He did.
When Jack got back to the Madagascar, Bobo had gone out. Jack was relieved not to find him. Full of his new plans, he went on down to the office. He was now attired again his proper person as Mr. Robinson of course. He looked up Baldwin at the desk. Baldwin naturally was keen to know more about the mysterious case that Jack was engaged on.
"Baldwin, I've got a new line on my man," said Jack. "Do you happen to know any of the men behind the desk at the Bienvenu?"
"Surest thing you know. I've got a pal there. Name of Dick Starr."
"What's his job?"
"Room clerk. One of the head men."
"Will you introduce me?"
"Sure! When?"
"The sooner the better."
"I'm coming off duty now. I'll go right down there with you."
Starr of the Bienvenu proved to be just such another suave and irreproachable man of the world as Baldwin, but somewhat older. He knew all about Jack; no doubt the two friends had discussed him. While the real secret of Jack's identity was safe, it was understood among those whose business it was to inform themselves of such matters, that the secretary was the real power behind the Norman throne. Consequently he enjoyed more than the usual consideration shown to a multi-millionaire's secretary.
Starr took them into a little room behind the office.
Jack said: "The fact is, I'm doing a bit of detective work for my employer, and one of my clues leads to the Bienvenu. I want your help."
"Anything in my power!" Starr assured him.
"You have a young lady stopping here called Miriam Culbreth?"
Starr nodded. "Some Cleopatra!" he murmured.
"The same," said Jack. "Now some time during the next few days I have reason to believe that a package will be sent her by messenger. Small, flat packet about three inches by seven."
"Packages don't go through the desk."
"But in this case I am pretty sure the boy will be instructed to hand it to her personally."
"Oh, in that case—Want me to have a look in it?"
"Simpler than that!" said Jack. "Just get me that boy's number so I can trace him."
Starr assured Jack that he would be happy to serve him. He seemed a little disappointed that he was not called upon to play a more important part.
They strolled out into the lobby again, and at that identical instant Miriam herself came through the revolving doors. But Jack saw her first.
"Duck, you fellows! Duck!" he whispered swiftly. "Make out you don't know me!"
Messrs. Baldwin and Starr being experienced men of the world, knew how to act. They inconspicuously faded from Jack's side.
Miriam in sables and paradise plumes swam into the Bienvenu like a swan. Not a man in the place but drew a long breath of longing at the sight of her and looked enviously at the man slinking at her heels. Your haughty beauty always brings a man with her like a small dog on a leader.
This man was Bobo.
Jack went up to them with glad smiles. "Hello! This is a surprise!"
It was manifestly a surprise tothem. Bobo turned a delicate pea green shade, and had nothing to say. The girl smiled charmingly, but her eyes were like two points of ice.
Jack thought: "She thinks I've tracked them here. There's something up. I'll find out what it is."
"We just dropped in for tea," said Miriam languidly.
"Fine!" said Jack. "I'm starving! I'll join you."
She laughed like icicles tinkling. "Hadn't you better wait until——"
"Pshaw! What's an invite between friends!" said Jack. "Come on, I'll blow."
Miss Culbreth was a resourceful person, and eminently self-possessed, but for once Jack had the satisfaction of putting her out of countenance. She turned indignantly to Bobo, as if to call upon him to assert himself, but seeing that she could expect no help from that stricken figure, she hung her head uncertainly. Jack led the pair of them like lambs to the slaughter to the tea room.
Passing the elevators Bobo said huskily: "Thought you were going upstairs to dress."
"I won't bother now," she said.
Jack thought: "Wouldn't leave him alone with me for a farm!"
As a tea-party, the half hour that followed was not a howling success. Bobo crouched in his chair avoiding Jack's eye like a guilty spaniel. Miriam kept her eyes down too, but for a different reason; she didn't want Jack to see the hatred that burned there. The tapering white hand trembled a little in the business of pouring tea.
The onus of keeping things going was therefore upon Jack. Something humorous in the situation excited his risibilities. He experienced a pleasant malice in making out to the others that he saw nothing out of the way. He rattled on like a youth without a care in the world. Anything furnished him with a cue.
"See that old girl in crimson velvet. The famous Mrs. Paul Towers. Used to be Mrs. Peter Vesey. Sold herself to Peter in order to buy Paul, the saying is around town. That's Paul Towers with her. Exactly half her age. Poor devil! He pays high for his meals. They say he has to turn in an itemized expense account like a traveling salesman."
"He's not the only parasite in town," remarked Miriam acidly.
Jack chuckled. "Bless your heart, no! The woods are full of us! What's a handsome young man with delightful manners and not a cent to his name going to do!"
Miriam snorted scornfully.
"But I tell you it's no cinch to be a parasite," continued Jack. "It requires qualifications of a very high order. Firstly, a resolute determination not to work. Any fool can work, but it needs character to idle gracefully. Then a parasite must have A1 cheek, nerve, brass, gall. It takes an unusual man to make a success of it."
"You're forgetting some of the qualifications," said Miriam.
"I daresay. It's an all round man's job."
"Meanness, obsequiousness, conceit!"
"All very fine qualities!" said Jack with inimitable gravity.
They had been at the table about half an hour when a boy passed through the tea room paging Miss Culbreth. Miriam and Bobo both affected not to hear him, but Jack, scenting developments, called him to their table, and indicated Miriam to him.
"Mr. Spragge is calling," the boy said to Miriam. "Said he was expected."
"Tell him I'm engaged, and he needn't wait," said Miriam languidly. "Say that I will let him hear from me."
Jack noticed that Bobo was betraying an extraordinary agitation. Following a sudden impulse, Jack said carelessly to the boy:
"Who is Mr. Spragge, son?"
Fire flashed from Miriam's eyes, but before she could stop the boy he had answered involuntarily: "The reverend Mr. Spragge, sir. Parson lives in the house here."
"Oh!" said Jack drily.
The boy departed.
There was silence at the table. The constraint which had formerly lain upon them was as the gayety of a childish game to this. Miriam had turned very pale, and she was breathing quickly—signs of rage in her. Bobo's chin lay on his breast, and he was visibly desirous of slipping right under the table cloth.
Jack enjoyed his little triumph in silence. A single word would have precipitated an explosion from Miriam. For reasons of his own Jack wished to avoid a general show-down, and he did not speak it.
