The Substitute Millionaire — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Substitute Millionaire
John Stuart Mill · en
"Not a word! Though I think the worthy little man believed it himself."
"But all that--about the man waiting on the bank steps?"
"Stage-stuff. Everybody read in the papers that Mr. Delamare was Silas
Gyde's executor. A safe guess that you'd be likely to go to his office
to-day. It was just a stall. As a matter of fact, we weren't going
anyway. Mr. Delamare is coming here."
"Just the same, I wouldn't go--not for all you've offered me!" said
Bobo fervently.
"Sure, that's where the pull of the scheme comes in. Look at it
reasonably. If the anarchists really meant to croak a millionaire for
the good of humanity, as their letter suggested, would they warn him
with a letter? Not on your life! Those letters were simply to pave
the way for Whigham. But the beauty of the scheme, the novelty of it,
lies in the fact that Whigham is not in the secret. They use an
innocent little Sunday-school teacher to collect their tribute!"
"Then you think there's no danger?"
"Oh, danger enough if we had refused to fork out. There was danger in
it for Silas Gyde."
"Well, I'm mighty glad we paid!"
"Sure! Now let me think. This matter will stand a lot of doping out."
They soon began to experience the full effects of newspaper publicity.
A crowd of newspaper reporters, solicitors, cranks, high-toned beggars,
besieged the hotel, and in every delivery arrived a stack of letters a
foot high.
The hotel management designated its most experienced bellboy to wait
upon them exclusively. This youth, Ralph by name, was smart and
good-looking, but he had too knowing an eye. His knowledge of life,
particularly of the seamy side of life, was disconcerting. Jack felt
impelled to warn Bobo to be guarded in Ralph's presence. Jack decided
they would have to forego the luxury of personal servants. The danger
of the betrayal of their secret was too great.
After schooling Bobo for the ordeal, Jack had the reporters up-stairs,
but excluded photographers. Bobo acquitted himself well enough in the
interviews that followed. True he turned to Jack for aid at every
other question, but there was nothing in itself suspicious that the
newly-made millionaire seemed to be of a soft and dependent character.
Jack could see the eyes of the reporters turn on himself enviously.
They seemed to be saying:
"Gee! This guy has fallen into a good thing! He runs the show!"
Mr. Delamare arrived in company with Hugh Brome, Jack's lawyer, and the
reporters were politely ushered out. Bobo was introduced to the
newcomers, and Jack explained the part he was to play. They
stared--then they laughed.
"Is it all right?" asked Jack anxiously. "Do you approve?"
"You're keeping the check signing privilege in your own hands I
assume," said Mr. Delamare.
"Certainly."