“Why shouldn't I go through with it?”
“No reason. Unless you acted as you did to-night because”—again Barney hesitated; again jealousy prompted him on—“because you've heard in some way from Larry Brainard. Have you heard from Larry?”
Maggie met his gaze without flinching. She would take the necessary measures in the morning with Miss Grierson to keep that lady from indiscreet talking.
“I have not heard from Larry, and if I had, it wouldn't be any of your business, Barney Palmer!”
He chose to ignore the verbal slap in his face of her last phrase. “No, I guess you haven't heard from Larry. And I guess none of us will hear from him—not for a long time. He's certainly fixed himself for fair!”
“He sure has,” agreed Old Jimmie.
Maggie said nothing.
“Seems to me we've got this young Sherwood hooked,” said Old Jimmie, who had been impatient during this unprofitable bickering. “Seems to me it's time to settle just how we're going to get his dough. How about it, Barney?”
“Plenty of time for that, Jimmie. This is a big fish, and we've got to be absolutely sure we've got him hooked so he can't get off. We've got to play safe here; it's worth waiting for, believe me. Besides, all the while Maggie's getting practice.”
“Seems to me we ought to make our clean-up quick. So that—so that—”