“Given up?” She lifted her eyebrows. “I’ve just begun. It’s still a hard case, perhaps a long case; but at last I have a start. And I have some great plans. It was to ask your advice about these plans that I sent for you.”
“My advice! Huh! I ain’t ever been married—not even so much as once,” he commented dryly, “but I’ve been told by unfortunates that have that it’s the female way to do a thing and then ask whether she should do it or not.”
“Now, don’t be cynical!” laughed Katherine. “You know I tried to consult you before I went away. But it still is not too late for your advice. I’ll put my plans before you, and if your masculine wisdom, whose superiority you have proved by keeping yourself unmarried, can show me wherein I’m wrong, I’ll change them or drop them altogether.”
“Fire away,” he said, half grumbling. “What are your plans?”
“They’re on a rather big scale. First, I shall put a detective on the case.”
“That’s all right, but don’t you underestimate Harrison Blake,” warned Old Hosie. “Since you’ve come back Blake will be sure you’re after him. He will be on his guard against you; he will expect you to use a detective; he will watch out for him, perhaps try to have his every move shadowed. I suppose you never thought of that?” he demanded triumphantly.
“Oh, yes I did,” Katherine returned. “That’s why I’m going to hire two detectives.”
The old man raised his eyebrows.