“Joe,” she began, “I know you been a pal to me and the Bearcat and we think a lot of you. Now I want you to do somethin’ for me. The Bearcat is gettin’ terrible. I took a job up here in a Five and Ten to help him out, ’cause you know things went bad for us. He’s been runnin’ me ragged. He’s gettin’ jealous ideas, accusin’ me of being around with guys. His own common sense ought to tell him if I was out for that sort of business I wouldn’t be workin’ back of a counter in a Five and Ten. If I happen to go in to take a drink with some of my friends, I don’t know what minute he’s comin’ in to drag me out and make a big scene. I just can’t stand it any longer, Joe. It’s bad for him. He’s gettin’ to be a nervous wreck. Says he can’t sleep or eat any more, worryin’. I just had to leave him ’cause he’s going nuts.”

Joe rubbed his chin.

“Yeah,” he said, “I heard you wasn’t livin’ together. You know how quick them things git around.”

Babe nodded.

“Course it’s silly for him to carry on like this when I ain’t doin’ anythin’ wrong. He’s just disgracin’ me with all my friends, Joe.”

Joe had a sort of sympathetic look.

Babe saw this look and figured now was the time to work on him.

“Tell you what I want you to do for me, Joe. You’re the only one I know can do this. I want you to talk to him and show him where he’s all wrong. See if you can’t get him into goin’ away to some camp for his nerves. Start him back to trainin’. I think if he tries hard enough he can make a come-back. Then he an’ I can be happy again. I got enough money saved for the trip. But the thing is, if he knew it came from me he wouldn’t take it. You know he’s got old-fashioned ideas about takin’ money from women. So if you’ll go an’ tell him that you’ll loan him the money——”

“Sure, Babe,” Joe said. “I’ll take him up to the Adirondacks. I’m goin’ up there. Been goin’ up for the last five years. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll go right over and see Bearcat now. I know where he parks.”

Babe took out a roll of bills and thrust them into Joe’s willing hands.

“Joe,” she said, “you don’t know how much I appreciate this.”

Babe then proceeded uptown, and Joe headed for the Bearcat whose stand was in front of a near-by hotel. Joe found him working on the motor of his cab.