ier recited to Barney, together with instructions to Old
Jimmie concerning his new role as Maggie's guardian. It seemed to Larry
that he caught signs of uneasiness in Jimmie, but to all the older man
nodded his head.

Presently there was a loud ring. "That's Dick!" exclaimed Barney in a
whisper. "And mighty eager, too--shows that by being ahead of the time
you set! Let him in, Maggie."

Maggie was startled by the ring, though she did not show it. She thought
rapidly. She had definitely asked Dick to telephone before coming. Why
hadn't he telephoned? Perhaps something had happened to prevent it, or
perhaps an idea had come to him by which their plan could be bettered
without a telephone message. In either case, she and Dick might have
to improvise and deftly catch cues tossed to each other, as experienced
actors sometimes do without the audience ever knowing that a hiatus in
the play has been skillfully covered.

Maggie stood up. "You both understand what you're to do?"

Both whispered "yes." Larry watched Maggie start across the room, his
whole figure quivering with suspense as to what was going to happen when
Dick entered. He was quite sure there was more here than appeared upon
the surface, quite sure that Maggie did not intend that the business
with Dick should work out as she had outlined. What could Maggie
possibly be up to? he asked himself in feverish wonderment, and could
find no answer. For of course Larry had no knowledge of that most
important fact: that Maggie had actually made a confession to Dick--not
the fraudulent confession she had told Barney of--but an honest and
complete confession, and that in consequence she and Dick were working
in cooperation.

From his crack Larry could not quite see the outer door. But after she
opened the door he saw Maggie fall back with an inarticulate cry, her
face suddenly blanched with astounded fright. And then Larry experienced
one of the greatest surprises of his life--a surprise so unnerving that
he almost loosed his hold upon Red Hannigan. For instead of Dick there
walked into the room the tall, white-haired figure of Joe Ellison, and
Joe's lean, prison-blanched face was aquiver with a devastating purpose.
How in the name of God had Joe come to be here?--and what did that
terrible look portend?

But Larry's surprise was but an unperturbing emotion compared to the
effect of her father's appearance, with his terrible face, upon Maggie.
Life seemed suddenly to go