He presently resumed the feather-brained rattle, and the tension was a little relieved. The simple-minded Bobo cheered up, evidently having persuaded himself that Jack had attached no significance to the mention of the parson. But the girl knew better. She watched Jack with somber eyes, waiting for him to unmask his guns.
When they had finished their tea Jack ostentatiously consulted his watch. "By George! We'll have to be getting back to the Madagascar!" he cried.
"Who's we?" asked Miriam with a sneer.
"Bobo and I. Mr. Delamare's dining with us to-night," Jack lied glibly.
"Is that true?" Miriam demanded of Bobo.
Poor Bobo lacked the backbone to come out flatly for either one side or the other. He fidgetted miserably. "I don't know. Maybe. I forget."
Miriam's luscious mouth had become a thin red line. "He can't go. He has an engagement with me."
"Now that's too bad!" said Jack with deceitful solicitude. "He can't disappoint a big man like Mr. Delamare. Besides, there are important matters to be decided."
Miriam was near the fulminating point. She looked stormily at Bobo. "Well? Have you nothing to say? It's up to you!"
Bobo made a pitiable attempt to assert himself, but he could not meet Jack's eye. "I didn't know he was coming," he muttered. "I can't go now. Anyway you know about everything. You can talk to him."
"There are papers to be signed," said Jack. "I can't do that."
Bobo hung in an abject state of indecision.
Miriam could stand no more. She kept her voice low out of respect to the other people in the tea room, but her words lost none of their force thereby. "Are you going to sit there and let this nobody tell you what to do? If you've got a spark of manliness, why don't you put him in his place? He mocks you to your face! His very look is an insult to me! Are you going to stand for that? Why don't you invite him to kick you while he's at it?"
Jack thought: "Good Lord! Will he still want to marry her after getting such a taste of her quality as that?"
Bobo still hung his head. Jack could not but feel a certain pity for him. After all it was he, Jack, who had got him into this mess.
"If you won't tell him I will!" said Miriam. She turned her blazing eyes on Jack. "Go! And the next time wait until you are asked, before you thrust yourself on your betters! You are only an upper servant. You have presumed on his good nature until now you think you are the master. I warn you you'll find a different kind of person in me! I can keep you in your place!"
Jack received this with a smile. He was thinking: "You are not Mrs. Norman yet, my lady!"
She read the thought as clearly as if it had been spoken. "I'm not afraid of you! You can't stop me in anything I mean to do! I despise you!"
"Well, there's virtue in frankness," murmured Jack. "But let's not rattle the family skeleton in public."
It was true, people were beginning to look curiously towards their table.
"After all, it's a simple matter," Jack went on, "and it's entirely up to Bobo. Bobo, are you coming with me, or are you going to stay here?"
"I'll stay," muttered Bobo sullenly.
Miriam smiled triumphantly.
Jack appeared to give in good-humoredly. "Suits me," he said.
They rose from the table. Out in the corridor while Jack and Bobo were obtaining their hats and coats, there was a brief moment during which they were out of hearing of Miriam.
"Bobo," said Jack firmly, "if you don't come home with me, I swear I'll tell her the truth and leave you to your fate!"
Bobo was like a poor little grain of wheat between two hard mill-stones. He shivered. "How can I get away from her?" he whined. Obviously he was more afraid of Miriam than of Jack.
"Leave that to me," said Jack.
Miriam was watching them suspiciously. They rejoined her. At the elevator she said offhand to Bobo:
"You may come up. I have a sitting-room."
Miriam entered the elevator in advance, of course. Jack took a firm grip of Bobo's arm.
"Well, good-by," said Jack pleasantly. He squeezed Bobo's arm suggestively.
"G-good-by," stammered Bobo. "I have to go with Jack."
Whereupon Jack turned him about smartly, and marched him out towards the main entrance. Miriam gasped. She could not very well run after them, and grab Bobo's other arm. Indeed, while she stared speechless, the elevator door was closed, and she was whirled aloft. If looks could kill Jack had fallen dead in his tracks!
Jack and Bobo returned to the Madagascar without exchanging a word. When they were alone in their rooms, Jack looked at him and said:
"What the deuce am I going to do with you?"
"Best to let me alone," said Bobo sullenly.
"Didn't I convince you to-day that she was a crook?"
"I don't care."
"That was a nice little sample of her temper that she gave us at the table. Do you want to let yourself in for a lifetime of that?"
"I can't help myself."
Jack threw up his hands. There was a silence. Bobo was gloomily drawing an imaginary pattern on the arm of his chair.
"You swore to me you would never see her again," Jack presently resumed. "Yet an hour ago you were on your way downtown to get a license, weren't you?"
Bobo's hang-dog silence was equal to a confession.
"How did you expect to keep it out of the papers?"
"Bribed the clerk."
"Do you know what the penalty is for marrying a woman under another man's name?"
"I don't care."
"What cock and bull story did she tell you to-day to change you again?"
"She told me the truth."
Jack laughed.
"She admitted she'd been working for the old man. But when she found out what his game really was she chucked him. Now she's actually in danger of her life from him."
"Not too much danger, I guess," said Jack. "You still intend to marry her?" he asked.
"I've got to. It's my fate."
"Lord preserve us!" cried Jack in a kind of helpless exasperation. "I really don't see what there is to do, then, but kick you out!"
"You won't do that," said Bobo sullenly. "You bluffed me just now down at the Bienvenu, but I've been thinking it over. I know you won't do it now."
"Why won't I?"
"You can't afford to. It would spoil all your plans."
This was true, but Jack had not given Bobo credit for the shrewdness to perceive it. He tried a new course.
"Do you still believe that Miriam is marrying you for love alone?"
"I don't care!" said Bobo recklessly. "I'm willing to take her on any terms. What chance has a man like me of winning a woman like her ordinarily? It's gone too far now. I've got to have her. She's in my blood!"
Jack looked at him with a kind of respect. "Well, anyhow you're in earnest. I will give you credit for that. But seriously, what are you going to do afterwards? You don't suppose I'm going to lend you my name and my money for the rest of your life?"
Bobo shook his head. "I know the show-down's got to come some day, perhaps soon. But I'll make a sneak before that comes. At least I'll be happy for awhile."
"On my money?"
"Oh, what's a few thousands to you? Anyhow you got me into this."
