"Don't wake me! Don't wake me!" he prayed. "Many's the time I've dreamed of this, but it was always snatched away just as I sat down. Say, are we going to have coffee and cigars?" "Sure thing. Fifty centers." "O Lord, let me sleep till then and afterwards. You can do what you like to me!" "You seem to have a nice taste in fancy eats," said Jack. "A nice taste! I was born with the tongue of an epicure, a delicate tongue, a high-toned tongue! For me to be obliged to eat in lunch wagons and beaneries was a crime against nature!" "Well, how would you like to keep this up for a while?" said Jack with an offhand air. "Hey?" said Bobo opening his eyes. Jack studied him. "He's something of a fool," he thought. "But maybe that's what I need. I couldn't control a hard-headed guy. And he's an actor. He ought to be able to play a part. And he'd be grateful for his meals, I could do what I wanted with him. Anyhow I have to take a chance, and I might do worse." "What d'ye mean, keep it up?" demanded Bobo. "This is only a sample," said Jack. "How would you like the real thing for a while; a suite of rooms at the Madagascar; a yacht, a motor car---- Oh, half a dozen motors; all the clothes you wanted from the best tailor in America; as for the eats--all you'd have to do would be press a button and give your order." Bobo turned a little pale. "What are you getting at?" "Supposing a man offered you this, would you be willing to put yourself in his hands?" "Say, if it was on the level, he could do what he wanted with me!" said Bobo fervently. "All right!" said Jack. "It's a go!" Bobo stared. "Say, fellow, what kind of a pipe are you giving me? Do you mean you are offering me---- Are you crazy?" "Did you read the afternoon papers?" asked Jack. Bobo nodded. "Fellow left his on a bench beside me." "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."