"How much, and when does he want it to be paid?" repeated Maggie.
Again Joe listened for several moments; and then ordered as before:
"Say 'Yes.'"
"Yes," said Maggie.
Another period of waiting, and Joe ordered: "Say, 'I've got a much
better plan that supersedes the old.'"
"I've got a much better plan that supersedes the old."
There was yet another period of waiting, then Joe commanded: "Tell him
he really mustn't and say good-bye quick."
"You really mustn't! Good-bye!"
The instant her "Good-bye" was out of her mouth Joe clicked the
receiver upon its hook, and stood regarding the breathless Maggie. His
pale, stern face was not quite so severe as before. Presently he
spoke: "I know now that you really were sick of what you'd been trying
to do--that you'd really broken away from these two--that you'd really
confessed to Dick, and are now all square with him."
The word "Father!" struggled chokingly toward her lips. But she only
said:
"I'm glad--you know."
"And you were shrewd in that guess you made of what one of these two
would do." Joe crossed back to Barney and Old Jimmie. "You two must
have been almighty afraid, because of Larry Brainard, that your game
was suddenly collapsing, and each must have been trying to grab a
piece for himself before he ran away.
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