There was truth in this, and Jack felt certain compunctions. But he was amused at the naïve villainy Bobo proposed.
"I don't grudge you the money," he said smiling. "In a way I sympathize with you, since I see you're really hard hit. But I can't be a party to any such scheme. In the first place as your friend I've got to save you from yourself. You'll get over this, hard as it seems. Secondly, even though she is a crook, she's entitled to be protected from a game like this. Why it wouldn't be a marriage at all!"
"You'd best let me be," said Bobo sullenly. "You can't lock me up, and I warn you I'll do it the first chance I get."
"Don't dare me to prevent you," said Jack softly. "I might find a way."
No more was said about the matter, but Jack continued to think about it. "Bobo put the idea into my head himself," he considered. "Lock him up! Why not? He's no better than a madman for the time being."
They patched up a temporary truce. Bobo agreed not to try to see Miriam that night, provided Jack would let him make a date with her over the telephone. He called her up in Jack's hearing.
"I'll be there to-morrow at eleven. No, I have not changed. Have him there at eleven."
Jack made no further objections. Had Bobo been wiser, his friend's apparent complaisance would have aroused his suspicions.
The two young men dined together, and spent the evening at the theater in perfect amity. Before going to sleep that night Jack perfected his plans.
"Having plenty of money certainly simplifies things," he said to himself.
Jack was always up at least an hour before Bobo. His first act in the morning was to telephone Mrs. Lizzie Regan, his landlady in humbler days, and still his faithful friend.
"Mrs. Regan," said he, "I need your help. Can you give up to-day to me?"
"Sure, Mr. Nor-Robinson, my dear! Anything to oblige."
"Well, come over to the Madagascar, and have breakfast with me."
"What, me! Eat in the Madagascar! I'll have to dress."
"Heavens, no! I'm in a hurry! We'll eat in our suite."
"And me a respectable widow woman! Laws, what would the neighbors say!"
"But you'll come?"
"Will a cat lap cream, my dear!"
While he waited for her, Jack collected every scrap of wearing apparel in Bobo's room, and the closet adjoining, and carrying it all to another clothes closet, locked it up and pocketed the key. Bobo slept the sleep of the hearty eater throughout. Jack then cut the wires of the telephone in his room, and removed the instrument. Finally he locked the three doors leading out of Bobo's rooms, and carried away the keys.
Bobo still slept on while Jack and Mrs. Regan discussed an excellent breakfast in the Dutch room. The honest lady was greatly impressed by her surroundings.
"Sure, it's a proud day for me to be eating in such style along with one of my own boys that I once passed the beans to. Sure if I'd foreseen this day, I would have given you two eggs to your breakfast, though I will say I never tried to stint the normal appetite of a man!"
"My appetite must have been abnormal, I guess."
"Go along! I lost money on you regular!"
"Maybe you won't be so glad you came to-day, when you learn what I want you to do."
"Anything short of murder, my dear. What is it?"
Jack told her the story of Miriam and Bobo—with reservations.
"Sure, if it was me, I'd let her marry him. Maybe it would teach the hizzy a lesson. But I suppose you're right. If more hot-blooded young people were locked up at such times, marriage wouldn't be such a joke in the vaudeville houses."
"I've got to be out a good part of the day on business," Jack went on, "so I've got to have somebody to look after him. I asked you to come firstly, because you know the truth about us, and secondly because I thought if he tried to assault you he'd find his match."
"Sure, I'll soothe him like his own mother.—I brought my umbrella. It's a good strong one."
Before going out Jack went into Bobo's room. The plump youth, yawning and stretching, was just beginning to think about getting up.
"Listen, Bobo," said Jack crisply. "You've got to stay in bed to-day. I've hidden all your clothes. I've engaged a nurse to look after you—and she'll see that you get your meals. You'd best take it quietly, for I'm giving it out that you've been on a tear, and if you make a racket people will think it's the D.T.'s."
"But—what—why——?" stammered Bobo.
Jack slipped out before he had fully recovered his power of speech. He delivered the key of his room to Mrs. Regan.
On his way out Jack sought Baldwin the clerk. "Mr. Norman is sick," he said. "To tell the truth, he's been hitting too swift a pace lately. The doctor has ordered absolute quiet, and I want you to see that he is not disturbed under any pretext whatever, while I'm out. I've left him in charge of a nurse."
Baldwin, the discreet, raised no awkward questions about the suddenness of Bobo's attack, nor where the doctor had come from, but assured Jack that his orders would be obeyed.
"You remember the lovely lady we saw yesterday?" Jack went on.
"Rather!"
"Supposing she comes here and shows a disposition to make a scene, introduce her to Connolly the house detective, see? Tip Connolly off to ask her if she didn't once go under the name of Beatrice Blackstone and do typewriting work for Silas Gyde here. That ought to calm her."
At the newsstand Jack bought a copy of a yachting magazine and from the advertising pages picked out the address of a leading firm of yacht brokers.
A few minutes later he was seated opposite the head of that firm, a trig little man with apple cheeks and shiny pink pate—he need not be named. Every yachtsman knows him.
"I represent a well-known millionaire," said Jack, "before I give you his name, or open my business with you, I must ask you to pledge yourself to regard it as confidential."
The broker agreed without reservations.
"Well," said Jack, "my name is Robinson, and my employer is Mr. John Farrow Norman."
As always, this announcement produced a well-nigh magical effect.
"Mr. Norman is sick," Jack went on, "the fact is he's been going the pace, rather, since he came into his money, and now he's got to pull up with a round turn."
The broker expressed a discreet sympathy.
"He has instructed me to charter a steam yacht for a Southern cruise, a roomy, comfortable boat. The main consideration is to get something that's all ready to go."
"It is fortunate that you came to me, Mr. Robinson," said the little broker solemnly. "As it happens I have the very thing you want. I refer to theColumbian, Colonel Oliver Stackpoole's yacht. Perhaps you know her?"
Jack shook his head.
"One of the finest yachts afloat, sir! Three hundred feet long, and a veritable floating palace! Only yesterday Colonel Stackpoole and a party of friends returned on her from a hunting trip to Jekyl Island. I have just received the Colonel's note authorizing me to charter her for the Florida season. She has a full complement of men, a complete inventory of stores, she is coaling this minute, and actually has steam up!"
