"What first put you on to the fact that I was after you?"
"Oh, you want to know too much," was the laughing reply. "Answer me a
question."
"Go ahead."
"What first made you suspect the Eureka Association?"
"Mr. Gyde left his heir a statement of their dealings with him."
"Hm! I never thought of that possibility."
"Now answer my question."
"You'd like to keep me here, wouldn't you, until you have time to trace
this call back, and send a man to nab me. Sorry I can't oblige. I'm
at Grand Central and my train is leaving. Good-bye!"
The detective had not sufficient time, of course, to get his man.
Oddly enough the humorous "Mr. B" had told the truth as to where he
was. The call had come from the Grand Central station.
35
Locked in his own room, Jack went over and over that telephone
conversation, regarding it from every angle, and seeking to establish a
new plan of campaign upon his conclusions. He was inclined to believe
that "Mr. B" was sincere in his intentions of quitting the game. His
dealings with the man had shown him that like all really able liars he
used as much of the truth as he could. At any rate he would soon know
whether or not he had quit.
But that "Mr. B" would now settle down to a life of respectability,
Jack did not credit for a moment. It was all very well for him to talk
about being "tired," excitement gets into the blood and one finds
onesself unable to live without it. The thing was to figure out in
advance what new direction his villainy would take.
Looking at the matter in the whole, Jack could not be very much cast
down. It was no small feat that he had accomplished in bringing this
man to sue for a truce. For that's what it was, let him make believe
all he liked. He, Jack, had stopped him in mid-career, and Mr. B was
no ordinary vulgar crook, but a really stupendous figure in his way.
And Jack told himself if he could stop the man, he ought to be able to
catch him.
He had not the slightest intention of giving up the chase, of course.
His adversary's threats had the effect of stiffening his resolution.
His present problem was, how to make "Mr. B" think that he had
abandoned all measures against him, while he prepared a new surprise.
Jack was well assured that he would be closely watched.
Jack's last remaining line of approach to the old man lay through
Miriam. True, he had said over the wire that he had called in and paid
off all his agents; but that this applied to Miriam, Jack doubted.
Miriam would never be allowed to enjoy the pickings of so rich a goose
as Bobo was supposed to be, alone. One way or another demands for
money would be made. Surely he could find openings here.
The one trump card that Jack still held was that "Mr. B" with all his
astuteness still believed that Jack was an obscure and ambitious youth
whose sole motive in this affair was to make a name for himself.
Upon these two facts, the connection between Miriam and "Mr. B," and
the latter's ignorance of his real identity, Jack built his new plan.
It was inspired by the old maxim: "Give a thief rope enough and he will
hang himself." After several hours of hard thought, he had it roughed
out, but one great difficulty remained to be solved. Supposing he
dropped out of sight for awhile, how could he inform himself of what
went on in his absence?
After lunch Bobo called him up on the long distance. Bobo and Miriam
were honeymooning at Rodney Farms, that exclusive and extremely
expensive country resort.
Bobo's honeymoon was probably not of unalloyed joy. His voice was
abjectly apologetic. "That you, Jack? How's things?"
"Pretty good."
The friendliness of Jack's tone heartened the other. "I just called up
to tell you we were coming back to-morrow for a day or so. Miriam
wants to."
"That so?"
"Yes, she fired her maid to-day, and has to get another."
"Yes?" said Jack with more attention. Something stirred in the back of
his brain. "Has she got anybody in view?"
"No, she's going to Miss Staley's Employment Bureau. Seems all the
women up here get their maids from her. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing."
"It's all right for us to come?"
"Sure!"
"Well, I didn't want to take you by surprise."
"That's all right. As it happens, I want to have a talk with you."
Bobo's voice faltered. "Oh--! You're not going to---- You're not
going to----"
"Not yet," said Jack encouragingly. "In fact, I was thinking of
loosening the purse strings a bit on certain conditions."
