any of these qualities in advance, but I will
accompany you and listen to your strange tale. I am interested in odd
experiences; it is my infirmity."

"I have been informed that you have no infirmities; that you are a bold,
resolute, keen, level-headed gentleman."

Our hero smiled and said:

"Shall I select the place where we shall go?"

"If you please."

"You do not seek privacy?"

"Only so far as I can relate my story and be heard by you alone, and let
me tell you I may do you a great service while you are serving me."

"That will be splendid," said Oscar.

He walked with the veiled woman to a well-known restaurant. He led her
to a table in a remote corner, and the moment they were seated she
removed her veil and disclosed a very beautiful face. She was evidently
an American woman, and our hero had detected a Yankee pronunciation, but
he was thoughtful enough to know that the down east idiom might be
assumed. We will here say that his suspicions of the woman had not
relaxed, but when he beheld her fair, beautiful face his suspicion was
just a little staggered.

As indicated, Oscar had not dismissed his suspicions entirely, and he
waited wonderingly for the woman to open up her business.

"You have never beheld my face before?" she said.

"Never."

"It may seem bold for a positive stranger to ask a favor, but as I said
this is a matter which requires very delicate manipulation. I cannot
trust every one, not even among the corps of detectives."

"And yet you feel that you can trust me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I believe that combined with shrewdness, courage and cunning you
possess a sympathetic nature."

"You are very complimentary."

"My informant was Miss Lamb."

"Miss Lamb has evidently spoken very kindly of me."

"Yes, she thinks you are a fine type of honorable manhood."

"Miss, please do not compliment me any further through your acquaintance
with Miss Lamb. Please explain the nature of the business that led you
to seek me."

"Before I explain my business to you I must exact a promise."

"I am careful about making promises."

"Yes, I know as a detective you are not at liberty to make promises
off-hand, but my case is a very peculiar one."

"What do you wish me to promise?"

"I have a very remarkable disclosure to make; probably one of the most
remarkable disclosures you ever listened to during the whole course of
your professional career. It is a disclosure that will call for very
p