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a package of macaroni； and to be counting Hunt's penniesremembering those days when he had been a personage to head waiters； and had had his table reserved； and with a careless Midas's gesture had left a dollar； or five； or twenty； for the waiter's tip。
When he climbed back into the studio he watched Hunt slashing about with his paint。 Hunt growled and roared at him； and kidded him； and Larry came back at him with the same kind of verbal horseplay； after the fashion of men。 Presently a relaxation； if not actual friendship； began to develop in their attitude toward each other。
〃Tell you what；〃 Larry remarked； standing with legs wide apart gazing at the picture of the Italian mother throned on the curb nursing her child； 〃if I were dolled up all proper； I bet I could take some of this stuff out and sell it for real dough。〃
〃Huh； nobody wants that stuff！〃 snorted Hunt。 〃It's too good。 Sell it！ You're off your bean； young fellow！〃
〃I can sell anything； my bucko；〃 Larry returned evenly。 〃All I need is a man who has plenty of money and a moderate willingness to listen。 I've sold pictures of an oil derrick on a stock certificate； exact value nothing at all； for a masterpiece's priceso I guess I could sell a real picture。〃
〃Aw； you shut up！〃
〃The real trouble with you；〃 commented Larry； 〃is that； though you can paint； as a business man； as a promoter of your own stock； the suckling infant in that picture is a J。 Pierpont Morgan of multiplied capacity compared to〃
〃Stop making that noise like a damned fool！〃
This amiable pastime of throwing stones at each other was just then interrupted by the entrance of Maggie for an appointed sitting； before going to her business of carrying a tray of cigarettes about the Ritzmore。 She gave Hunt a pleasant 〃good…morning；〃 the pleasantness purposely stressed in order to make more emphatic her curt nod to Larry and the cold hostility of her eye。 During the hour she posed； Larry； moving leisurely about his kitchen duties； addressed her several times； but no remark got a word from her in response。 He took his rebuffs smilingly； which irritated her all the more。
〃Maggie； I'll get my real clothes late this afternoon； how about my dropping in at the Ritzmore for a cup of tea； and letting me buy some cigarettes and talk to you when you're not busy？〃 he inquired when Hunt had finished with her。
〃You may buy cigarettes； but you'll get no talk！〃 she snapped； and head high and dark eyes flashing contempt； she swept past him。
Hunt watched her out。 As the door slammed behind her； he remarked dryly； his eyes searching Larry keenly：
〃Our young queen doesn't seem wildly enthusiastic about you or your programme。〃
〃She certainly is not。〃
〃Don't let that worry you； young fellow。 That's a common trait of her whole tribe； women simply cannot believe in a man！〃
There was an emphasis and a cynicism in this last remark which caused Larry to regard the painter searchingly。 〃You seem to know what it is。 Don't mean to butt in； Hunt； if there are any trespassing signs up but there's a woman in your case？〃
〃Of course there isthere's always a woman； that's another reason I'm here；〃 Hunt answered。 〃She didn't believe in medidn't believe I could paintdidn't believe in the things I wanted to doso I just picked up my playthings and walked out of her existence。〃
〃Wife？〃 queried Larry。
〃Thank God； no！〃 exclaimed Hunt emphatically。 〃No'I thank whatever gods there be； I am the captain of my soul！' Oh； she's all right altogether too good for me；〃 he added。 〃Here； try this tobacco。〃
Larry picked up the pouch flung him and accepted without remark this being abruptly shunted off the track。 But he surmised that this woman in the background of Hunt's life meant a great deal more to the painter than Hunt tried to indicate by his attempt to dismiss her casuallyand Larry wondered what kind of woman she was； and what the story had been。
The following day； clean…shaven and in his freshened clothesthey were smart and well…tailored； though sober indeed compared with Barney's； and two years behind the style of which Barney's were the extreme expressionLarry passed Maggie on the stairway with a smile； who gave him no smile in return； and started forth upon his quest。 He was well…dressed； he had money in his pockets； he had a plan； and the air of freedom of a new life was sweet in his nostrils。 He was going to succeed！
