As soon as Opdyke and his friend Dalledouze left the house, Dave, who had been alive to what was going on, followed them.
He shadowed Sam all the way to Big Mike’s, and never gave himself away once.
How did he do it?
Why by keeping at a considerable distance and always in the shadow.
Of course one runs a risk of losing the game by doing this, but Dave took the chances and won.
If Sam’s shadowing work was good, then Dave’s was better, but if I had told either that the other one was working on the case I doubt if the result would have been so good.
You can’t act out your true nature if you know some one is watching you all the time.
Sam had not the faintest idea that Dave Doyle was on the case until he sprang through Big Mike’s back gate just in time to save his life, while Dave, who had been in the house all the afternoon, never knew that Sam was coming until he suddenly appeared at the door.
Before this Dave had selected Mr. Opdyke as the thief—I mean before the night of the party, because he had shadowed him to Big Mike’s the day previous, and there saw him exhibit a set of diamond jewelry—pin, ear-rings, etc.—of great value, which Dave at once recognized as stolen goods.
That is why I hoped Sam would trap him, and that it would be valuable practice for him, I knew, so—but there I’ve said enough and need only add that after a long and weary trial Opdyke was convicted and sent to Sing Sing on a fifteen year sentence, which was all it amounted to, for he had powerful friends possessed of that mysterious influence “political pull.”