_ CHAPTER VII
OSCAR HAD PROMISED A SURPRISE AND HE MAKES GOOD HIS PROMISE, AND AFTER SERVING OUT THE MAN AND HIS FRIENDS HE STARTS OUT AND ENCOUNTERS MORE SERIOUS ADVENTURES.
Our hero had promised the men a surprise, and he kept his word. A more surprised man than the fellow who caught the stinging blow never went whirling to the ground. It is stated that a similar scene frequently occurred with Billy Edwards, the light-weight champion, years ago, who gave no evidence in his appearance of being the athlete and powerful hitter that he really was.
The man who got it was a little dazed when he recovered his feet. He looked surprised indeed, but made a rush, possibly thinking there had been some mistake and he had been kicked by a mule instead of receiving the sockdologer from the effeminate-looking dude. He made a rush, as stated, when Dudie Dunne got into shape, worked his attitude, and dancing around his antagonist a moment he let drive again, and a second time the astonished insulter and challenger went whirling to the ground, blood spurting from his nose while his eyes began to swell.
The two other men were so surprised they just stood and looked on. Indeed it was a curious sight, but Oscar did not intend them to have the laugh so easy. Like the Irishman and the bull they had had their laugh before they went over the fence. It was their turn, thought Dudie Dunne, and as he gave his first assailant the second clip he swung round and quick as a flash light of a photographer he let the two men successively have it square on the forehead and over they went, heels up. When they recovered their feet they used them--used them to good advantage--in getting away, while chappie went for number one again, but the fellow begged---actually begged--and our hero picking up his coat flung it at him and commanded:
"Get away, you dirty dog, and mind what you are at next time you attempt to insult a man who did no harm to you."
The whole tone and manner of the supposed dude had changed, and as the three men joined each other at some distance one of them said:
"What was it we struck?"
"I reckon we struck against a stone wall or a flying brick, from the way my face is swelling."
The men had gotten their surprise, and our hero, as a matter of prudence, being alone in the grove, changed his disguise, dropped the chappie role altogether, and walked off in an opposite direction. He had visited the neighborhood for a special purpose, and his run-in with the three rowdies had only been a side diversion.
Oscar walked over to a row of dilapidated-looking houses, where he had presented a view of the miserable condition in which human beings can live and thrive. On the way over he passed the three men whom he had served out, and so complete was his disguise they failed to recognize him. He walked past the cottages several times and only attracted a passing glance; or it is more probable that those who saw him did not recognize that he had passed and repassed. Oscar was going by for the third time when he saw a face--a dark face with glittering black eyes--appear at one of the upper windows just for an instant. Our hero, however, was one of those who can take in a great deal at a glance and he muttered:
"Aha! a fish has seen the bait, now there will come a nibble."
The detective after a little passed down by the row of houses for the fourth time, and he kept his eyes seemingly in one direction, when in fact his glance was directed toward the window where for one instant he had seen the dark face. The face did not appear again, and he muttered:
"That was a nibble, sure. Now we will see."
He repassed the houses for the fifth time, going very slowly, but seemingly attracted no attention. He was aware, however, that he was being very closely observed, not from the window where he had seen the face, but by a female and a rather pretty-looking young Italian woman, and as our hero passed she smiled upon him very sweetly--and she could smile sweetly--and her glittering black eyes were illuminated with a brilliance that was charming.
Our hero stopped short, stepped toward the stoop on which the girl was sitting, and asked:
"Do you speak English?"
"Yes," came the answer, and again the maiden smiled a bewildering smile.
"Do you live in these houses?"
"Yes."
"Do you know a young lady named Fennetti?"
"That is my name," and the girl smiled even more sweetly than before. The detective did not smile, however, but the regret shot through his mind: "Why in thunder did I chance to pitch upon that name?"
"I am looking for a Miss Fennetti, a drawing teacher."
"I am a drawing teacher," came the startling answer.
The detective for a moment was knocked endways, but he was a young officer of wonderful resource and he said:
"I am glad to meet you. I was told that you could tell me where I can find a gentleman named Argetti."
