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gazed on her in amazement. She displayed the nerve of an old
soldier. : ,
CHAPTER IX,
Dick kept his glance fixed on the woman while he talked, and
_ she returned al times his sharp gaze.
‘“*The woman in my dream,”’ continued Dick, ‘‘ handed over all
the stolen articles.”’ :
‘* What did she hand over in your dream?”
** A watch, some diamond studs, and a wallet.” .
‘* And she gave all the things to the man in your dream? Did
they say anything in your dream?”
“* Tell me what you heard in your dream.”
“Tho man said it was splendidly done.”
-“*The wretch! And what did she say?’’ . oo
«She said she would never do it again, She said it was the sec-
~ ond time she had done it, and she would never do it again.””
* Poor thing!’ : :
* Yes, poor thing, all my sympathies were aroused for her.”’
‘* Did you wake up then?” ‘ .
"No? . se : :
‘* How strange! When I was a child, and had a dream like that,
I would always wake up crying.
‘*T did not.” :
‘Tt {s so interesting; tell me all your dream.”’
“The woman went away,’’
‘She left the man after giving him everything she had stolen in
your dream?” :
4s Yes.” . . _ a
“ And the wretch tock everything Well, he was mean. How
lucky it was alla dream. Tell me the rest.” . .
** When the man went away I followed him’ :
“ How life-like your dream was}”’ °
wy
“You let the woman go in your dream and followed the man?”
“Ves.” .
**T should have thought you would have followed the woman.’
“No, Something in my dream was revealed, and I thought I’d
meet her again and follow the man.” SS . :
“And why did you follow him?”
“T thought 1’d recover the stolen articles.”
Dick’s eyes were fixed upon the woman as
ment, but she did not wince. .
. ‘And you recovered the articles in your dream?”
“ce Yes.”’
“ And you didn’t wake up then?”’
“No.” :
he made this state-
** Well, well! Iused to always wake up just as I secured the
objects of my dream, and find Thad nothing.”
‘That is usually the case; but mine was a peculiar dream.”’
«Tt is the funniest dream I ever heard of in all my life.’’
“Yes, it was a very remarkable dream.”’ ,
“Well, what happened next Where did the man go to—a
pawn-shop, of course?” .
““To a gambling den.”’
“ And you followed him in there?”
“Yes,” . :
“Did he play?”
“-¥es,""
“ Where did he get the money?”’
** Fe took it from the wallet before he went in.” _
“Flow wonderful! Dear mel! your dream is like reality.”
“* Yes, very much”? ~ . oO :
“And the man—he lost all the money?”
‘*No; le won.” . .
“Dear me!” .
“ And when he Icft the gambling den I followed him.”
~ “ How persistent you were in your dream!”
‘“* Very.” : : ~
* Did you make his acquaintance in your dream?”
** Yes; and then we went to supper.”*
** And you really eat in your dream?”
“Yes.”
4 . o
“*T never heard of such a thing. People always wake up when
dreaming of a meal; yes, they awake hungry. And what then?’
* JT told the man about the robbery.”
*€ And what did he say?” .
* He looked very much surprised, and tried to fool me, but I
wonldn’t have it. I told him I must have the goods,”’
The woman did not even change color.
“ And what did he say in your dream?”.
4 Ye passed them over,””
** And then you did wake up?” >
“No.”
** What did you dream then?"”
“T dreamed I’d go and meet the woman.”
The woman did not show the least sign of trepidation.
** And you met her?”’ °
“Yes.”
“What then?”
“TY woke up.”
“Well, well! how remarkable!
sage to me?” . .
‘*L have told you the message in my dream.”
The effect of the detective’s last words was not what he thought
it would be, even though he knew the woman could anticipate his
purpose, She did not exhibit any excessive excitement, but merely
remarked, in a quiet tone: so,
Tt was a remarkable dream. But dreams are dreams,”’ -
But now, how about the mes-
“Yes.” an
“Ve have nothing to show for them.”
“‘Asarule, nothing. In my case, it_is different. My dream, as
your say, was a very remarkable one. ‘I have something to shory.”’
“You imagine you have something to show for your dream?’ »
: :
“Yes,” :
** Really, I’d like to see what you have?” :
_. Dick produced the recovered articles, The woman -looked. at
them without exhibiting the quiver of a muscle of her face.