"That sounds promising," said Jack. "How about terms?"
He agreed without batting an eye to the figure named, and the little broker was sorry he had not asked double.
"Let's go and look at her," said Jack. "If everything is O.K. you shall have a check this afternoon, and we'll sail to-night."
The yacht-broker wished that Heaven might send him such clients oftener.
TheColumbianwas lying at a coal dock in Hoboken. It was a matter of half an hour to reach her in the automobile. Jack fell in love with her at sight, and registered a silent vow, that some day when his work was done he would own her outright—or one like her.
Though really a great ocean-going vessel, her clipper bows, low hull, raking masts and great funnel conveyed an impression of extreme lightness and grace. She was painted black with a green streak at the water line, and her funnel was yellow.
Going aboard, Jack was astonished at the great spread of her decks; almost room enough to drive his car around her; and still more at the size and number of her cabins. Outside, the designer's effort had been to make theColumbianas shipshape as possible, but below decks he had aimed to make her passengers forget they were at sea.
On the main deck there was a long suite of lofty rooms; grand saloon, music room, library, smoke room. Overhead forward was the dining-saloon, and a sun parlor aft. All these rooms had open fireplaces, windows, and other comforts not generally associated with the sea. The furnishings were beautiful without being too ostentatious. The sleeping cabins were marvels of spaciousness and luxury.
Jack did not hesitate a moment about taking her. His one regret was that he could not go on the first projected cruise. The fact that the mere signing of his name put him in possession of this wonderful vessel gave him a fuller realization of the power of his wealth than he had yet experienced.
He learned that theColumbianwould finish coaling during the afternoon. He arranged to have her continue to lie where she was until nine o'clock that night. Thus he could get his party aboard in this out-of-the-way spot after darkness had fallen. TheColumbianwas then to drop down-stream to an anchorage in the Bay, and proceed to sea next morning. Her Captain was instructed to see to the necessary clearance papers.
Jack repeated his story of Mr. Norman's illness to the captain. The suggestion was that the millionaire's mind was slightly affected, and they might be prepared for vagaries. The itinerary of the cruise was to include Charleston, Jacksonville, Nassau and Havana.
All arrangements having been completed, Jack returned to the Madagascar. Nothing untoward had occurred in his absence. Miriam had come as he expected, no doubt with every intention of making a scene; but his ruse to confront her with Connolly had worked effectually. She had departed quicker than she came.
Upstairs Mrs. Regan reported all well. Finding his "nurse" proof against the most tearful and passionate appeals, Bobo had resigned himself to his lot. Indeed, who shall say but that he was not secretly relieved thus to have the responsibility of making a decision taken from him.
Jack told Mrs. Regan what he had done. An assiduous reader of the newspapers, it appeared that she knew all about the magnificence of theColumbian.
"How would you like to take a cruise in her?" Jack asked.
"Me! Oh law! What a life of adventure!"
"You shall have a stateroom de luxe, with a brass bedstead, and a dressing-table furnished with gold!"
"What me! Lizzie Regan! Oh law!"
"Can you get away to-night?"
"I'd chuck a dozen boarding-houses for such a chance! Sure! As it happens the house is full, and I've got a cook who is not quite feeble-minded. My cousin will run in and keep an eye on things."
"That's settled then. Run along and get ready, and I'll watch Bobo till you get back."
Bobo listened to the plan of the proposed cruise in sullen apathy. Jack could not tell what he meditated doing. In order to be on the safe side, Jack called on Hugh Brome, his lawyer, to assist him with the evening's arrangements. It promised to be a great lark—for everybody except Bobo.
At nine o'clock that night an invalid completely swathed in blankets was tenderly carried out of the private side door of the Madagascar by two friends, and placed in a waiting limousine. A comfortable-looking nurse hovered over him solicitously. Any passerby might have been surprised to hear convulsive giggles from the three attendants—but perhaps he would have put it down to nervousness. Obviously the patient was very sick. But if the wrappings had fallen away from his head, the passerby would certainly have been astonished to see that he was gagged!
An hour later Jack and Hugh Brome stood on the coal dock watching the superb vessel back out into the river.
"Well, he's out of harm's way for awhile," said Jack. "He has no clothes aboard but dressing-gowns and slippers!"
Nowadays it is difficult for the great to conceal their movements. In spite of the precautions he had taken, the story of the chartering of theColumbian, and the young millionaire's sudden departure on a Southern cruise was in the next morning's papers. Jack silently cursed the yacht-broker.
He had no more than read the story, he was still lingering over his breakfast, when the telephone in the Dutch room rang, and the voice on the wire said:
"Miss Culbreth is asking for you."
"What!" cried Jack. "You mean she's downstairs!"
"Yes, sir."
"You're sure it's me she wants?"
"Yes, sir, Mr. Robinson," she said.
Jack hesitated before answering. To tell the truth his courage sunk slowly into his boots. He would sooner have faced five strong men than the infuriated Miriam. But as soon as he realized he was afraid his obstinacy came into play. He said to himself: "I'm not going to let her bluff me." Aloud he said curtly: "Show her up."
Although she must have set out from home in a rage, Miriam had not on that account neglected her appearance. She wore a little red hat with a cunning flare to the brim, and was otherwise all in black. Her fine eyes were dark with anger.
"By the Lord she's beautiful!" thought Jack. "It's all very well for Kate to talk, but there's a dangerous delight in fighting a woman like this!"
She lost no time coming to the point. "Is this story in the papers about Bobo true?" she demanded, declining to sit.
"More or less," said Jack.
"What do you mean by that? Has he gone away?"
"Just a little trip for his health."
"I don't believe you!"
"Then why ask?"
"You've had him kidnapped!"
"Ahead of you, eh?"
"Spare me your impudence, please!"
Jack bowed low.
"I'll expose you in the newspapers!" she threatened
"Go ahead! You may be sure I know exactly what I'm doing."
His coolness made her pause. She stared at him stormily for a moment "Maybe it's not true!" she said. "Maybe you gave out the story yourself to put me off."
Jack smiled.
"I'll see!" she cried. She darted into the adjoining room, Bobo's bedroom.
Jack let her go. There was nothing in any of the rooms that it mattered if she saw. He heard her opening and slamming the doors, and sat down to his interrupted breakfast. He could see that his cool airs maddened her, and there was a kind of breathless fun in it. He was less cool than he appeared. His heart hammered on his ribs.
