father have
always said he looked the perfect swell."

"See here--has he been talking to you?" Barney demanded savagely.

"A little. Yes, several times. In fact he said quite a lot that night
after you'd gone."

"What did he say?"

"He said he was not only going to go straight, but"--in her provocative,
teasing voice--"he was going to make me go straight."

"What's that? Tell me just what he said!" demanded Barney, his wrath
suddenly flaring into furious jealousy.

Maggie told him in detail; in fact told him the scene in greater detail
and with a greater length than had been the actuality. Also she censored
the scene by omitting her own opposition to Larry's determination. She
enjoyed playing with Barney, the exercise of the power she had over
Barney's passions.

"And you stood for all that!" cried Barney. By this time they were far
down town. "You listen to me, Maggie: What I said to Larry's face that
night at the Duchess's still stands. I think he's yellow and has turned
against his old pals. I tell you what, I'm going to watch that guy!"

"You won't find it hard to watch him, Barney. Larry never hides
himself."

"Oh, I'll watch him all right! And you, Maggie--why, you talk as though
you liked that line of talk he gave you!"

"Larry talks well--and I did like it, rather."

"See here! You're not falling for him? You're not going to let him make
you go straight?"

Maggie certainly had no intention of letting any such thing come to
pass; but she could not check her innocent-toned baiting.

"How do I know what he'll make me do? He's clever and handsome, you
know."

Barney gripped her shoulder fiercely. "Maggie--are you falling in love
with him?"

"How do I know, when--"

"Maggie!" He gripped her more tightly, and his phrases tumbled out
fiercely, rapidly. "You're not going to do anything of the sort! If he
goes straight--if you go straight--how can he ever help you? He can't!
And it will be your finish--the finish of all the big things we've
talked about. Listen: since Larry threw us down, I've taken hold of
things and will soon be ready to spring something big. Just a few days
now and you'll be out of that dirty street, and you'll be in swell
clothes doing swell work--and it will mean the best restaurants,
theaters, swell times!"

The car had turned into the narrow, cobbled street and had paused before
the Duchess's. Suddenly Barney caught her into his arms.

"And, Maggie, you're going to be min