h had
no reason for restraint. And he knew that Barney was shrewd, grimly
tenacious, and limitless in self-confidence and ambition.

"And listen to this, too, Larry Brainard," Barney's temper carried him
on. "Don't you mix in and try any preaching on Maggie." He half turned
his head jealously. "Maggie, don't you listen to any of this boob's
Salvation Army talk!"

Maggie did not at once respond, but stood gazing at the two confronting
figures. To her they were an oddly dissimilar pair: Barney in the
smartest clothes that an over-smart Broadway tailor could create, and
Larry in the shapeless garments that were the State's gift to him on
leaving prison.

"Maggie," he repeated, "don't you listen to this boob's talk!"

"I'll do just as I please, Barney."

"But you're going to come our way?" he demanded.

"Of course."

He turned back to Larry. "You hear that? You leave Maggie alone!"

Larry did not answer, though his temper was rising. He looked over
Barney's head at Maggie's father.

"Jimmie," he remarked in his same even voice, "anything more you'd like
to say?"

"I'm through."

"Then," said Larry, "better lead your new commander-in-chief out of
here, or I'll carry him out and spank him."

"What's that?" snarled Barney.

"Get out!" Larry ordered, in a voice suddenly like steel.

Barney's fist swung viciously at Larry's head. It did not land, because
Larry's head was elsewhere. Larry did not take advantage of the opening
to strike back, but as the fist flashed by he seized the wrist, and
in the same instant he seized the other wrist. The next moment he held
Barney helpless in a twisting, torturing grip that he had learned from
one of his non-Christian friends at the Y.M.C.A.

"Barney--are you going to walk out, or shall I kick you out?"

Barney's answer came after a moment through gritted teeth: "I'll walk
out--but I'll get you for this!"

"I know you'll try, Barney. And I know you'll try to get me behind my
back." Larry loosed his grip. "Good-night."

Barney backed glowering to the door; and Old Jimmie, his gray face an
expressionless mask, silently followed him out.

All this while the Duchess had looked on, motionless in her corner, a
dingy, forgotten part of the dingy background--no more noticeable than
one of her own dusty, bizarre pledges.

CHAPTER VI

For a moment after the door had closed upon Barney and Old Jimmie, Larry
stood gazing at it. Then he turned to Maggie.

She was sta