a chance now to rise above the
mob. You also got a chance to marry what is the greatest girl in the
world, accordin' to your own admission. If you ask her to marry you
_before_ you go after this contract and she accepts you, think of the
confidence you'll have! Why, boy, if this girl says she'll marry you,
they ain't nothin' in New York can stop you from goin' over the top!
Go on! You're all worked up now--go to it before you get cold!"

Jared grabs up the phone receiver, pale as a ghost.

"By heavens!" he says. "I--you--if--Gimme Morningside 77,638, quick!"

Alex closes the door and pulls me into the other room.

"That there's gonna be private," he says.

"Where did you meet this Miss Evans?" I says.

"H'mph!" grunts Alex. "I never seen the girl in my life! Jared simply
told me about her, that's all!"

"Well," I says, "you certainly have balled things up. They ain't a
doubt in my mind but that you've made that poor boy lose his job; and
as far as I can see you're gonna make him lose his girl, too! I'd hate
to be you when he staggers away from that phone!"

"Yeh?" grins Alex. "Well, I'll tell you somethin': As long as I'm
goin' to all this trouble, I might as well get somethin' outta it.
I'll bet you ten thousand to five the girl marries him and he lands the
contract. If he loses either one, or both, you win!"

"Write it!" I says.

He hain't no more than handed the thing over to me, when in comes
Jared. His face is all flushed and he acts like a guy walkin' in his
sleep.

"I know neither of you will believe it," he says, in a far-away voice.
"In fact, I think I'm dreaming, myself!"

"What did she say?" demands Alex, shakin' him.

"She said yes!" hollers Jared, in a voice that must of woke up sleepers
in Kansas City. "Let me have my hat, I want to go over to her right
away!"

"Well, what do you think of my dope now, hey?" says Alex.

"I'll never be able to thank you for what you've done for me!" says
Jared, holdin' out his hand. "Why, just imagine! This wonderful girl
is going to be my wife and I had no more idea--Why, this girl is as
different from any other as--But you wouldn't understand--"

"I understand perfect!" says Alex, shakin' his hand. "And now the next
thing is that contract, which should be a cinch for you after what you
just done. Go over and see her now, but don't forget them figures on
the--"

"Contract?" butts in Jared, jammin' on his hat. "What's a contract to
me