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CAD METTI,

[Pg 4]

The Female Detective Strategist;

OR,

DUDIE DUNNE AGAIN IN THE FIELD.

BY OLD SLEUTH.

Author of all the Famous "Old Sleuth" Stories.

CHAPTER I.

TWO SKILLFUL YOUNG DETECTIVES OVERMATCH A BRACE OF VILLAINS ANDPROVE WHAT NERVE AND COURAGE CAN DO.

"Let's duck him and steal the girl."

A young lady and gentleman were walking on the sands at Coney Islandbeach. The lady was very handsomely at[Pg 5]tired, and by her side walked ayoung man, a perfect type in appearance of an effeminate dude. Threerough-looking men had been following the lady and gentleman at adistance, and when the latter stopped at a remote part of the beach farfrom any hotel the three men held a consultation, and one of themuttered the declaration with which we open our narrative.

As usual certain very exciting incidents led up to the scene we havedepicted. One week prior to the meeting on the beach a young detectiveknown as Dudie Dunne, owing to the fact that he often assumed the rôleof a dude as a throw-off, was seated in a hotel smoking-room when ashrewd-faced, athletic-looking man approached him and said:

"Hello, Dunne! I've been on the lookout for you."

"You've found me."

"I have, and I'm glad. I've got a great shadow for you."

"I am all ears, Wise."

"I want you in the government service. There is a chance for you to makea big hit."

"I am ready to make a big hit, Wise."

"You are in a position to do it. You speak Italian, but what is better,you have your lady pal. She is a real Italian, I am told, and one of thebravest and brightest women that ever entered the profession."

"Some one told you that?"

"Yes."

"Whoever did so knew what they were talking about. Cad Metti is one ofthe brightest women that ever entered the profession; she is a borndetective. What is the job?"

"There is a gang at work—the worst ever known. They are Italians, butthey have a contingent of American and English rogues working with them.They are[Pg 6] the most dangerous operators that ever organized for thecoining of base money. They are located all over the United States. Theyhave regular passwords. Indeed, their organization is perfect, and withthem are a number of desperate assassins, and a few beautiful women. Ican't go into all the details, but the government has appropriated alarge sum from the secret service fund. We must run down and break upthis dangerous gang."

"You have the case in hand?"

"I am directing the hunt. I have twenty of my best men on the case, andI have trailed down to the fact that all the movements are directed fromNew York. The chief men are located here, and never in the history ofcriminal doings was such a dangerous lot at work."

"What points have you?"

"The only point I have is the fact that the leaders are located here inNew York."

"In what line are they working?"

"They are counterfeiting in all its branches, they are bank robbing andburglarizing private houses. Indeed every sort of criminal appears to be