"I'll go in and see her. I'm going to get rid of these uncomfortable widow's weeds. They were all very well as a disguise in which to travel in Europe and come back here, but I am heartily sick of wearing them. They make me feel so old." "Suit yourself, my dear." The girl then left her room and as there was no more to hear, Harry resumed his ablutions and put on his false beard again. He kept a strict watch upon the smuggler all that day and saw La Croix hold a meeting with his spies in his own room. The boy failed to overhear what they had to say, but that did not worry him, as long as he had his quarry under observation. On the following afternoon an old farmer with a homespun suit, an old felt hat, and gray whiskers, arrived at the hotel. Harry was standing in the lobby when he came in and recognized him at once as Old King Brady, but made no sign. The old detective recognized the boy at the same moment, and calling for a room, he seized his carpet bag and umbrella, and followed the bell-boy upstairs. Harry considered it safest to keep apart from his partner in public, and for that reason failed to speak to him. When he afterward learned which room Old King Brady occupied, he quietly went up there and was admitted. In whispers they explained to each other all that transpired and the old detective was delighted over the boy's success. "So the mysterious woman in black was the girl smuggler, eh?" asked the old detective. "Well, I'm surprised." "Her warning you, shows that she has some regard for us and don't wish to see us come to grief," replied Harry, sentimentally. "On the other hand, it may have been a diplomatic move on her part to bluff us off until they smuggle that big consignment of diamonds over the border," replied Old King Brady, practically. "Well, she didn't succeed." "By no means." "Have you formed any plan of action?" "Only one." "And that is?" "To catch them smuggling those diamonds and arrest them with the evidence in their possession, which will send them to prison for many years," replied Old King Brady. CHAPTER IX. CROSSING THE BORDER. As La Croix's party did not seem to be in any hurry to leave Montreal, the Bradys had plenty of time to arrange their plans. On the following day they went to the telegraph office and sent two messages, the first being couched in the following terms: "Collector of Port, N.Y.: Swear out warrant for arrest of Clara La Croix, charge of smuggling, and mail at once to International, Niagara Falls. Brady." The second was addressed to the Customs department at Suspension Bridge, saying: "Keep watch for La Croix, wife and daughter with four spies. Are going to attempt to pass $250,000 worth of diamonds." As La Croix was well known, details were useless. The Bradys watched their quarry closely. Knowing they had those diamonds with them, and that they would very likely play a sharp trick to evade the inspectors, the Bradys were very careful.