Our hero had manufactured the name, but the dark-eyed beauty with the glittering black eyes at once answered:
"I know Signor Argetti."
The detective was matched, but he discerned that he had not only caught a nibble, but a regular bite, and he was in danger of being bitten if he did not play just right.
He was the cool-headed, nervy man to do it, however, and he said:
"Will you furnish me the direction?"
"I will take you to his house."
"Oh, do you know where he lives?"
"Yes."
"Is it far from here?"
"Yes."
The girl had made a slip. She had given our hero a chance to hedge. She was bright and smart, but she would have been a mind-reader had she successfully parried our detective clear to the end of his diplomacy. He appeared to stop and think, and the girl asked:
"Shall I guide you?"
"I was thinking."
She exclaimed quickly:
"It is not very far. It will only take us about ten minutes."
While talking to the pretty Italian girl our hero was letting his glance wander around. He was looking for a
bigger fish. The girl, meantime, raised her hand to her brow as though to recall something to her mind; as she did so Oscar observed a gem of rare value glittering on her finger, and mentally he ejaculated:
"Aha! I reckon I am getting into deep water."
"Will you go?" she asked.
"And you will guide me?"
"I will."
"My business with Mr. Argetti is not really pressing, but I will go for the pleasure of having such a lovely guide."
"Hold! hold! no flattery, please. I am merely obliging a stranger."
The girl's eyes flashed with a different light than that which illuminated them when her eyes embellished her smile.
"I don't mean to flatter you. I but spoke the truth."
"You wish to see Signor Argetti personally?"
"Yes."
"You will not be able to see him before night."
"And will I be compelled to wait until to-night?"
"To see him, yes."
"Can you not go and show me where his house is located, and then I can call upon him at my leisure?"
"I cannot go with you until to-night."
Again the girl smiled one of her bewildering smiles.
"At what hour shall I come here?"
"At about nine o'clock."
"And then I will surely find him at home?"
"Yes."
"And you will meet me to guide me to his home?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"At the railroad crossing."
"You will be there at nine?"
"I will."
"I will meet you and be very much obliged to you," said our hero, and raising his hat like an Italian count he walked away.
Oscar understood his risk, but he understood more. He knew that he was on the track of some one. A great game had been played. He connected all the little incidents--the face at the window, the dark face of a man with glittering eyes, then the woman so handily on the stoop of an adjoining house. Then again her admissions to a false identity, for our hero had invented both names that he had given the girl. All these little incidents proved that he had been observed, that he had aroused a suspicion as to his design, and that the observation and suspicion could only be aroused in one who feared something--possibly feared being seen and tracked.
After the girl had seen our hero pass from view, she entered the house at the window of which Oscar had seen the dark face. In the room was a desperate-looking man--a man one would fear to meet at night alone, for every lineament betrayed the man to be a desperate scoundrel.
When the girl returned the man asked, as she entered the room, he speaking in Italian:
"Who is he?"
"I do not know."
"What is his purpose?"
"I leave you to judge. I will repeat the conversation."
"Do so."
The girl exhibited a wonderful preciseness of memory by repeating every word that had passed between herself and the stranger. The man listened, and when the recital was concluded he said:
"You are bright; you intended to be very cute, but alas! if he is a foe, as I believe he is, he invented those names. He knows you confessed to an identity that is false, and therefore knows that there is something wrong."
"What will you do?"
"He is to meet you to-night?"
"Yes."
"You are to guide him to the house of Argetti."
"Yes."
"I will be Argetti and you shall introduce him to me. He will be led to the little cabin out on the marsh. I have had it fitted up for an emergency. After you have brought him to me you must be on the watch to learn if there are others at his back; if there is you must signal me, if not you must signal me."
"And then?"
The man laughed in a strange, weird manner and said:
"I have a grave under the cabin floor."
The girl's face assumed a very thoughtful expression.
"Well, what now?"
"You may be too rash."
"How?"
"I do not think there is any necessity for putting a body in the grave. You can play a shrewder game."
"I can?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Maintain the character of Argetti."
"That depends."
"Upon what?"
"The discoveries I make concerning this man?"
