Part 20 (1/2)
”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.”