She came running back angrier if possible than before. Jack affected to be very much absorbed in an item in the newspaper, which he relinquished with manifest reluctance to rise at her entrance.
"Well, did you find his corpse?"
Miriam's only reply was an inarticulate sound of rage. It was some moments before she could command herself sufficiently to speak.
"Just you wait! I'll get square! I'll beat you yet!"
She turned to go.
Jack suddenly bethought himself that Kate had advised him to make friends with Miriam. Just how far he was moved by a disinterested desire to further his case, and how far by Miriam's angry beauty, it would be well, perhaps, not to inquire.
"Don't go," he said.
She hesitated.
"I'll be bound you rushed away from home without any breakfast. Have some of mine."
Apparently the wisdom of resuming diplomatic relations must have occurred to her too, for she looked over her shoulder with a slow smile. Her eyes were still dangerous.
"Come and sit down," said Jack. "I'll make fresh coffee on the machine."
She swayed towards the table with inimitable nonchalance. Sitting, she gave Jack an inscrutable glance of the strange eyes, and languidly pulled off her gloves.
"By George! You're good to look at!" he said impulsively. It was surprised out of him.
"So are you," she murmured, with a languorous look through her lashes.
It was exactly the wrong thing for her to say; but Miriam persistently misread Jack. So long as she defied him and abused him he was profoundly stirred; he longed to seize and tame her. But when she displayed a disposition to woo him, he suddenly chilled and drew back. He did not let her see it of course. To create a diversion he jumped up to attend to the coffee machine.
"Silly for us to quarrel," she said, when he returned to the table.
"Yes, isn't it?" said Jack.
"Our real interests lie together. If we go on fighting each other, we'll spoil both our games."
It just suited Jack to play up to this idea of their respective positions. "You're right," he said.
"I offered before to join with you," she said.
"But you have me at a disadvantage," objected Jack. "If you marry Bobo you'll have a legal hold over him. Where will I and my job be then? You as good as told me you'd kick me out."
"That was when I was angry," she said blandly. "What a woman says when she's angry doesn't count."
"But you might get angry again," suggested Jack dryly.
She favored him with a slow intoxicating glance of the hazel eyes. "You fool!" she whispered.
"Eh?"
"Can't you see?"
"See what?"
"I couldn't really refuse you anything."
Jack was sorry now that he had asked her to stay. He saw the situation approaching from which no man can extricate himself with dignity and self-respect entire. But he was not sure that he wished to extricate himself. In his confusion he chose the worst possible course: that is, to laugh it off.
"That's good! Five minutes ago you hated me like a rattlesnake!"
"What's the difference?" she murmured. "I hate you because—because you treat me so. When I—Oh, why do you make me say it!"
She was breathing quickly and her eyes were large and bright. Jack wondered how much of this feeling was real, and how much art. But no man wants to disbelieve a woman when she intimates that she loves him.
She suddenly leaned across the table, and took his hand between both of hers. Her proud head was lowered in an affecting way. "Love—! Hate—!" she murmured brokenly. "What's the difference? You drive me wild with your cool airs, your indifference! Sometimes I could kill you! But—but I wouldn't want you any different either. I want you to master me!"
It was a heady draught. Jack's brain reeled.
She raised her head. Her eyes were embers in the wind. "Look at me! Am I not beautiful? You said I was beautiful!"
The voice of the tempter whispered to Jack: "Take her at her word. She deserves no consideration. Kate would have no right to blame you after what she said."
"Look in my eyes," she whispered. "What do you see there?"
The fire of those strange eyes lighted a train of gunpowder in the man. He forgot everything. "Oh—you beauty!" he murmured hoarsely.
They rose simultaneously and leaned towards each other over the little table.
"It's all so simple," she whispered. "Let me marry Bobo. You will still be his master and mine!"
Once more she fatally overreached herself. Every instinct of decency in the man was revolted by the picture she called up. He firmly unwound the white arms that had crept around his neck. He turned away and took a cigarette.
Miriam stared at him frightened and angry. "What's the matter with you?" she whispered.
"You'd better go," he said harshly.
She went to him swiftly. "You can't deny me! You love me! I saw it in your eyes. Why do you fight against me? Look at me. I could be everything to you!"
"Love!" said Jack with a grim laugh. "You're wasting your time now! You almost had me—but you let me peep too far under the lid. Never again! You're too good a hater. I want to keep a whole skin!"
She saw then that she had indeed failed. The humiliation was intolerable. She burst into angry tears.
"Oh, I hate you! I hate you!" she cried. "Iwillkill you if you don't keep out of my way!"
She ran out of the room.
TheColumbianset sail early on a Friday morning. On Monday Jack received the following telegram:
Charleston, S.C.
Came in here last night for coal. At daylight sick man discovered to be missing. Must have climbed through port hole and dropped into waiting boat. Wireless operator gone too. Captain thinks he was bribed by wireless to liberate B. Have discovered that the two of them took the Southern train North late last night. Wire instructions.
Lizzie Regan.
Jack thought swiftly: "Late train North from Charleston last night. That would bring them here late to-night. Bobo would telegraph Miriam of course. She may go to meet him."
He jumped to the telephone, and calling up the Bienvenu, got Starr on the wire.
"This is Robinson—at the Hotel Madagascar, you know."
"Yes, Mr. Robinson?"
"Is Miss Culbreth still in your hotel?"
"Yes, sir, but she's leaving. She just telephoned down for her bill to be made out."
"Could you arrange to have her followed when she leaves?"
"Yet, sir, I have a smart boy here who can be depended on."
"Good! If she goes to the Pennsylvania station that's all right. I will be there. But if she goes elsewhere have a message telephoned to this hotel for me."
"Very good, sir. I will see to it."
Jack hastened into Kate's house and assumed the Pitman make-up. It had outlived its usefulness so far as the old man was concerned, but he had no reason to suppose that he had ever been pointed out to Miriam in that character. At any rate he had no other disguise handy. With a brief good-by to Kate he taxied to the Pennsylvania terminal. All travelers to the South use this station.
Miriam was already there, walking impatiently up and down the concourse. She was heavily veiled, but even so was a sufficiently notable figure. Jack was beginning to be acquainted with her wardrobe, extensive as that was. To-day she was wearing a green hat and black furs that he had seen before.
