It suited her present
mood to maintain her attitude of being equal to any enterprise.
"Which do you like best, Barney?" Old Jimmie asked.
"The second is safer. But then it's slower; and there would be
lawyers' fees which would eat into our profits; and then because of
the publicity we might have to wait some time before it would be safe
to use Maggie again. The first plan isn't so complicated, it's quick,
and at once we've got Maggie free to use in other operations. The
first looks the best bet to me--but, as I said, we don't have to
decide yet. We can let developments help make the actual decision for
us."
Barney did not add that a further reason for his objecting to the
second plan was that he didn't want Maggie actually tied in marriage
to any man. That was a relationship his hopes were reserving for
himself.
Barney's inborn desire for acknowledged chieftainship again craved
assertion and pressed him on to say:
"You see, Maggie, how much depends on you. You've got a whale of a
chance for a beginner. I hope you take a big brace over to-night and
play up to the possibilities of your part."
"You take care of your end, and I'll take care of mine!" was her sharp
retort.
Barney was flustered for a moment by his second failure to dominate
Maggie.
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