"Listen, Maggie! I'm going
to lay all my cards on the table, and show you every card I've played.
You were invited to come out to Cedar Crest because I schemed to have
you come. And the reason I schemed to have you invited was, I reasoned
that being received in such a frank, generous, unsuspecting way, by a
woman like Miss Sherwood, would make you sick of what you were doing
and you would drop it of your own accord. But it seems I reasoned
wrong."
"So--you were behind that!" she breathed.
"I was. Though I couldn't have done it if Dick Sherwood hadn't been
honestly infatuated with you. But now I'm through with working under
cover, through with indirect methods. From now on every play's in the
open, and it's straight to the point with everything. So get ready.
I'm going to take you away from Barney and Old Jimmie."
The mention of these two names had a swift and magical effect upon
her. But instead of arousing belligerency, they aroused an almost
frantic agitation.
"You must leave at once, Larry. Barney and my father were here before
dinner, and they've just telephoned they were coming back!"
"Coming back! That's the best argument you could make for my staying!"
"But, Larry--they both have keys, and Barney always carries a gun!"
"I stay here, unless you leave with me.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296