y were being watched. Oh, no, they were too absorbed in each
other and the fun they were having and the winnings they were raking in.
It was a strange incident, but one that often occurs. Oscar was not
betting to win. He was merely betting as a "guy," and, as intimated, it
often happens that the careless win where the careful and posted lose. A
race had just been run and a messenger boy returned with the tickets he
had cashed, and the girl pulled out a big wad of bills and added the
winnings to her roll. The three observers noticed that she carried the
bulk of the money, and one of them said:

"Great sea waves! what a wad she has got!"

"And here we are, chummies, dead broke--not been able to make a bet."

"Not a bet," came the doleful refrain.

"We'll bet to-morrow," said one of the men with a knowing wink.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"They may have a coach down here and outride us."

"Don't you believe it. That chap is too happy. He'll have the gal down
to the beach for a supper. Good enough, we will take our supper later
on. He'll treat; yes, we'll dine with him without an invitation--see?"

"I don't see it yet."

"Well, just watch. Aha! what did I say? They've had enough of the race;
they are going. Good enough; I'll bet my share of the swag they go for a
ramble."

"How will we manage it?"

"We'll just lay low and learn what our chances are. They are getting
very reckless, they are. Eh! the girl may want his watch and sparkles.
If she does she will lead him away off for a long walk. She'll nip the
sparkles and the watch, and then, my covies, what will we do?"

"We'll nip her, eh?"

"You bet. Now just watch. There they go. Who was right, eh?"

"I reckon you were, old man."

"You bet I am, every time. Ah, we're in luck."

Oscar occasionally got a sly chance to glance at the three thieves, and
so cute was he, and such a face reader, he could almost have repeated
their talk without hearing a word of it. He read their conversation on
their well-marked faces.

"Let's go, Cad. We've got them well hooked. They have seen your wad;
that's what they are measuring."

The girl tittered. It was her way of working off her excitement in view
of the adventure she knew they were to pass through; and indeed a very
startling adventure was to crown the incidents of the day and night.

Oscar and Cad left their seats and had wandered like a pair of happy
young lovers toward the exit gate, and they were the obser