She enjoyed playing with Barney, the exercise of the
power she had over Barney's passions.
"And you stood for all that!" cried Barney. By this time they were far
down town. "You listen to me, Maggie: What I said to Larry's face that
night at the Duchess's still stands. I think he's yellow and has
turned against his old pals. I tell you what, I'm going to watch that
guy!"
"You won't find it hard to watch him, Barney. Larry never hides
himself."
"Oh, I'll watch him all right! And you, Maggie--why, you talk as
though you liked that line of talk he gave you!"
"Larry talks well--and I did like it, rather."
"See here! You're not falling for him? You're not going to let him
make you go straight?"
Maggie certainly had no intention of letting any such thing come to
pass; but she could not check her innocent-toned baiting.
"How do I know what he'll make me do? He's clever and handsome, you
know."
Barney gripped her shoulder fiercely. "Maggie--are you falling in love
with him?"
"How do I know, when--"
"Maggie!" He gripped her more tightly, and his phrases tumbled out
fiercely, rapidly. "You're not going to do anything of the sort! If he
goes straight--if you go straight--how can he ever help you? He can't!
And it will be your finish--the finish of all the big things we've
talked about.
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