Particularly she liked the after-theater crowd, for
then only evening wear was permitted in the supper-room and the people
were at their liveliest. She liked to watch the famous professional
couple do their specialties on the glistening central space with the
agile spot-lights always bathing them; and then watch the smartly
dressed guests take the floor with the less practiced and more humble
steps. Sometime soon she was going to have clothes as smart as any of
these. Soon she would be one of these brilliant people, and have a
life more exciting than any. Very soon--for her apprenticeship was
almost over!
Barney Palmer had these last few months, since he had discovered in
Maggie a star who only needed coaching and then an opportunity, made
it a practice to come for Maggie occasionally when one o'clock, New
York's curfew hour, dispersed the pleasure-seekers and ended Maggie's
day of work, or rather her day of intensive schooling for her greater
life. On the night of his return from Chicago, which was a week after
his break with Larry, Barney reported to take Maggie home. He was in
swagger evening clothes and he asked the starter for a taxi; with an
almost lordly air and for the service of a white-gloved gesture to a
chauffeur, he carelessly handed the starter (who, by the way, was a
richer man than Barney) a crisp dollar bill.
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