Then the real money would be divided fifty-
fifty between just you and me."
"I may not love my father, but he's in this on the same basis as you
are, or I'm out of it," she declared. "I thought you might suggest
something like this; that's one reason I asked you to have him come.
Another reason--and this is something I forgot to tell you awhile
ago--when I broke down and confessed everything to Dick Sherwood, I
told Dick that Old Jimmie was really my guardian; and we both agreed
that he should be present as a witness to any agreement, and to
protect my interests. Still another reason is that since we had to
work so fast, the thing to do was to split the money on the spot in
three ways, and then each of us shoot off in a different direction to-
night before any bad luck had a chance to break. In fact, Barney, this
present minute is when you and I say our good-byes."
He forgot his scheme to defraud Old Jimmie in the far greater concern
aroused by her last words. He leaned across the table and tried to
take her hand, an attempt she deftly thwarted.
"But listen, Maggie," he asked with husky eagerness, "you and I are
going to have an understanding to join up with each other soon, aren't
we? You know what I mean--belong to each other. You know how I feel
about: you!"
This was the principal point Maggie had been maneuvering toward.
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