"Oh, if you would! She drives me nearly crazy with her questions, why
I can't get more money."
"Well, we'll talk about it to-morrow--while Miriam is out."
Jack's next move was to seek out Kate. To do this it was necessary to
don the Pitman make-up, that he was heartily sick of now; he vowed it
should be Mr. P.'s final appearance. He found her in her little
sitting-room, and first he had to tell her of the exciting events of
the morning, concluding with the astonishing telephone conversation.
Her face blanched a little, when she heard of the threat.
"Well, you are satisfied, aren't you?" she asked in an offhand tone, "I
mean if it's true that he's quit."
"Let him get away?" said Jack surprised. "Oh, Kate!"
Kate hung her head blushing.
"The point is, are you satisfied to have me stop?" Jack demanded. "You
know what you said."
"I don't think you ought to take unnecessary risks," she murmured.
This was sweet to Jack. In order to get more of it he made believe not
to see her drift. "As to that," he said carelessly, "the risk is no
greater than it's been right along."
She shook her head. "No, I feel he means what he says. It was a
warning. He has a queer sense of fair play."
The enraptured Jack forgot Mr. B. and all else. "Kitty, do you realize
what you're saying!" he cried. "Do you mean you are satisfied I've
done my job, and are willing to marry me now? You blessed darling! We
could get a license this afternoon. We don't need any further
preparations, do we? Oh, what happiness!"
"I wouldn't marry you at an hour's notice--or any man!" said Kate with
an indignation, somewhat weakened by the consciousness of her
inconsistency. "I need weeks to get ready in!"
"Weeks!" echoed Jack with falling countenance.
"Well, days, anyway."
"But will you, in a week?"
"Will you give up the chase of this man? Turn your case over to the
police now. After all it's their business."
A reaction took place in Jack. "Oh, Kitty!" he said in distress. "How
can I? All my life I'd feel as if I'd left my job half finished. I'd
feel as if I'd been scared off. How could I respect myself? How could
you respect me?"
She snatched her hand out of his. At first he thought he had offended
her, but presently he perceived that she was moved by quite a different
feeling. She was ashamed. She lifted an humble glance to his.
"You're right," she whispered. "It was just a moment of weakness. I
wouldn't have let you give it up really, when I had had time to think.
How will you be able to respect me now?"
He rapturously repossessed himself of her hand. "Kitty, you silly! Do
you think I will be blaming you for loving me a little! How many times
have I come to you ready to give up, and had you send me back into the
fight again! This just equalizes things a little." He smiled at her
teasingly. "You won't be able to be so superior, that's all!"
She looked at him with an odd shy light in her eyes that he had not
seen before. "You goose! If you knew!"
"Let's get married anyway," he pleaded. "There's no manner of sense in
putting it off any longer."
She shook her head "No. We set a task for ourselves. Let's accomplish
it first."
"Well, tell me you love me, and I'll be satisfied."
"You know it. You've always known it."
"But tell me in plain downright English."
She did.
After an interval of divine foolishness, they came down to earth again,
and Jack recollected his new plans.
"I've got a difficult and disagreeable job for you," said he.
"What's that?"
"Did you ever hear of Miss Staley's Employment Bureau?"
"Certainly. It's the best-known in town. All the fashionable women
patronize it."
"Miriam's going there to-morrow morning to engage a maid."
"Well?"
"I want you to get the job."
"Good Heavens! Let me collect my wits! Lady's maid, I!"
"Look what I've been!"
"Oh, it isn't that I mind! But could I get away with it?"
"Why not? She wants a maid to do for her, I suppose, what you
ordinarily do for yourself."
"How will I land the job?"
"Simply go there and register, and pay the fee, and turn down any other
offers you may get. I guess they don't get many applicants that could
compete with you."
"Silly! There are references to be thought of."
"That's easy. Mrs. Delamare will provide one, and get others if
necessary."
"What is the object of my doing this?"
