OLD SLEUTH'S SPECIAL DETECTIVE SERIES.
PRICE, 25 CENTS.
OSCAR THE DETECTIVE.
By "OLD SLEUTH."
OSCAR THE DETECTIVE
OR,
DUDIE DUNNE, THE EXQUISITE DETECTIVE.
An Odd but Stirring Detective Narrative.
By OLD SLEUTH.
Copyright, 1895, by Parlor Car Publishing Company.All Rights Reserved.
NEW YORK:J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,57 Rose Street.
DUDIE DUNNE, THE EXQUISITE DETECTIVE.
BY OLD SLEUTH.
CHAPTER I.
DUDIE DUNNE PLAYS A GREAT TRICK TO RUN DOWN A CRIMINAL—AS SIMPLEJOHN HE APPEARS INNOCENT, BUT WHEN HIS MASK GOES OFF THE "FURFLIES."
"Oh, fellers, look at this! he's strayed or stolen; let's go for him."
A group of little toughs were gathered at a street corner in a lowlocality in the city of New York when a dude of the first water with theregular Anglo step and exquisite airs walked leisurely down the streetpeering through his single eyeglass at the surrounding tenements. He wasa splendid specimen in appearance of the dudie sweet, and the moment theeyes of the gamins fell upon him they[Pg 4] saw a chance for fun. It was atfirst intended as a raid for fun, but in the end it became plunder.
The dude walked along until he arrived opposite the spot where the boyswere gathered, where they lay like little Indians in ambush ready toleap forth to slaughter. The dude stopped short, gazed at them with asmile which was all simplicity and asked:
"Can you boys tell me where Maggie's aunt lives around here? Tell me andI'll give you a cent apiece."
"Here!" said one of the boys, and a second queried:
"What is it?"
"Where did this thing drop from?"
"Well, ain't he a sweetie!"
"Oh, dear boys, I am so weary. I've been looking for Maggie's aunt. Shelives somewhere down here. Maggie is our cook and she is under theweather—yes, very much under the weather—and I agreed to notify heraunt, but hang me if I can find her aunt. I don't know her aunt's name;I forgot to ask her what her dear aunt's name is, and all I know is thatshe lives down this way somewhere, and she is Maggie's aunt. If you ladswill take me to her I will give you a penny apiece—I will, yes—I am inearnest—hee, hee, hee!"
The laugh was something to hear, and the lads, all in chorus, imitatedthe simpleton's laugh with a "hee, hee, hee!" which sounded veryridiculous, and the dude said:
"Oh, you rude boys, I really believe you are mocking me—yes, I do. Nowdon't be naughty, but come and show me where Maggie's aunt lives—hee,hee, hee!"
Again the lads in chorus "hee, hee, hee-d."
"Boys, what have we struck?" came the question.
"Now don't be rude, boys, don't be rude, or I will chastise you—yes, Iwill chastise you. I don't want to do so, but you may compel me tochastise you."
The boys just roared at this threat, and one of them[Pg 5] stealing behindthe dude gave him a "thumper" with his toe where the exquisite's pantswere drawn the tightest under his long coat.
"Oh, oh, you wicked boy! What