But he realized that
there was small chance indeed of his working any alteration in her,
much less winning her admitted regard, until he was definitely a
success, until he had definitely proven himself right. So he took her
rebuffs with a smile, and waited his time.
He understood her point of view, and sympathized with her; for her
point of view had once been his own. With a growing understanding he
saw her as the natural product of such a fathership as Old Jimmie's,
and of the cynical environment which Old Jimmie had given her in which
crime was a matter of course. In this connection one matter that had
previously interested him began to engage his speculation more and
more. All her life, until recently, Old Jimmie had apparently shown
little more concern over Maggie than one shows over a piece of baggage
which is stored in this and that warehouse--and so valueless a piece
of baggage in Old Jimmie's case that it had always been stored in the
worst warehouses. What was behind Old Jimmie's new interest in his
daughter?
Old Jimmie had in late months awakened to the value to him of Maggie
as a business proposition--that was Larry's answer to his own
question.
As for Maggie, during these days, the mere fact that Larry smiled at
her and refused to get angry angered her all the more.
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