When the gates were opened for the 10:08 Washington express she went through. Jack bought a ticket for Washington and followed. Supposing that she would ride in a parlor car, he got in a coach, as he did not care to subject Mr. Pitman's disguise to a five hours' scrutiny on the train.
After the train had started, he showed his police credentials to the conductor, and describing Miriam, asked to be informed to what point her ticket had been taken. Word was brought him later that it was to Baltimore. He asked to be told if she got off before that.
But Miriam apparently had no suspicion that she was being followed. In Baltimore she went openly to the Hotel Warwick and registered under own name—or rather, under the name that Jack knew her by. The so-called Mr. Pitman was close behind her.
After putting her bag in her room she reappeared unveiled, and started to walk downtown at a leisurely pace, Mr. Pitman still in unsuspected attendance. He heard her ask a policeman the way to the City Hall. In that building she asked at the Information desk where marriage licenses were to be procured.
Jack smiled to himself. "License number two!" he thought. He did not risk discovery by following her through the unfrequented corridors, but waited within watch of the main entrance for her to reappear.
For the next hour Miriam killed time in Charles Street, the fashionable shopping thoroughfare. She visited several hat shops, and presumably "tried on." Mr. Pitman could not very well follow her into such places. Later a tea room held her for another half hour. At some time during these peregrinations she must have become aware that she was being followed.
Leaving the tea room she hailed a taxi, and ordered the chauffeur to take her to the Hotel Minnert. Jack followed in another cab. When he saw that the hotel was only around the corner, he began to suspect a ruse. She entered by the Ladies' door, and he was less than half a minute behind her. She was not visible inside. From the doorman he learned that she had walked upstairs. He followed.
On the next floor there were no public rooms but only endless corridors with bedrooms opening off. There was not a soul in sight and he hesitated which way to turn. Finally a chambermaid appeared around a corner, and a piece of silver procured him information.
"Yes, sir, she just went down the corridor on the right. She asked me if there was another stairs, and I told her yes, at the end of that corridor."
Jack hastened in the direction named. At the foot of the rear stairs he found a door giving on a quiet back street. The door-keeper supplied the next link of information.
"Yes, sir, there was a taxi waiting for her. She just drove away."
"Hm!" thought Jack ruefully, "that's a good one on me! Either she knows this place of old, or else she fixed it up on the way with the taxi-driver."
He was not greatly concerned by this mishap, for he knew the time the Southern train was due to arrive in Baltimore, and he expected to meet her again there. The time was six-thirty. He spent the interim in buying himself an overcoat of striking cut, and a tweed hat that would pull down low on his head. These articles changed his appearance not a little. On the way uptown he stopped in at the Warwick, but Miriam had not returned there.
When he got to the station Miriam was not to be seen among the crowd. The train was forty-five minutes late. Informing himself as to which gate the passengers would be discharged through, he took a seat commanding it, and affected to busy himself with a magazine.
As the time for the coming of the train drew near, and no Miriam showed up, a sharp anxiety attacked him. He wondered if he could have erred in his calculations. He knew she had not had time since he lost her, to telegraph down the line for Bobo to get off at Washington.
The train drew in, and the passengers began mounting the steps. Still no sign of Miriam. But suddenly Jack caught sight of Bobo among the passengers and his spirits rebounded.
"Is she going to let me carry him off?" he wondered.
The wireless operator accompanied Bobo, and Bobo was clad in one of his uniforms. As there was about thirty pounds difference in weight between the two—in Bobo's favor, the plump youth cut rather a comic figure, and was acutely conscious of the fact.
As they reached the top of the stairs, a lady clad in deep mourning with a thick black veil concealing her whole head and face stepped forward and laid her hand on Bobo's arm. At first Bobo shrank back from this sable apparition, but she pushed the veil aside sufficiently for him to see her face, and he grinned from ear to ear.
"You fool!" said Jack to himself. "Not to have seen through that!"
Miriam and the two young men went quickly down the way to the side entrance of the station. Jack was not far behind them. In that confusion of people there was little danger of their spotting him. Outside among the waiting automobiles was a big Macklin touring car, and Miriam led the two men towards it. Jack swore at himself again.
"She had the wit to hire a special car, while you have to trust to a taxi!"
He jumped in a taxi. "Follow that Macklin car that's just turning out," he said. "Ten dollars bonus, if you stick to it."
The touring car did not turn South towards the center of town, but headed North by the bridge over the railway tracks. At the first wide street, North avenue, Jack read on the street lamps, it turned East, then North again on another wide thoroughfare which finally brought them out into the country.
"Double fare outside the City limits," the chauffeur said laconically.
"Let her go," said Jack. "I'm good for it."
A short turn through a lane brought them to another main highway.
"Belair Road," said the chauffeur, "main road to the North."
"Have you a full tank?" asked Jack.
He nodded.
"Follow them to New York then if necessary!"
On this dark road the occupants of the touring car soon discovered that they were being followed. They put on speed.
"Give her all she'll take," said Jack.
Fortunately the taxi was of a good make, and the engine was tight and clean. The little car gave a good account of itself. Moreover the road was smoothly paved, which further helped equalize the chances of light car and heavy one. Pursued and pursuer roared down the dark highway with cut-outs open. For several miles the way lay over one steep hill after another. They precipitated themselves recklessly down each declivity, gaining a momentum at the bottom that carried them almost to the top again without slackening.
"This is faster than I'm allowed to run her," said Jack's chauffeur.
"That's all right. I'll be responsible for the damage."
The man grinned and stepped a little harder on his accelerator.
At first the big Macklin car set up a pace they were unable to match, but apparently the driver was unfamiliar with the road, and after he had narrowly escaped flinging his car in the ditch on several sharp turns, he was compelled to slow down somewhat. This gave them an even chance. They kept about a hundred feet behind the red eye of the tail-light ahead.
"We're holding them all right," said Jack's chauffeur.
The words were scarcely out of his mouth when there came a report like a small field piece beneath them.
"Damn that tire!" cried the man.
"There goes Bobo's last chance of salvation!" said Jack.
The blow-out had been heard in the car ahead. They swept out of sight around a bend tooting their horn triumphantly.
It took them the usual half an hour to change tires.
