“Two detectives?”
“Yes. One for Mr. Blake to watch. One to do the real work.”
“Oh!” It was an ejaculation of dawning comprehension.
“The first detective will be a mere blind; a decoy to engage Mr. Blake’s attention. He must be a little obvious, rather blundering—so that Mr. Blake can’t miss him. He will know nothing about my real scheme at all. While Mr. Blake’s attention and suspicion are fixed on the first man, the second man, who is to be a real detective with real brains in his head, will get in the real work.”
“Splendid! Splendid!” cried Old Hosie, looking at her enthusiastically. “And yet that pup of a nephew of mine sniffs out, ‘Her a lawyer? Nothing! She’s only a woman!’”
Katherine flushed. “That’s what I want Mr. Blake to think.”
“To underestimate you—yes, I see. Have you got your first man?”
“No. I thought you might help me find him, for a local man, or a state man, will be best; it will be easiest for him to be found out to be a detective.”
“I’ve got just the article for you,” cried Old Hosie. “You know Elijah Stone?”
“No. But, of course, I’ve seen him.”