"Oh, I'm afraid!" she wailed. "When my income is cut off what shall I do?" "I promised you--in Bobo's name--to take care of that." "To the same amount?" she asked sharply. Jack smiled dryly. "I'm afraid I'd hardly feel justified in recommending that Bobo keep up all this--but, say, ten thousand a year." "Ten thousand!" she cried, aghast. "That's nothing!" A grimmer tone crept into Jack's voice. "Sorry, but we don't owe you anything, you know. If you refuse to help me, I should have to have you arrested." If she had defied him Jack's position would have been a little awkward, for he was not prepared to go as far as he had said. But Mrs. Cleaver's spirit was broken now. She only shuddered and wept the louder. "Ten thousand!" she wailed. "I'll have to give up everything that makes life worth living!" "You told me you were sick of all this." "I'll have to move into a miserable apartment!" "Come now, plenty of people have a whale of a time on ten thousand--or even the half of that." "Suburbanites!" she said with the utmost scorn. "Has 'Mr. B.' any regular time for calling up?" asked Jack. "No. Every few days. I haven't heard in nearly a week. I shall probably hear to-morrow." "Very good. Now listen. When he calls up, make out you're in great anxiety. But don't give him too many details over the 'phone. Suggest that it's not safe to do so. You can let him understand though that it has something to do with Bobo or me. Tell him that you think I am having you watched. Tell him that you must see him in order to find out how to act. Don't ask him to come here; that would surely excite his suspicions. Name some public place; a hotel would be the best." "Will I have to face him?" she faltered. "I'm afraid." "I'll be there," said Jack. "You may leave him to me." 20 Jack had no great confidence that Mrs. Cleaver would stand by him unless he were right there to assert his supremacy; she meant well, but she was as weak as water. Therefore he took care to be on hand early at her house next morning, and was prepared to hang around all day if necessary listening for the telephone. By great good luck the call came while he was in the room with her, so that she had no opportunity to betray him, even if she were disposed to do so. By the instant change in her when she heard the voice over the wire, Jack knew that it was he whom they were expecting. In dumb play Jack ordered her to hold the receiver an inch from her ear. Then by bringing his head close to hers he was able to hear practically all the man said. "Good morning. Is there anything you want to tell me?" Jack thrilled a little hearing the veritable voice of his adversary. It was the nearest he had yet come to him. A familiar quality in the sound tantalized him. But he could not place it.