Joe's time was his own until the night performance. He decided he would at once follow Helen to the hotel and there remonstrate with her, if it were not too late. "Queer that she kept it a secret from all of us," remarked Joe as he started for town. "I guess she knew we'd try to stop her from throwing good money after bad, as they say. Well, now to see what luck I'll have." The Globe Hotel was the best and largest in town. Joe had no difficulty in finding it, and on inquiring at the desk was told that Mr. Sanford was a guest at the place. "He has two rooms," the clerk told Joe. "One he uses as an office, where he does business." "Oh, then he's been here before?" Joe asked. "Oh, yes, often. I don't know what his business is, but I think, he is a sort of stock and bond dealer." "More like a stock and bond swindler," thought Joe. "Mr. Sanford will see you in a few minutes," the bellboy reported to Joe, having come back from taking up our hero's card. "There's a lady in the office with him now." "A young lady?" Joe asked. "Yes," nodded the bellboy. "I'll go up now!" decided Joe. "I think he might just as well see me now as later." "Maybe he won't like it," the clerk warned him. "I don't care whether he likes it or not!" cried Joe. "It may be too late if I don't go up now. You needn't bother to announce me," he said to the bell-boy who offered to accompany Joe to show the way. "I guess I can find the room all right." Joe rode up in the elevator, and turned down the corridor leading to the two rooms occupied by Sanford. Pausing at the door of the outer room, Joe heard voices. He recognized one as Helen's. "She's there all right," mused Joe. "I hope I'm not too late!" He was about to enter when he heard Helen say: "Please give it back to me. It isn't fair to take advantage of me this way." "You went into this with your eyes open," Sanford replied. "It was a straight business deal, and I'm not to blame for the way it turned out. Now this stock----" Joe waited no longer. He fairly burst into the room, crying: "Helen, don't waste any more money on his worthless investments!" CHAPTER XXV THE LAST PERFORMANCE It would have been difficult to say who was the more surprised by the sudden entrance of Joe Strong--Helen or the law clerk. Both seemed startled. Once more Joe cried: "Helen, don't throw away any more of your money on his stocks!" "How dare you come in here?" demanded Sanford. "Never mind about that," answered Joe coolly. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not going to see you get any more of her money." "Oh, Joe. How did you know I was here?" asked Helen. "I didn't want any one to know I came." "I found out. I feared this was what you'd do." "Do what, Joe?" "Buy more stock in the hope of making good your losses on the Circle City investment." "But, Joe, I'm not doing that. I don't want to buy any more stock. I've had too much as it is."