"You've never asked me my name."
"What is it?"
"Jack Norman."
Bobo stared speechless. "On the level?" he gasped.
Jack took a couple of letters from his pocket and showed him the
superscriptions.
"Jack Norman!" said Bobo. "Then what were you loafing in the park by
yourself for?"
"Trying to get accustomed to the idea."
Bobo had no more to say. He had lost the condescending air.
"Here's the situation," said Jack. "For certain reasons which I will
explain to you, I want to keep under cover for a while. I want to keep
my picture out of the papers. I don't want to be pointed out and
followed wherever I go. Well, the easiest way to escape notice is for
me to get some fellow to take my place, see?"
"But everybody who knows you will know I'm not the real guy."
"That's all right. We won't be moving in the same circles as I used
to. Want to do it?"
"Do I want to do it----!"
"Wait a minute. It's only fair to warn you that old Silas Gyde was
croaked by a gang of blackmailers, and they're after me now."
Bobo paled and hesitated.
"But I mean to meet all their demands until we nail them, so there's
not much danger."
Bobo's face cleared. "Will I do it----" he began again.
"Hold on! There are two conditions. You must promise to do everything
I tell you. And second, you are not to marry any woman under false
pretences."
"I promise," said Bobo.
"Good! It's a bargain. From this moment you are John Farrow Norman,
the newly-made millionaire, and I am plain Jack Robinson, your
secretary."
They shook hands across the table.
8