"He appears very harmless, very much of a gentleman. He may not intend harm. He may not be a foe."
"I would be glad to agree with you, but I have experience. If he were an American, I would believe as you do, but he is English."
"How do you know he is English?"
"By his dress and walk. I observed him very closely."
"Suppose he is English?"
"Then he has come over here to look for me."
"That man is not a detective."
"He is not?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"He is a weak and very dainty young gentleman."
"Is he?"
"Yes."
"Well, I tell you that when one becomes a fugitive he must judge people by their acts, not by their looks; I believe the man is either a detective, or a detective's decoy. His innocent looks aid his trick, but I will know after he has visited me in the cabin."
"Oh, I hope you will do him no harm."
"What! has his handsome face bewitched you?"
"No."
"It would appear so."
"I would save you."
"Save me?"
"Yes."
"By having me captured. No, no, girl, I know how to take care of myself. I've been fighting the police of different countries for too many years to fear an encounter now."
At the hour named our hero was on hand, but during the time he had been waiting he had become conscious that he was under surveillance, and the man who appeared to "dog" him was an Italian. The fellow was very cute in practicing his game of dodge and peep, and our hero was unable to see his face, so he finally determined to make it a counter dodge and peep, but his man dodged out of the way like the man at the window, and Oscar lost sight of him.
As stated, he appeared at the meeting place and the girl was there waiting for him.
"You are on time," he said.
"Yes, I am here."
"You are very kind."
"I promised."
"I will pay you for the trouble you have taken."
The girl was thoughtful and silent. She did not start, but stood, as intimated, lost in deep thought. Finally she asked:
"Will you tell me why you wish to meet Argetti?"
"I wish to ask him some questions."
"No, that is not your purpose."
"Well, no, that is not my purpose, but I am permitted to name my business to Argetti only."
The girl looked around in a furtive manner and said:
"Can I advise you?"
"Yes."
"Do not go to meet Argetti to-night."
"Why not?"
"Do not ask any questions, but heed my warning."
"Is it a warning?"
"Yes."
"Why do you warn me? Why should I be warned?"
"Argetti is a peculiar man--a very suspicious man."
"Well?"
"He is a man of very violent temper. His house is situated in a very lonely place. Should he become angry he could assault you and your cries would not be heard."
"Why should he assault me?"
"I cannot imagine, and yet I am warned that it is not best for you to go there to-night."
"Yes, I must go."
"Your business must be very urgent."
"It is."
"I have warned you."
"Yes, but you should give me more definite information."
"I cannot."
"What would you have me do?"
"Don't go, and I will tell him you failed to meet me."
"Aha! he is waiting for me. Then he knows of my intended visit?"
"Yes, that is why I did not guide you to his house this afternoon. I desired to prepare him for your visit."
The girl discovered her error by the admission that our hero was expected, but she was quick in seeking to repair her error and besides she was taking chances at best.
"I shall go and meet him."
"You are a gentleman."
"I trust so."
"I have warned you."
"You have."
"You will not betray me?"
"Not for my life."
"I believe you, and trust all will come out well, but I tell you plainly you are taking great chances as I am."
"You are?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"In warning you. If it were known that I had warned you it would cost me my life."
"You are very frank."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because I fear you will be made the victim of another man."
"The victim of another man?"
"Yes."
"Explain."
"I told you Argetti had a foe."
"Yes."
"He knows that foe is seeking him."
"Yes."
"He has heard of your inquiring for him."
"Yes."
"He associates you with his enemy; if it were his enemy I would utter no words of warning, but believing you are my friend I warn you."
The detective put two and two together and at once concluded that the man who had been watching him during the afternoon was the foe of the so-called Argetti. This man had been watching our hero because he believed he was in communication with Argetti, or the individual whom the so-called Argetti represented.
The detective meditated and finally said:
"I must see Argetti."
"You fully comprehend what I have said?"
"I do."
"You know there is risk?"
"I do."
"You know that I have advised you in all sincerity?"
"Yes."
"Do you really go alone to meet Argetti?"
"I do."
"Very well, we will go." _