ood-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. Before
her was the most difficult scene of the many which she had planned, on
her successful management of which the success of everything seemed to
depend. Within she was palpitant with the strain and suspense of it
all; but on Barney she held cool, appraising eyes. In this splendid
composure, her momentary withdrawal from him, she seemed to Barney more
beautiful, more desirable, more indispensable, than at any time since he
had discovered back at the Duchess's that Maggie was a find.

"Of course I know exactly what you mean, Barney," she responded with
deliberation, bewitchingly alluring in her air of superiority. "I've
known for a long time you and I would have to have a real talk. Are you
ready for a straight talk now?"

"As straight as you can talk it!"

"I'll probably fall for some man and marry him. Every woman does. But if
I marry him, it'll be because I love him. But my marrying a man doesn't
mean I'm going to go into business with him. I'm not going to mix love
with business--not unless the man is the right sort of man. Of course it
would be better if the man I marry and the man I take on as a business
partner were the same man--but I'm not going to take any risks. You
understand me so far."

"Surest thing you know. And every word you've said proves that your head
isn't just something to look pretty with. Let me slip this over to you
right at the start--I'm the right sort of man!"

"That's exactly what I want to find out," she continued, with her
deliberation, with the air of sitting secure upon the highest level.
"I know now what I can do. I've proved it. Now I'm going right ahead
putting over big things. You once told me I had it in me to be the best
ever--and I now know I can be. I know I've got to tie up with a man,
and the man has got to be just as good in his way as I am in mine.
Right there's where I'm in doubt about you. I said I was going to talk
straight--and I'm handing it to you straight. I don't know how good you