reat success; and as also stated, he was a young man of
singularly effeminate appearance, with muscles like a whipcord and
powers of endurance that were seemingly tireless. He was not only a
great athlete but a wonderful boxer, and it was a favorite role with him
to assume the character of a dude, and many a surprise he had given to
various smart Alecs during his career on the force, and with the
surprise he generally administered when required a good sound drubbing
to some fellow who had set him down as an exquisite. His looks when in
the "dude cover" were very deceiving, and when he started in to throw
off his mask he became a terror to evil-doers, and at the time when we
introduce him a second time to our readers he had won a great reputation
as a singularly successful detective officer.

Shortly after parting with Wise, the great government special, Oscar
went on to the street, and proceeding up town entered a very
respectable-looking house which he entered with a night key. It was his
home. He had made considerable money and had provided a home for
himself. The house outside was very unpretentious, but inside it was as
luxurious as the home of a rich bachelor. We will here state for the
information of our readers who are making their first acquaintance with
Oscar Dunne that in a great case in which he had been engaged he met a
beautiful Italian girl who aided him very materially. The girl earned a
good reward and when Oscar asked her what she proposed to do her answer
was:

"I shall become a detective," and then and there a partnership was
formed between Oscar Dunne and Caroline Metti. The latter lived with a
countrywoman who had kept boarders, but who was only too glad to give up
her general boarding business to become a housekeeper for Cad Metti, the
latter having rescued and adopted two Italian children from the street,
a boy and girl, whom she had determined to educate and advance in life
in case both proved worthy.

Cad Metti's home was not far from the residence of her male professional
partner, and the pair were in constant communication. Oscar was an adept
at disguises, and he had found in Cad Metti a ready scholar, and
between them they had studied the art of disguise as a science and both
had become very versatile and proficient.

As stated, Oscar went direct to his rooms after parting from Wise, the
government special, and a few moments later a veiled lady appeared at
his door and was shown into his