"I'm going to drop out of sight for a while, and I must have somebody
to keep me informed of what goes on in Bobo's establishment while I'm
away."
"Very well. I'll do it."
The agreement was sealed.
Jack spent the rest of the afternoon in arranging for the necessary
references for Kate, in making certain inquiries at the steamship
offices, and finally in looking up a friend of the old poverty-stricken
days, one Stanley Larkin. He chose this friend because of a general
resemblance they were said to bear each other.
Larkin worked in the freight office of a railway. At the sight of Jack
his eyes widened in amazement. "Good Lord! if it isn't Jack----"
"Robinson," put in Jack quickly, "for the present."
Larkin was anything but slow. "Sure, Robinson! It certainly was
decent of you to look me up in this hole."
"Look here," said Jack, coming to the point at once, "what kind of a
job have you got here?"
"Rotten!"
"Is there any reason why you shouldn't give it up for awhile?"
"None whatever, if I could meet my board bill without it."
"Will you make a trip down to British Guiana for me?
"British Guiana! Am I dreaming?"
"Not that you'd notice," said Jack grinning. "Boat leaves Saturday.
I'm going with you part way."
The young clerk balanced the stultifying monotony of life in a railway
office against the lure of the tropics. His eyes became dreamy. "Will
I go!" he said. "Only give me the chance! It's like a fairy tale!"
"Good!" said Jack. "Let's have dinner together, and we'll arrange
everything. It will have to be some out of the way place because I
have to take precautions against being followed. Say Pezzi's on West
Thirty-Fourth. I'll meet you there at seven."
36
Bobo and the lovely Miriam arrived at the Madagascar next morning.
Miriam promptly sallied forth to Miss Staley's to pick a maid, giving
Jack and Bobo an opportunity to have a long talk undisturbed. When
Bobo learned that Jack's new plans included unlimited funds for himself
for the time being, he hastened to agree to everything. Jack rehearsed
him carefully in the part he was to play. The principal danger was
that Bobo in his enthusiasm might overdo it.
"For Heaven's sake don't look so smug and expectant," said Jack, "or
she'll smell a rat before we begin!"
Bobo, it should be mentioned, knew nothing of the part Kate was to
play. Bobo had never seen Kate.
Miriam returned successful from her quest, and so far as such a great
lady might deign to her slaves, almost good-tempered.
"Yes, I found a girl," she said languidly. "Quite a superior creature.
Her name is Mary Dean. She has worked for Mrs. Walter Delamare and
Mrs. Willis Estabrook. She'll be here with her things in time to dress
me for dinner."
Mary Dean was the name chosen by Kate. "So far so good," thought Jack.
The three of them lunched together in the Dutch room of their suite.
Bobo as the meal progressed, became visibly nervous, and scarcely did
justice to the timbales of chicken and asparagus tips. Jack watching
him, and fearful that Miriam might notice something, gave him the sign
to open the comedy, though he had intended to wait until after the meal.
"I want some more money," said Bobo.
"Huh!" said Miriam scornfully. "One would think it was his money you
were asking for."
This put Bobo out a little; Jack hastened to give him the next cue.
"But I've been sending you a thousand a week."
"What's a thousand a week!" said Miriam. "Our bill at the Rodney Farms
was half of that."
"Why didn't you buy the place?" queried Jack sarcastically.
"Is that for you to say?" demanded Miriam.
"I've got to have more!" shouted Bobo--according to previous
instructions.
"A thousand was all you said you wanted."
"That was before I married. I need more now."
"Yes, and a whole lot more!" put in Miriam.
This was just what Jack wanted from her. He sought to irritate her
still further by addressing himself pointedly to Bobo. "You said it
was part of my job to save you from your own extravagance."
"You needn't remind me of that now," said Bobo. "The money's mine,
isn't it?"
"You put the management of it in my hands."
"Did he engage you as his nurse?" suggested Miriam.
