Isn't it all awfully
clever?"
"Why, Maggie!" he exclaimed.
"And pretty soon, when I've learned more," she continued rapidly, "I'm
going to have swell clothes of my own--and be a lady--and get away
from this dingy, stuffy, dead old place! I can't stand for being
buried down here much longer. And, oh, Larry, I'm going to begin to
work with you!"
"What?" he blinked, not yet quite understanding.
"You think I'm not clever enough? But I am!" she protested. "I tell
you I've learned a lot. And Barney and father have let me help in a
lot of things--nothing really big yet, of course. They think I'm going
to be a wonder. Just to-day father was saying that you and I, teamed
up--Why, what's the matter, Larry?"
"You and I--teamed up," he repeated slowly.
"Yes. Don't you like the idea?"
His hands suddenly gripped her bare shoulders.
"There's nothing to it!" he exclaimed almost savagely.
"What's that?" she cried, startled.
"I tell you there's nothing to it!"
"You--you think I can't put it over?"
"You can't! And I'm not going to have it!"
"Why--why--"
Staring, she drew slowly away from him. His face, which a few moments
before had been smiling, was now harsh and dominant with decision. She
had heard him spoken of as "Laughing Larry"; and also as "Terrible
Larry" whose aroused will none could brook.
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