"I don't care whether he likes it or not!" cried Joe. "It may be too late if I don't go up now. You needn't bother to announce me," he said to the bell-boy who offered to accompany Joe to show the way. "I guess I can find the room all right."

Joe rode up in the elevator, and turned down the corridor leading to the two rooms occupied by Sanford. Pausing at the door of the outer room, Joe heard voices. He recognized one as Helen's.

"She's there all right," mused Joe. "I hope I'm not too late!"

He was about to enter when he heard Helen say: "Please give it back to me. It isn't fair to take advantage of me this way."

"You went into this with your eyes open," Sanford replied. "It was a straight business deal, and I'm not to blame for the way it turned out.

Now this stock----"

Joe waited no longer. He fairly burst into the room, crying:

"Helen, don't waste any more money on his worthless investments!"

CHAPTER XXV

THE LAST PERFORMANCE

It would have been difficult to say who was the more surprised by the sudden entrance of Joe Strong--Helen or the law clerk. Both seemed startled.

Once more Joe cried:

"Helen, don't throw away any more of your money on his stocks!"

"How dare you come in here?" demanded Sanford.

"Never mind about that," answered Joe coolly. "I know what I'm doing.

I'm not going to see you get any more of her money."

"Oh, Joe. How did you know I was here?" asked Helen. "I didn't want any one to know I came."

"I found out. I feared this was what you'd do."

"Do what, Joe?"

"Buy more stock in the hope of making good your losses on the Circle City investment."

"But, Joe, I'm not doing that. I don't want to buy any more stock.

I've had too much as it is."

"Then what in the world did you come here for?" cried Sanford. "You intimated that you wanted more stock. That's why I met you here--to sell it to you."

"Yes, I thought that's what you'd think," replied Helen, and she seemed less excited now than Joe Strong. "But what I came for was to sell you back these worthless oil certificates. I want my money back."

"Well, you won't get it!" sneered the law clerk. "You bought that stock and now----"

"Now she's going to sell it again," put in Joe. He seemed to understand the situation now.

"Helen," he went on, "I think it would be well if you left this matter in my hands. If you'll just go downstairs and to the nearest police station and ask an officer to step around here, I think we can find something for him to do."

"Police!" faltered Sanford.

"Oh, well, perhaps we won't need one," said Joe coolly, "but it's always best, in matters of this kind, to have one on hand. It doesn't cost anything. Just get an officer, Helen, and wait downstairs with him. I'll have a little talk with Sanford."

"Oh, Joe! I--I----!"

"Now, Helen, you just leave this to me. Run along."

Joe Strong seemed to dominate the situation. He displayed splendid nerve.

Helen went slowly from the room.

"The clerk will tell you where to find a policeman," Joe called to her.

"You needn't tell him why one is needed. It may be that we shall get along without one, and there's no need of causing any excitement unless we have to."

"Joe--Joe," faltered Helen. "You will be careful--won't you?"

"Well," and Joe smiled quizzically, "I'll be as careful as he'll let me," and he nodded toward the law clerk.

"What do you mean?" demanded Sanford, uneasily.

"You'll see in a few minutes," said Joe calmly.

When Helen went out Joe, with a quick movement, closed and locked the hall door.

"What's that for?" cried Sanford.

"So you won't get out before I'm through with you."

The law clerk made a rush for Joe, endeavoring to push him to one side.

But muscles trained on a typewriter or with a pen are no match for those used on the flying rings and trapeze.

With a single motion of his hand Joe thrust the clerk aside, fairly forcing him into a chair.

"Now then," said Joe calmly, "you and I will have a little talk. You needn't try to yell. If you do I'll stuff a bedspread in your mouth.

And if you want to try conclusions with me physically--well, here you are!"

With a quick motion Joe caught the fellow up, and raised him high in the air, over his head.

"Oh--oh! Put me down! Put me down!" Sanford begged. "I--I'll fall!"

"You won't fall as long as I have hold of you," chuckled Joe. "But there's no telling when I might let go. Now let's talk business."

Trembling, Sanford found himself in the chair again.