"He was not," said Mr. Whigham significantly. "He had rejected our respectful solicitations from time to time. Nevertheless out of pure humanity we warned him of what was about to occur. With characteristic obstinacy he ignored the warning--well, you know what happened." "But they say that Emil Jansen, his assailant, was not a member of any regular circle." "'They say!'" said Mr. Whigham sarcastically. "What do 'they' know!" "What's the damage?" asked Jack. "Hey?" said Mr. Whigham. "What does the service cost?" "Five hundred dollars a month." Jack whistled. "There's nothing small about you." Mr. Whigham earnestly pointed out the tremendous expenses attached to the association, including enormous salaries paid to the special agents to recompense them for the risks they ran. "Why did you say you wanted to get to us without loss of time?" "We are informed that a plot is already hatching against Mr. Norman. The Reds aim to make a spectacular double play by getting Mr. Gyde's successor." Bobo gasped and looked imploringly at Jack. "And if Mr. Norman pays up the five hundred you'll give the plot away?" Jack suggested dryly. "No, sir," was the instant reply. "My instructions are to give you what information we have in any case. The Eureka is something more than a sordid money-making concern. It supplies a real service to the community. For a reference I am instructed to give you the name of Mr. Walter Delamare, who is well-known to you." "Hm!" thought Jack. "This scheme is even cleverer than I expected." Aloud he asked: "What is the information you have?" "That a man will be waiting this morning to attack Mr. Norman on the steps of the New York National Bank. Mr. Norman is advised not to visit Mr. Delamare's office for the time being." "Good God!" said Bobo. "What is your pleasure in the matter?" Jack asked Bobo with a respectful air. "Oh, pay him! Pay him!" was the agitated reply. A pleased faraway look appeared in Mr. Whigham's eye. He was evidently figuring on how he would spend his commission. "Will you sign a check?" asked Jack. Jack and Bobo went into the next room, and presently returned with a check, which was handed to Mr. Whigham. That little gentleman received it with thanks, and bowing, left with a promise to send "the contracts" around as soon as they could be made out. Jack fell into a study. "What do you make of it all?" Bobo asked helplessly. "I may be wrong," said Jack slowly, "but my guess is that Whigham has a nice little wife and baby, and lives in a semi-detached with a neat back yard in Bayonne. I believe he is a member of the men's bible class and the Y.M.C.A., and is in every way a decent little citizen without a suspicion of the real nature of the devilish business he is engaged in. We'll have to look a long way past him for the principal." "Devilish business!" repeated Bobo. "Don't--don't you believe what he said about the Reds being after you--I mean me, and all?"