"Back to town I suppose," said the driver when he was ready to start again.
"No!" said Jack. "They might blow up a tire, too. Keep on!"
In a village called Kingsville they stopped long enough to make sure that the Macklin car was still ahead of them. At the next place, Belair, they came upon it resting demurely in front of a dwelling. Since there was a church next door, it was not difficult to guess that this house was a parsonage.
"I thought so," said Jack grimly.
He jumped out and rang the bell. When the door was opened by a maid there was no need for him to make any inquiry. Through an open archway he could see into the living-room of the house. Bobo and Miriam were standing hand in hand before the parson with his book. Even as Jack looked, he finished pronouncing the benediction, and the couple turned around. Miriam had evidently left her woeful headgear in the car outside. She was wearing the dashing green hat again.
Jack, forgetting for the moment that he was disguised, stepped into the room. Bobo did not know him, but Miriam did. Her face lighted up with a wicked triumph.
"What a pity you were late!" she said with mocking sweetness, "I would so much have liked you to be present!"
"What—who—who's this?" stammered Bobo.
"This is Jack. All dressed up! Don't you recognize his beautiful eyes?"
Bobo saw that it was Jack, turned pale, and looked furtively about him for a way out, in case things went suddenly against him.
"Be the first to congratulate me," said Miriam to Jack. "Most of all I want to hear it from you."
Poor Bobo in his skin-tight uniform was an absurd figure of a bridegroom. With humble eyes, he was mutely imploring Jack not to give him away.
Jack had no intention of doing so. Knowing himself to be the real master of the situation, he could well afford to put up with the girl's outrageous triumphant air.
Jack's smile irritated her. She lost her joyful look. The commoner aspect of her broke through. "I'm Mrs. Norman," she said with a disagreeable laugh. She displayed her wedding-ring. "You can't get around that! Remember it, the next time you start out to get the better of me."
"Miriam, for God's sake, don't provoke him!" whispered poor Bobo.
"Provoke him!" she said, raising her voice. "You seem strangely afraid of hurting the feelings of your secretary. He needs to be provoked. He's too big for his shoes! Let him understand that I'm the mistress now, and his chance of keeping his job depends on his pleasing me!"
Bobo almost fainted.
Jack met her eyes squarely. "All right, my lady!" he was thinking. "My turn will come later!" He foresaw that his game in the future would be furthered if he appeared to submit. So he bowed—but he could not quite iron out the mocking smile.
"I only aim to please!" said he.
Miriam looked at him suspiciously.
"What do you wish me to do, Mr. Norman?" he asked Bobo.
To that youth it was like a ray of light breaking through. He lifted his eyes to Jack with a kind of sheeplike gratitude. But he seemed incapable of speech.
Miriam answered for him. "Go back to New York, and wait for us at the Madagascar."
Jack bowed again, and returned to his taxi.
Jack returned to New York on the night train. At the hotel he found a message from Starr of the Bienvenu Hotel reading:
"A.D.T. boy 791 came with a package for Miss Culbreth to-day. When he was told she was out of town he took it back with him."
Jack's police credentials smoothed the way for him with the A.D.T. officials, and within two hours of the time he received the message, No. 791, otherwise Tommy Mullulus, was on his way to the Madagascar to be questioned.
He was a small, thin boy with a wary eye that testified to a wide experience of the world, and an insinuating grin that was still childlike. His meager limbs were lost in his faded, flapping trousers, but he had a doughty air far beyond his years. His official age was fifteen; had he not to swear to that to get his "working papers"? But actually he was about two years short of it.
He was disposed to be evasive in answering Jack's questions.
"You brought a package to the Hotel Bienvenu yesterday?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where did you get it?"
"At the office. Fella at the desk handed it to me."
"That means it was brought into the office by the person who wanted it delivered?"
"I guess so."
"Where is your office?"
"1118 Broadway."
"Did you see the person that brought the package in?"
"Didn't take no particular notice."
"Well, was it a man or a woman?"
"I didn't rightly look."
"Isn't it a fact when you boys are waiting for a call, that you size up everybody that comes in to see what kind of a job you're going to get, and what's likely to be in it?"
"We gen'ally does," said Tommy with an innocent air, "but Fat Harris was pushin' me on the bench, and I was pushin' him back, so I didn't take no notice of who come in."
It suggested itself to Jack that the boy was under the spell of a generous tip. To offer him a larger tip was the most obvious course, but Jack, knowing something about boys, hesitated. Tommy would take the money, of course, but it would probably make him suspicious, and therefore more secretive than before. A better way was to win his confidence if it could be done.
"Tommy," said Jack, "the guy that gave you that package is a crook, and I'm trying to land him, see?"
Tommy looked interested but wary. He required to be shown.
"Did they tell you at the office who I was?" asked Jack.
"No more than your name was Robinson."
"Did you ever hear of John Farrow Norman?"
"The poor boy that came in for a hundred million! You bet!"
"Well, I work for him. I'm his secretary."
A noiseless whistle escaped through Tommy's lips. But he still looked a little incredulous.
"You can find that out at the office on your way out," suggested Jack.
Tommy looked impressed by this evidence of good faith. "Say, boss, can I see him himself—Norman I mean?"
"He's out of town to-day. But you'll see him all the time if you work for me."
Tommy was melting fast. "On the level, do you want me to work for you?"
"Surest thing you know!"
"What doing?"
"Oh, just a little detective work," said Jack carelessly.
Tommy was won. "Oh-h! Detective work! That's my specialty!"
"The man who sent that package to the Bienvenu Hotel is trying to blackmail Mr. Norman," said Jack. "We've got to catch him with the goods."
Tommy nodded sagely.
"See if you can't remember what he looked like. Was he a middle-aged man short and thickset, well-dressed, but not sporty, heavy white moustache, and little chin whisker?"
"Sure!" cried Tommy. "That's the very guy! I remember now."
"Well, give me some further particulars then," said Jack to test him.
Tommy considered. "His hair was brushed in a funny way, sticking out like, in front of his ears."
"That's our man!" said Jack. "Has he ever been in your office before?"
"Yes, once in a while. He's a guy you'd remember. Gives big tips."
"When you couldn't deliver that package at the Bienvenu what did you do with it?"
"Handed it in at the office again."
"Then what happened to it?"
