Business
is business, and a man suffers when he neglects it. True, this was a
neat proposition which he had in hand; but that would soon be cleaned
up, and Businessman Barney desired to be all ready to move forward
into further enterprises.
In the meanwhile there had been a session between Maggie and the
Duchess. At about the time Barney had whispered his unlipped news to
Gavegan, Maggie, breathless with her frantic haste though she had made
the journey in a taxicab, entered the familiar room behind the
pawnshop.
"Good-evening, Maggie." The voice was casual, indifferent, though at
that moment there was no person that the Duchess, pondering her
problems, more wished to see. "Sit down. What's the matter?"
"The police know Larry is in New York and are after him!"
"How do you know?"
Rapidly Maggie told of the happenings in her sitting-room, and of
Barney and Old Jimmie starting out to warn Gavegan. The Duchess heard
every word, but most of her faculties were concentrated upon a
reexamination of Maggie and upon those questions which had been
troubling her all evening and for these many days. Was there good in
Maggie? Was she justified in longer suppressing the truth of Maggie's
parentage?
"Why are you telling me all this?" the Duchess asked, when Maggie had
finished her rapid recital.
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