“Are you acquainted with them?”
The woman shook her head and smiled significantly.
“No, sir,” she said. “I don’t think I would care to be. Their reputation is not very good.”
Patsy now saw plainly that the woman could be safely trusted. He drew a little nearer to her, displaying his detective badge and saying quietly:
“I am aware of it. In fact, madam, I know all about them. I am a detective, as you may see, and I am anxious to watch the doings of a man who, I think, is going into the back door of that house. Would you like to earn five dollars without lifting your finger?”
The woman laughed softly, with eyes lighting.
“I could use five dollars very nicely,” she replied. “I don’t often get an opportunity to earn as much so easily. I infer that you want something of me.”
“I merely wish to use your second-floor back windows for the purpose of watching the man and that side of the house,” Patsy informed her.
“Ah, I see.”
“I give you my word that I will disturb nothing, and that no one will ever be the wiser,” he added. “I will pay you in advance. Here is the money.” He tendered it with the last, and the woman accepted it.