"
The painter gazed at Larry with a hard look. Then he demanded
abruptly:
"Show Miss Sherwood that picture of Maggie I painted?"
"No. I had my reasons."
"What you going to do with it?"
"Keep it, and pay you your top price for it when I've got the money."
"H'm! Told Miss Sherwood what's doing about Dick?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I thought of doing it, then I decided against it. For the same reason
I just gave you--that it might lead to exposure, and that exposure
would defeat my plans."
"You seem to be forgetting that your plan leaves Dick in danger. Dick
deserves some consideration."
"And I'm giving it to him," argued Larry. "I'm thinking of him as much
as of Maggie. Or almost as much. His sister and friends have pulled
him out of a lot of scrapes. He's not a bit wiser or better for that
kind of help. And it's not going to do him any good whatever to have
some one step in and take care of him again. He's been a good friend
to me, but he's a dear fool. I want to handle this so he'll get a jolt
that will waken him up--make him take his responsibilities more
seriously--make him able to take care of himself."
"Huh!" grunted Hunt. "You've certainly picked out a few man-sized jobs
for yourself: to make a success of the straight life for yourself--to
come out ahead of the police and your old pals--to make Maggie love
the Ten Commandments--to put me across--to make Dick into a level-
headed citizen.
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