It was easy enough； with his mind alert for what he wanted； and with the Duchess's liberal allowance to pay for what he wanted； for Larry to find in this city of ten thousand institutes teaching business methods； the particular article which suited his especial needs。 He found this article in an institute whose black…faced headline in its advertisements was； 〃We Make You a 50；000 Executive〃； and the article which he found； by payment of a special fee； was an old man who had been the manager of a big brokerage concern until his growing addiction to drink and later to drugs had rendered him undependable。 But old Bronson certainly did know the fundamentals and intricacies of the kind of big business which is straight； and it was a delight to him to pour out his knowledge to a keen intelligence。
Larry； in his own words； simply 〃mopped it up。〃 His experience had been so wide and varied that he now had only to be shown a bone of fact and almost instantly he visioned in their completeness unextinct ichthyosauri of business。 By day he fairly consumed old Bronson； he read dry books far into the night。 Thus he rapidly filled the holes in the walls of his knowledge； and strengthened its rather sketchy foundation。 Of course he realized that what he was learning was in a sense academic； it had to be tested and developed and made flexible by experience； but then much of it became instantly a living enlargement of the things of which he was already a master。
Old Bronson was delighted； he had never had so apt a pupil。 〃In less than no time you'll be the real head of that house you're with！〃 he proudly declared。 Larry had not seen it as needful to tell the truth about himself； his casual story was that he was there putting to use a month's holiday granted him by a mythical firm in Chicago。
The Duchess's statement that it would be best for him not to seek work at once was founded on wisdom。 Larry was busy and interested； but he did not yet have to face the constant suspicion and hostility which are usually the disheartening lot of the ex…convict who asks for a position。 In this period his confidence and his purpose expanded with new vitality。
As the busy days passed down in the little street； the bantering fellowship between Larry and Hunt took deeper root。 The Duchess did not again show any of the emotion which had gleamed in her briefly when Larry had announced his new plan； but bent and silent went like an oddly revivified mummy about her affairs。 And during these days he did not again see Barney or Old Jimmie； he had learned that on the day following his conference with them they had gone to Chicago on a very private matter of business。
He saw Maggie daily； but she maintained the same attitude toward him。 He was now conscious that he was in love。 He saw splendid qualities in her； most of them latent。 Maggie had determination； high spirits； cleverness； courage； and capacity for sympathy and affection； she had head； heart； and beauty； the makings of an unusual woman； if only she could be swung into a different attitude of mind。 But he realized that there was small chance indeed of his working any alteration in her； much less winning her admitted regard； until he was definitely a success； until he had definitely proven himself right。 So he took her rebuffs with a smile； and waited his time。
He understood her point of view； and sympathized with her； for her point of view had once been his own。 With a growing understanding he saw her as the natural product of such a fathership as Old Jimmie's； and of the cynical environment which Old Jimmie had given her in which crime was a matter of course。 In this connection one matter that had previously interested him began to engage his speculation more and more。 All her life； until recently； Old Jimmie had apparently shown little more concern over Maggie than one shows over a piece of baggage which is stored in this and that warehouseand so valueless a piece of baggage in Old Jimmie's case that it had always been stored in the worst warehouses。 What was behind Old Jimmie's new interest in his daughter？
Old Jimmie had in late months awakened to the value to him of Maggie as a business propositionthat was Larry's answer to his own question。
As for Maggie； during these days； the mere fact that Larry smiled at her and refused to get angry angered her all the more。 Her anger at him； the manner in which he had refused her offered and long…dreamed… of partnership； would not permit her pride and self…confidence to consider any justification for him to enter her mind and argue in his behalf。 The great dream she had nourished had been destroyed。 And； moreover； he had proclaimed himself a fool。
Yes； despite him and all he could do； she was going to go the brilliant； exciting way she had planned！
In fairness to Maggie it must be remembered that de