"It's there yet. They couldn't return it to sender because he didn't leave no address."
"You're sure he hasn't been after it himself?"
"Not up to the time I left. Us boys watches for that guy."
"Thought you said you couldn't remember him."
"Well, I didn't know which side was on the square then," said Tommy unabashed.
"Good! I'm sure he will come after it, and I want you to go back to the office and watch for him. When he does come in, see if you're clever enough to trail him back to his home or his office, or wherever it is he goes, see?"
"How can I sneak out without orders from the desk?" objected Tommy. "And supposin' I'm out on another call when he comes in?"
"You can leave that to me," said Jack. "From now on you're working for me, and you won't take any other calls, see? I'll have an order sent through from the head office to your branch. But mind you, not a word to any of the other kids!"
"That's all right, boss," said the diminutive sleuth with dignity. "I know a thing or two about this biz. I can easy stall off those pore fish down there."
"Here's something on account," said Jack offering him a dollar bill. "As to your final payment I'll just say this: if you and I pull this off together, I'll offer you a permanent job with Mr. Norman."
"Me workin' for Norman himself! Gee!" said Tommy.
A few hours later the bridal couple turned up at the Madagascar. Miriam was beautiful and beautifully dressed, but feeling sure of her position now, she made no attempt to curb her arrogance. She believed that she owned the Madagascar and acted accordingly. The hotel servants cringed—and detested her. Bobo was correspondingly depressed and anxious-looking.
Their unannounced arrival hardly surprised Jack. He was in expectation of a call for funds.
Miriam immediately demanded to be shown through the suite. "So that I can choose which rooms I will take."
Jack, amused by the comedy, accompanied her and Bobo on the tour of inspection. Jack's room, the next room but one to the Dutch room, seemed to please her most. Perhaps it was because she knew it was Jack's room.
"I'll take this for my bedroom," she said, "but the furniture is ghastly. It will have to be completely done over. Bobo's room shall be my boudoir."
Bobo glanced anxiously at Jack. "You can have my room of course," he said quickly. "But this is Jack's room."
It seemed as if she had just been lying in wait for him to say something like this. She whirled on him. "Well, and am I supposed to give way to your secretary? If you're willing to give up the best rooms to the servants I'm not!"
"Miriam is right," said Jack. "I'll move into the two little rooms at the back; Silas Gyde's old suite."
"Hereafter please address me as Mrs. Norman," said Miriam haughtily.
"Certainly, Mrs. Norman," said Jack demurely. To himself he added: "Oh, lady, lady, it's a shame to let you in so bad! When the truth come out the shock will surely kill you!"
"And while we are away," added Miriam, "go to a first class decorator, and arrange to have my two rooms done. I will have the boudoir hung in pale yellow silk brocade, and the bedroom in a softer material, pink. Samples can be sent me."
Jack bowed. "You're going away again?" he asked politely.
"Oh, yes, Bobo just came in to get some money."
Bobo bent an imploring glance on him.
Jack had his things carried into the back rooms, and put all in order there.
"Thank God! I can escape the sound of her voice!" he said to himself. "Where, oh where is that sweet murmur with which she used to woo us! Bobo's awakening has come even sooner than I expected. She might have given him a few days' run for his money. What a story this will make to tell Kate later. But the poor fat kid is in such a deuce of a hole it really spoils the comedy!"
Presently Bobo applied at the door of Jack's sitting-room with a pitiful hang-dog air.
"Come in!" said Jack cheerfully.
Bobo shambled in, and flung himself in a chair. "Don't bawl me out!" he said beseechingly. "I'm just about all in!"
"I'm not going to say much," returned Jack. "But I'm only human. You can't expect me to keep my mouth shut altogether."
"I wish I were dead!" said Bobo.
"Cheer up, the worst is yet to come! There's good comedy in it, I assure you. I'll give you a piece of good advice if you like."
"What is it?"
"Well, when a wife takes that highty-tighty tone towards her husband they say there's only one remedy."
"What's that?"
"Corporal punishment," said Jack, grinning.
"Eh?" said Bobo, staring.
"I believe the English law allows a man a rod no thicker than his thumb for the purpose of maintaining domestic discipline."
Bobo refused to see the joke. He sat in silence with his chin on his breast.
"I suppose you're waiting for money," said Jack.
Bobo nodded.
"I don't want to rub it in, but I'm curious to know if you appreciate the colossal cheek of your coming to me for money after what has happened?"
Bobo nodded again. "What else could I do?"
"I shouldn't be surprised if part of it was actually for the purpose of settling with the man who helped you to disobey my orders."
"Miriam fixed that up by wireless."
"Then I might suggest that it's up to her to settle with the man. You told me Miriam was well-fixed, you know."
"Something has happened," said Bobo. "We went to the Bienvenu before coming here. Some one called her up there. She wouldn't let me hear what she said. She was sore afterwards. Seems her income is cut off or something."
"That's not hard to guess," said Jack. "The old man told her that now she's got you, she can afford to dispense with his weekly contribution."
"Do you really think she's in his pay?"
"Oh, let's don't go into that again."
"Good Lord! What will become of me!" groaned Bobo. "I've got to show her the color of my money, or she'll worm the truth out of me!"
"You'll never tell her the truth. She'd kill you."
"She'll guess the truth, if I don't keep her supplied!"
"You should have thought of that yesterday."
"Don't be so hard on me!" whined Bobo. "What's the money to you!"
Jack felt slightly disgusted. "I'm going to keep you supplied," he said, "within reason. But you'll have to keep that young lady inside the limits that I set. I've no intention of maintaining her like the Queen of Sheba. Tell her your money's in the hands of trustees. Tell her anything you like."
"How much?" said Bobo anxiously.
"Five thousand for the honeymoon. After that a thousand weekly. Not another cent."
"I've got to have the limousine," whined Bobo.
Jack's lip curled. "You're not exactly in a position to make demands. However, you can have the car. It's no good to me."
Bobo commenced to stammer his thanks.
"Cut it out!" said Jack. "I'm only doing it, because it happens to suit my plans. You have disobeyed my orders, and forfeited all claims on me. I reserve the right of course, to show you up whenever it suits me."
Bobo lived in the present. Seeing his immediate needs relieved, he refused to consider the unpleasant future. His eye brightened as Jack went to write him a check.