my proofs. You also spoke highly of America as a land where there were adventures to be had. I now see that you were right.'
Ann thought for a moment.
'If I consent to your doing this insane thing, Mr. Bayliss, will you promise me something?'
'Anything.'
'Well, in the first place I absolutely refuse to let you risk all sorts of frightful things by coming into this kidnapping plot.' She waved him down, and went on. 'But I see where you can help me very much. As I told you at lunch, my aunt would do anything for Jimmy Crocker if he were to appear in New York now. I want you to promise that you will confine your activities to asking her to let Jerry Mitchell come back.'
'Never!'
'You said you would promise me anything.'
'Anything but that.'
'Then it is all off!'
Jimmy pondered.
'It's terribly tame that way.'
'Never mind. It's the only way I will consider.'
'Very well. I protest, though.'
Ann sat down.
'I think you're splendid, Mr. Bayliss. I'm much obliged!'
'Not at all.'
'It will be such a splendid thing for Ogden, won't it?'
'Admirable.'
'Now the only thing to do is just to see that we have got everything straight. How about this, for instance? They will ask you when you arrived in New York. How are you going to account for your delay in coming to see them?'
'I've thought of that. There's a boat that docks to-morrow--the -Caronia-, I think. I've got a paper upstairs. I'll look it up. I can say I came by her.'
'That seems all right. It's lucky you and uncle Peter never met on the -Atlantic-.'
'And now as to my demeanour on entering the home? How should I behave? Should I be jaunty or humble? What would a long-lost nephew naturally do?'
'A long-lost nephew with a record like Jimmy Crocker's would crawl in with a white flag, I should think.'
A bell clanged in the hall.
'Supper!' said Jimmy. 'To go into painful details, New England boiled dinner, or my senses deceive me, and prunes.'
'I must be going.'
'We shall meet at Philippi.'
He saw her to the door, and stood at the top of the steps watching her trim figure vanish into the dusk. She passed from his sight. Jimmy drew a deep breath, and, thinking hard, went down the passage to fortify himself with supper.
CHAPTER XII
JIMMY CATCHES THE BOSS'S EYE
When Jimmy arrived at Mr. Pett's office on Pine Street at ten-thirty the next morning--his expressed intention of getting up early enough to be there by nine having proved an empty boast--he was in a high state of preparedness. He had made ready for what might be a trying interview by substituting a combination of well-chosen dishes at an expensive hotel for the less imaginative boarding-house breakfast with which he had of late been insulting his interior. His suit was pressed, his shoes gleamed brightly, and his chin was smoothly shaven. These things, combined with the perfection of the morning and that vague exhilaration which a fine day in down-town New York brings to the man who has not got to work, increased his natural optimism. Something seemed to tell him that all would he well. He would have been the last person to deny that his position was a little complicated--he had to use a pencil and a sheet of paper to show himself just where he stood--but what of that? A few complications in life are an excellent tonic for the brain. It was with a sunny geniality which startled that unaccustomed stripling considerably--and indeed caused him to swallow his chewing gum--that he handed in his card to Mr. Pett's watchfully waiting office-boy.
'This to the boss, my open-faced lad!' he said. 'Get swiftly off the mark.'
The boy departed dumbly.
From where he stood, outside the barrier which separated visitors to the office from the workers within, Jimmy could see a vista of efficient-looking young men with paper protectors round their cuffs working away at mysterious jobs which seemed to involve the use of a great deal of paper. One in particular was so surrounded by it that he had the appearance of a bather in surf. Jimmy eyed these toilers with a comfortable and kindly eye. All this industry made him feel happy. He liked to think of this sort of thing going on all round him.
The office-boy returned. 'This way, please.'
The respectfulness of the lad's manner had increased noticeably. Mr. Pett's reception of the visitor's name had impressed him. It was an odd fact that the financier, a cipher in his own home, could impress all sorts of people at the office.