‘* Madame, this farce has gone far enough.” .
“That is what I think.’’ 4
* “Do you understand what my dream means?’ ,
‘‘Not at all. You are a very strange man. You talk like one
who is under a delusion of some kind.”’ > a .
**To put it in words: I did not dream.”’ .
** What an imagination you must have to make up sucha won-
derful story!”. You should be a romancer, You would make a
success.’ foo: . .
“I was an eye-witness of the robbery,’’-
“In your dream?”
““No; I really saw you rob that young man,
** Why don’t you go and lodge a complaint against me?”’
‘‘ There are reasons why I will not at present, a
.‘ Dear me! I am sorry.” : vge
“Why?” -
“Vd prove what a fool you are by the young man who was
robbed. He'd swear 1 was not the robber.”
-.* And I swear you are.”” :
’ “* Whose oath would stand? . The young man would not perjure —,
himself, and he could not swear I was the robber. . But as this has
become a real adventure, will you tell me what became of the
man?’” . : - : :
“*Oh! lie’s wandering arcund disconsolate.”” .
“ Have you any further business with me?”’ ’ /
** Will you confess to the robbery?” co .
*“No; and what is more, you had better be very careful. You
may get into trouble.” ~-
. * Twill chance that.’” : oe . .
“ You can identify the young man whom you say was robbed?” °
4 **T can,” : ae?
“ And you think I am the robber?” 3.
“JT do.” ve ,
-‘* JT will go with you and mect the young man. Te shall Re my
face. He shall study me well, and if he says I am the robber, you :
will be justified and I will confess.’’ a \
A light began to dawn on the detective’s mind; Te realized that :
the woman had been more skillful than he had dreamed. He felt .
satisfied she knew the young man, for reasons, would not identify '
her, and would rather stand his loss, or,she had worked under a ..
cover that would defy identification. } ee ot
‘We will not bother about the identification,”
“Why not?” “
“7 want to talk about another matter. I may be your friend.”
“You are very kind to volunteer friendship; but Llook on you
as a meddlesome fool. I do not seck your friendship, nor fear you.
Ido pot know what your ‘scheme is, but as for me, you'can do ‘
youy worst, I can give an account of myself to any judge in the
dand, I fear no court nor no man. I only offered to Stand identi-_) smmapeeee =
fication in order to prove what a fool youare.”?. | a *
“One word from me, and two detectives from San Francisco
will be on your.track.” —- ‘ .
“Go and speak the word; or, 1 will go with you and mect them
and again prove you a fool.” toe : : ,
Dick was taken a little aback. She had wonderful nerve.
“Come, we will talk matters over.” |
“I don’t know why I waste so much time with you.”
‘ Your nerve is great; but, Louise, you are in my power."’
“ Well, that is pleasant news. What will you do with me?” '
‘I desire to come to an understanding with you.” :
** Are you making love to me?” : ;
; ‘ No doubt you are very lovable as far as beauty is concerned.’” “G
‘Thank you for your snecring allusion to my unfortunate lack t
of comeliness.”’ :
** Bah! you do not deceive me, A sponge wi if- \
ferent ace , ponge would open up a dif. 5 ‘
' “e Take a sponge and try, You are welcome to make the at- ¢
empt. : , :
- “ What nonsense this all ist’. &
“You are right, sir; it is nonsense. And now let me tell you NE
something: you have made a grave mistake,”” ‘ :
“We will see,”’ was the detective’s rejoinder,
CHAPTER X, :
Dick was at fault. The woman had baffled him.. He had the j
bearings on her, however, and also on the man Arthur de had ‘He eel
felt that it was necessary for him, considering the ultimate object . :
he had in view, to go slow. He determined to let the woman 20
her way and attempt to run her down to her house, -
“ I will see you at some future time ’’ he said.
You are very kind. You are real smart; but Iet me give you |
a little advice: you had better mind y Z i x
your own business; you ma:
Tun against a snag or stone wall. Alecks like you sometimes to.”
“ I'll heed your advice and not run against 4 stone wall,”’
L suppose I can go?” ~ 4
“Certainly.”
““ Wil) you pay the man?”
“ Certainly.””
‘t Good-night,””
. \
The woman rose and left without a word ick :
mana dollar, but he ran forward and said: \ Dicks tossed tho old
x