“You'll admit that nothing would have been safe with Larry Brainard determined to butt in on what you did?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I'm the little guy that fixed Larry Brainard so he wouldn't hurt anyone!”
“You did that?” For the first time Maggie showed what seemed to be a live interest. “How?”
“How? You'll say it was clever when you learn how. And you'll say that I'm the man you want on that count of being able to put over a situation so that no one will ever guess I'm the man who did it. You'll admit that putting Larry Brainard out of business, so he'd stay out, was certainly a stiff job—for though I don't like him, I admit that Larry is one wise bird. One thing I did was to suggest to Barlow that he force Larry to become a police stool. I knew Larry would refuse, and I figured out everything else exactly as it has happened. I ask you, wasn't that putting something clever over?”
“It certainly was clever!” admired Maggie.
“Wait! That's only half. To finish Larry off so that he wouldn't have a chance I had to finish him off not only with the cops, but also with his pals. So I tipped off Barlow to the game Red Hannigan and Jack Rosenfeldt were pulling and—”
“Then Larry Brainard really didn't do that?”
“No; I did it! Listen—there's some more to it. I spread the word, so that it seemed to be a leak from the Police Department, that it was Larry who had squealed on Red Hannigan and Jack Rosenfeldt. Did his old pals start out to get Larry? Well, now, did they! If I do say it myself, that was smooth work!”
“It was wonderful!” agreed Maggie.