children of the whirlwind-第22章
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by way of an introductory lesson； made an august function； almost diagrammatic in its educational details。 After the dinner； with Miss Grierson's slow and formal aid； which consisted mainly in passages impressively declaimed from her private book of decorum； Maggie spent two hours in unpacking her suitcase and trunk； and repacking her scanty wardrobe in drawers of the chiffonier and dressing…table； a task which Maggie； left to herself； could have completed in ten minutes。
Maggie was still at this task in her bedroom when she heard Barney enter her sitting…room。 〃He got away；〃 she heard him say in a low voice to Old Jimmie。
She slipped quickly out of her bedroom and closed the door behind her。 An undefined something had suddenly begun to throb within her。
〃Who got away； Barney？〃 she demanded in a hushed tone。
Her look made Barney think rapidly。 He was good at quick thinking； was Barney。 He decided to tell the truthor part of it。
〃Larry Brainard。〃
〃Got away from what？〃 she pursued。
〃The police。 They were after him on some charge。 And some of his pals were after him； too。 They were out to get him because he had squealed on Red Hannigan and Jack Rosenfeldt。 Both parties were closing in on him at about the same time。 But Larry got a tip somehow； and made his get…away。〃
〃When did it happen？〃
〃Must have happened a little time after we all left the Duchess's。〃
〃Butbut； Barneyhow did you learn it so soon？〃
〃Just ran into Officer Gavegan over on Broadway and he told me；〃 lied Barney。 He preferred not to tell her that he had been upon the scene with Little Mick and Lefty Ed； for the third figure which Larry had descried through the misty shadows had indeed been Barney Palmer。 Also Barney preferred not to tell what further subtle share he had had in the causes for Larry's flight。
〃Do you think hehe made a safe get…away？〃
〃Safe for a few hours。 Gavegan told me they'd have him rounded up by noon to…morrow。〃 Barney was more conscious of Maggie's interest than was Maggie herself； and again was desirous of destroying it or diverting it。 〃Generally I'm for the other fellow against the police。 But this time I'm all for the coppers。 I hope they land Larryhe's got it coming to him。 Remember that he's a stool and a squealer。〃
And swiftly Barney switched the subject。 〃Let's be moving along； Jimmie。〃
He drew Maggie out into the hall； to make more certain that Miss Grierson would not overhear。 〃Well； Maggie；〃 he exulted； 〃haven't I made good so far in my bargain to put you over？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Of course we're going slow at first。 That's how you've got to handle big dealscareful。 But you'll sure be a knock…out when that she… undertaker in there gets you rigged out in classy clothes。 Then the curtain will go up on the real showand it's going to be a big show and you'll be the hit of the piece！〃
With that incitement to Maggie's imagination Barney left her； and Old Jimmie followed； furtively giving Maggie a brief； uncertain look。
CHAPTER XIV
A block away from the hotel Barney parted from Old Jimmie。 For a space Barney thought of his partner。 Barney had quick eyes which were quite capable of taking in two things at once； and while he had seen the excited glow his final speech had brought back into Maggie's face； he had also caught that swift look of uncertainty in the lean； cunning face of Old Jimmie： a look of one who is eager to go on； yet sees himself frustrated by his own eagerness。 To Barney it was a puzzling； suspicious look。
As Barney made his way toward a harbor of refreshment he wondered about Old Jimmienot in the manner Larry had wondered about a father bringing his daughter up into crooked waysbut he wondered what kind of a man beneath his shrewd； yielding； placating manner Old Jimmie really was； how far he was to be trusted； whether he was in this game on the level or whether he was playing some very secret hand of his own。 Though he had known and worked with Old Jimmie for years； Barney had never been admitted to the inner chambers of the older man's character。 He sensed that there were hidden rooms and twisting passages； and of this much he was certain； that Old Jimmie was sly and saturnine。
Well； he would be on guard that Old Jimmie didn't put anything over on your obliging servant； Barney Palmer！
This was the era of legal prohibition； but thus far Barney had not been severely discommoded by the action of the representatives of America's free institutions in Washington； for Barney knew his New York。 In an ex…saloon on Sixth Avenue； which nominally sold only the soft drinks permitted by the wise men of the Capital； Barney leaned at his ease upon the bar and remarked： 〃Give me some of the real stuff； Tim； and forget that eye…dropper the boss bought you last week。〃 Barney had a drink of the real stuff； and then another drink； in the measuring of neither of which had an eye…dropper been involved。
After that； much heartened； he put two dollars upon the bar and went his way。 His course took the dapper Barney into three of the gayest restaurants in the Times Square section； and in these Barney paused long enough to speak to a few after…theater supper…parties。 For this was the hour when Barney paid his social calls； he was very strict with himself upon this point。 Barney was really by way of being a rising figure in this particular circle of New York society composed of people who had or believed they had an interest in the theater； of expensively gowned women the foreground of whose lives was most attractive； but whose background was perhaps wisely kept out of the picture； and of moneyed young men who gloried in the idea that they were living the life。 These social calls from gay table to gay table； at all of which Barney was welcomefor here Barney showed only his most attractive surfaces； his most brilliant facetswere in truth a very important part of Barney's business。
A little later； alone at a corner table in a quieter restaurant； Barney was eating his supper and making an inventory of his prospects。 He was in a very exultant mood。 The whiskey he had drunk had given broad wings to his self…satisfaction； and what he was now sipping from his tea…cupit was not tea； for Barney was on the proper terms with his waiter herethis draught from his tea…cup tipped these broad wings at a yet more soaring angle。
Yes； he had certainly put it over so far。 And Maggie would certainly prove a winner。 Those fair women he had chatted with as he had moved from table to table； why； they'd be less than dirt compared to Maggie when Maggie was rigged out and readied up and the stage was set。 And it had been he； Barney Palmer； who had been the first to discover Maggie's latent possibilities！
He had an eye beyond mere surfaces； had Barney。 He had used women in the past in putting over many of his more private transactions （and had done so partly for the reason that using women so was eminently 〃safe〃this despite his violent outburst of sneering disdain at Larry when the latter had spoken of safety）： some of them professional sharpers； some unscrupulous actresses of the lower flightsuch women as he had just chatted with in the restaurants where he had made his brief visits。 But such； he now recognized； were rather BLASEES； rather too obvious。 They were the blown rose。 But Maggie was fresh； and once she was properly broken in； she would be his perfect instrument。 Yes； perfect！
Barney's plans soared on。 Some day； when it fitted in just right with his plans； he was going to marry Maggie； It was only recently that he had seen her full charms； and still more recently that he had determined upon marriage。 That decision had materially altered certain details of the career Barney had blue…printed for himself。 Barney had long regarded marriage as an asset for himself； a valuable resource which he must hold in reserve and not liquidate； or capitalize； until his own market was at its peak。 He knew that he was good…looking； an excellent dancer； that he had the metropolitan finish。 He had calculated that sometime some rich girl； perhaps from the West； who did not know the world too well； would fall under the spell of his charms； and he would marry her promptly while she was still infatuated； before she could
