I am surprised to see you here."
"Is that so, madam?"
"Yes."
"Why should you be when you expressed a desire to see me?"
"When did I express such a desire?"
"The desire was implied in your advertisement."
"But I did not put my address in the advertisement. How did you establish my identity?"
The detective smiled and said:
"It was a very simple matter, madam."
"I do not understand it."
"I will explain."
"Please do."
"We detectives are compelled to be very careful in all our movements. We have enemies who are constantly seeking to trap us."
"What has all that to do with the fact that you knew my address?"
"I read your advertisement."
"Yes."
"I did not know whether it was genuine or a decoy sent out by the thieves who robbed you."
"But even that does not explain how you obtained my address."
"By a very simple plan, madam."
"Tell me your plan."
"I mailed the letter to you."
"Yes."
"I knew you would send a messenger for it."
"Certainly."
"I lay around the post office for your messenger. When she came I followed her here."
"Oh, I see; well, how stupid I am. It is evident I am not a female detective. I never should have thought of that expedient."
"It is a very simple one. If it had been a trap the parties sending the letter would have taken precautions not to be trapped that way."
"I see, yes, I see; well, you are not a dunce after all."
"Thank you. You wished to see me?"
"Yes."
"Madam, what is your name, please?"
"My name is Mrs. Frewen."
"Who is the young lady who called for the answer to the advertisement?"
"My niece."
"And her name?"
"Alice Frewen. She is my brother's daughter. She is an orphan."
"You wished to see me on business?"
"Yes."
"Why did you send for me?"
"I will tell you. I read in the papers that you were a detective. I saw your bold act in catching the thief who had robbed me, and a little incident occurred that suggested to me that I had better consult with a detective. I had beheld your gallant action and my niece suggested the plan of the advertisement for your employment."
"Very well, madam; on what business do you desire to consult me about?"
The old lady produced a letter which read:
"DEAR MADAM: You are in danger. Remove all the portable valuables from your house; leave nothing around that thieves can carry away.
A FRIEND."
The detective read and re-read the missive and finally asked in a simple sort of way:
"Who sent this, madam?"
"You see the signature."
"A friend."
"That is all I know."
"Can you form the least idea as to who this friend, or rather this so-called friend is? Have you the