“Now,” she said, “I shall explain the plan I have formed to save Jimmy Smith.”
Shirley seated herself comfortably before she spoke and told Mabel to do the same. Her reply was a question.
“Have you ever noticed,” she asked, “how closely Jimmy Smith and I resemble each other?”
“Of course,” said Mabel. “Father and I have often spoken of it. Others also have noticed the resemblance. Why?”
“Because,” said Shirley, slowly and distinctly, “in that resemblance lies the success of my plan.”
Mabel looked at her friend in astonishment.
Shirley smiled a little at her chum’s very evident surprise.
“I’ll tell you,” she replied, and settled herself to explain. “You remember, of course, that Mr. Jones,”—she spoke the “Mr.” with a touch of sarcasm—“told Jimmy Smith to communicate with him if he considered his proposition favorably?”
“Well, the first thing I want to do is to get the address he gave Jimmy. Then I—not Jimmy—shall communicate with him. I’ll tell him I have decided to accept his offer, and that I should like to have another talk with him; and I’ll sign the letter ‘Jimmy Smith.’”
“It will do a whole lot of good,” explained Shirley quietly, “because when Mr. Jones has an interview with Jimmy Smith, he will have an interview with me, disguised as Jimmy Smith.”
“Exactly,” interrupted Shirley. “Jimmy Smith will know nothing about the matter.”
Shirley sat back in her chair and beamed at her friend.
“Now what do you think of my plan?” she asked.
“I think it’s foolish,” was Mabel’s prompt response. “You are sure to get yourself in trouble. Suppose your identity should be discovered?”
“But it won’t. Jimmy and I look too much alike for that. Besides, the very boldness of the plan will work in my favor. In any event, I am going to try it, and I need your help.”
“Of course I shall help,” said Mabel, “but just the same I think you would do a whole lot better to tell your father the whole business.”
“And have Jimmy Smith thrown off the place? I should say not.”
“But if he considers doing a thing like that, he should be thrown off the place.”
“No,” said Shirley gravely. “It is his first temptation, and we should do what we can to save him.”
“But,” said Mabel, “if you write to Mr. Jones, and he answers, he will naturally address his reply to ‘Jimmy Smith,’ and Jimmy will get it.”