lans. I can place them bound hand and
foot in your power, but my brother must be saved. It is to save him that
I am prepared to make the terrible disclosure. You will become famous;
you will achieve a professional victory where all other detectives have
failed. You will do the country a service such as no detective ever
before performed, but the price of my disclosure is the salvation of my
brother."

"Why do you not cause your brother to withdraw from these criminals?"

"I cannot. I have exhausted my persuasion with him. He is mad, mad,
believes he is on the eve of the acquirement of great wealth. To be rich
is his mania. He is really insane. I wish to save him. I can do so only
by a betrayal of his confederates, and a disclosure of all their plans
and devices as revealed to me by my brother."

Oscar was amazed in spite of his inurement to surprises. He was aghast
at the suggestions involved in the woman's proposition, and he had cause
for deep study. It was a singular fact that from the first moment the
beautiful woman spoke to him he associated her with the matter he had in
hand, but did not anticipate that her connection with the subject would
come in the strange, weird shape that it did.

"It is your brother you wish to save?"

"Yes."

"And he is associated with this gang of criminals?"

"Yes."

"He has revealed everything to you?"

"He has."

"And you wish to betray these men?"

"I do."

"Why?"

"In order to save my brother."

"You have no other motive?"

"I have no other motive."

"But you told me there might be a large reward for me."

"I did."

"What did you mean?"

"The government has offered a large reward for the arrest and conviction
of these men."

"How did you learn the fact?"

"My brother told me."

"Tell me more about yourself."

"I may, on one condition."

"What is the condition?"

"Can I hope?"

"Hope in what manner?"

"That you will agree to save my brother, and--" The woman stopped short.

"Proceed, miss, you have another proviso."

"I have."

"State it."

"Can I hope that you will save my brother under any circumstances, and
share the reward with me? for without my aid you cannot earn it. I
should be entitled to at least one-half of the reward."

"Miss, if through any information you give me I earn the reward I will
share with you."

"And my brother?"

"I may be led to recognize that I can promise to spare your brother on
the ground that criminals