That means I can give you the protection
from the police you just spoke about. See?"
"Yes I see." Again she spoke thoughtfully. "But I told you I had to be
shown. You must have done some pretty big things to have got such a
standing with Barlow. For example?"
"I could write you a book!" He laughed in his excited pride. "You ask
for an example. I could hardly hold myself in awhile ago when you said
you'd practically swung the present deal alone, and that I'd done
almost nothing. Why, Maggie, I did just one smooth little thing
without which there couldn't have been any deal."
"What?"
"You'll admit that nothing would have been safe with Larry Brainard
determined to butt in on what you did?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'm the little guy that fixed Larry Brainard so he wouldn't
hurt anyone!"
"You did that?" For the first time Maggie showed what seemed to be a
live interest. "How?"
"How? You'll say it was clever when you learn how. And you'll say that
I'm the man you want on that count of being able to put over a
situation so that no one will ever guess I'm the man who did it.
You'll admit that putting Larry Brainard out of business, so he'd stay
out, was certainly a stiff job--for though I don't like him, I admit
that Larry is one wise bird. One thing I did was to suggest to Barlow
that he force Larry to become a police stool.
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