"You said I was not to give you any more no matter how hard you begged
for it," said Jack affecting a stubborn air.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake! This is ridiculous!" cried Miriam. "Are you
compelled to go down on your knees to beg your own money?"
"No, I'm not!" cried Bobo, banging the table. "I want money, and I
want it quick!"
Jack looked more stubborn than ever. "I'll talk to you afterwards," he
said. "We can't discuss business at meals."
"Look here, you'd better understand you'll talk business whenever we
want!" said Miriam.
Jack frowned. Still addressing Bobo he said: "We got along all right
till she began to butt in."
Miriam turned pale with anger. This, as Jack intended it to be, was an
outrageous affront to the dignity she now affected.
"Are you--going to--sit there--and let him insult me!" she stammered to
Bobo.
Bobo banged the table again. That table was of inestimable support to
him. "No, I'm not! You apologize to her!"
"I won't!" muttered Jack, feigning the sulks.
"Apologize to her!" shouted Bobo.
"Oh, I apologize," said Jack gracelessly.
"That's no apology!" said Miriam.
Jack sprang up and made a sweeping bow, one hand on his breast. "I
humbly beg your ladyship's pardon," he said ironically.
Miriam was almost ready to cry now. "Don't you see he's insulting me
more than ever!"
Bobo banged the table again. "You treat her with proper respect or
I'll fire you!"
"You don't dare fire me," said Jack threateningly.
Miriam caught him up as quick as lightning. "Don't dare fire you! Why
not, I'd like to know!" Turning to Bobo: "Has he got something on you?
Is that why we've had to put up with his cheek all this while! Oh, I
see it all now!"
Jack, while preserving his defiant front, was quivering with laughter
inside. The thing was working better than he had dared hope.
"What do you care what he's got on you!" continued Miriam. "Aren't you
worth a hundred millions? A millionaire can do anything he wants and
get away with it!"
"You're right!" cried Bobo banging the table. "I'm tired of having it
thrown up to me. I'm tired of being under the thumb of my own
secretary. I can do what I want! I can spend my money the way I want!
You're fired, do you hear!"
Miriam smiled an unpleasant smile. Her dearest wish was coming true.
Jack made out to be much taken aback. "You don't dare," he muttered.
"We'll see whether I dare! You pack up your things and get out before
night, see? I'll pay you a month's salary to be rid of you!"
"I won't go," said Jack.
"Then you'll be thrown out!" said Miriam.
"I'll tell what I know!"
"Go ahead and tell it," said Bobo. "I'm sick of hearing about it!"
"I'll tell her!"
"Tell me," said Miriam. "I guess I can stand it."
"When we worked in the sash and blind factory together," said Jack with
the air of one delivering damning evidence, "he used to swipe his lunch
money out of the petty cash, and make phony entries in the cash book to
hide it. I caught him at it!"
Bobo hung his head in simulated shame. It was good comedy.
Miriam shouted with laughter. "Is that all!" To Bobo: "You poor
idiot! Do you mean to say that was all he had over you to set him up
so!"
"Well, I've fired him, haven't I?" said Bobo with an aggrieved air. To
Jack he added: "Now you've done your worst, get!"
Jack put on an air of swaggering bravado. "Oh, all right! I'm sick of
the job anyhow! I wouldn't work for you now for ten times the salary!"
Miriam laughed insultingly.
Jack arose. He still had to make a good exit. "It's hard enough to
take all the work and the responsibility," he said with assumed
bitterness, "but when your boss marries a----"
"You'll leave her out of it, or I'll smash you!" cried Bobo.
"Come on! Let's settle it man to man," said Jack. "I'm ready any
time!"
"You get out of here!" shouted Bobo. "Or I'll call the house
detective!"
Jack went, slamming the door. He proceeded to his own room, chuckling.
Later, while he was packing, he heard a timid knock. Bobo was standing
outside with a deprecating air.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure! Where's Miriam?"
"We're safe. She's gone out to see about getting me another secretary."