The truth was, of course, that Barney had
desired the key so that he might have most private conferences with
Maggie, at any time necessity demanded, without the stolidly
conscientious Miss Grierson ever knowing what had happened and being
therefore unable to give dangerous testimony.
Maggie crossed and opened the door. But instead of Barney Palmer, it
was Larry who stepped in. He quickly closed the door behind him.
"Larry!" she cried startled. "Why--why, I thought the police had you!"
"They did. But Hunt was with me, and he got hold of a magistrate who
would have made Hunt a present of the Tombs and Police Headquarters if
he had owned them."
"Then you're out on bail?"
"Got out about ten minutes ago. Hunt didn't have any property he could
put up as security, so he 'phoned my grandmother. She walked in with
an armload of deeds. Why, she must own as much property in New York as
the Astor Estate."
"Larry, I'm so glad!" And then, remembering what, according to her
plan, was due to begin to happen almost any moment, she exclaimed in
dismay: "But, Larry, oh, why did you come here now!"
"I wanted to know--you understand--what you had decided to do after
learning about your father. And I wanted to tell you that, after all
my great boasts to you, I seem to have failed in every boast.
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