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； and I came right into town。 He told me everything he knewwhich threw a different light on a lot of eventsand Dick telephoned at about nine that I was coming over。 But something more seems to have happened。〃
〃Miss Sherwood； it's like〃 began Barlow。
〃Just a second； Chief；〃 Larry interrupted。 Larry knew what a sensational story this would be as it had developedand he knew in advance just how it would be seized upon and played up by the newspapers。 And Larry did not want unpleasant publicity for his friends （three in that room were trying to make a fresh start in life）； nor for those who had been his friends。 〃Chief； do you want to make an arrest on a charge which will involve every person in this room in a sensational story？ Of course I know most of us here don't weigh anything with you。 But why drag Miss Sherwood； who is innocent in every way； into a criminal story that will serve to cheapen her and every decent person involved？ Besides； it can only be a conspiracy charge； and there's more than a probability that you can't prove your case。 So why make an arrest that will drag in Miss Sherwood？〃
Barlow had a mind which functioned with amazing rapidity on matters pertaining to his own interest。 He realized on the instant how it might count for him in the future if he were in a position to ask a favor of a person of Miss Sherwood's standing； and he spoke without hesitation：
〃I don't know anything about this Sherwood matter。 If anyone ever asks me； they'll not get a word。〃
There was swift relief on the faces of Barney and Old Jimmie； to be instantly dispelled by Chief Barlow's next statement which followed his last with only a pause for breath：
〃The main thing we want is to stick these two crooks away。〃 He turned on Barney and Old Jimmie。 〃I've just learned you two fellows are the birds I want for that Gregory stock business。 I've got you for fair on that。 It'll hold you a hundred times tighter than any conspiracy charge。 Casey； Gaveganhustle these two crooks out of here。〃
The next moment Casey and Gavegan had handcuffs on the prisoners and were leading them out。
〃Good for you； Larry；〃 Casey whispered warmly as he went by with Barney。 〃I knew you were going to win out； though it might be an extra…inning game！〃
At the door Barlow paused。 〃I hope I've done everything all right； Miss Sherwood？〃
〃Yesas far as I know； Mr。 Barlow。〃
Again Barlow started out； and again turned。 〃And you； Brainard；〃 he said； rather grudgingly； 〃I guess you needn't worry any about that charge against you。 It'll be dropped。〃
And with that Barlow followed his men and his prisoners out of the room。
Then for a moment there was silence。 As Larry saw and felt that moment； it was a moment so large that words would only make a faltering failure in trying to express it。 He himself was suddenly free of all clouds and all dangers。 He had succeeded in what he had been trying to do with Maggie。 A father and a daughter were meeting； with each knowing their relationship； for the first time。 There was so much to be said； among all of them； that could only be said as souls relaxed and got acquainted with each other。
It was so strained； so stupendous a moment that it would quickly have become awkward and anti…climacteric but for the tact of Miss Sherwood。
〃Mr。 Brainard；〃 she began； in her smiling； direct manner； with a touch of brisk commonplace in it which helped relieve the tension； 〃I want to apologize to you for the way I treated you late this afternoon。 As I said； I've just had a talk with Dick and he's told me everything except some things we may all have to tell each other later。 I was entirely in the wrong； and you were entirely in the right。 And the way you've handled things seems to have given Dick just that shock which you said he needed to awaken him to be the man it's in him to be。 I'm sure we all congratulate you。〃
She gave Larry no chance to respond。 She knew the danger； in such an emotional crisis as this； of any let…up。 So she went right on in her brisk tone of ingratiating authority。
〃I guess we've all been through too much to talk。 You are all coming right home with me。 Mr。 Brainard and Mr。 Ellison live there； I'm their boss； and they've got to come。 And you've got to come； Miss Ellison； if you don't want to offend me。 I won't take 'no。' Besides； your place is near your father。 Wear what you have on； in a half a minute you can put enough in a bag to last until to…morrow。 To…morrow we'll send in for the rest of your thingswhatever you wantand send a note to your Miss Grierson； paying her off。 You and your father will have my car；〃 she concluded； 〃Mr。 Brainard and Dick will ride in Dick's car； and Mr。 Hunt will take me。〃
And as she ordered； so was it。
For fifteen minutesperhaps half an hourafter it rolled away from the Grantham Hotel there was absolute stillness in Miss Sherwood's limousine； which she had assigned to Maggie and her father。 Maggie was near emotional collapse from what she had been through； and now she was sitting tight in one corner； away from the dark shadow in the other corner that was her newly discovered father who had cared for her so much that he had sought to erase from her mind all knowledge of his existence。 She wanted to say somethingdo something； she was torn with a poignant hunger。 But she was so filled with pulsing desires and fears that she was impotent to express any of the million things within her。
And so they rode on； dark shadows； almost half the width of the deeply cushioned seat between them。 Thus they had ridden along Jackson Avenue； almost into Flushing； when the silence was broken by the first words of the journey。 They were husky words； yearning and afraid of their own sound； and were spoken by Maggie's father。
〃II don't know what to call you。 Willwill Maggie do？〃
〃Yes；〃 she whispered。
〃I'mI'm not much；〃 the husky voice ventured on； 〃but what you said about going awayfor my sakedo you think you need to do it？〃
〃I've madesuch a mess of myself；〃 she choked out。
〃Other people were to blame；〃 he said。 〃And out of it all； I think you're going to be whatwhat I dreamed you were。 Andand〃
There was another stifling silence。 〃Yes？〃 she prompted。
〃I wanted to keep out of your lifefor your sake；〃 he went on in his strained； suppressed voice。 〃Butbut if you're not ashamed of me now that you know all〃in the darkness his groping hand closed upon hers〃I wish you wouldn'tgo away from me； Maggie。〃
And then the surging； incoherent thing in her that bad been struggling to say itself this last half…hour； suddenly found its voice in a single word：
〃Father！〃 she cried； and flung her arms around his neck。
〃Maggie！〃 he sobbed； crushing her to him。
All the way to Cedar Crest they said not another word； just clung to each other in the darkness； sobbingthe first miraculous embrace of a father and daughter who had each found that which they had never expected to have。
CHAPTER XXXVII
It was ten the next morning at Cedar Crest； and Larry Brainard sat in his study mechanically going over his figures and plans for the Sherwood housing project。
For Larry the storms of the past few weeks； and the whirlwind of last night； had cleared away。 There was quiet in the house； and through the open windows he could glimpse the broad lawn almost singing in its sun…gladdened greenness； and farther on he could glimpse the Sound gleaming placidly。 Once for perhaps ten minutes he had seen the overalled and straw…hatted figure of Joe Ellison busy as usual among the flowers。 He had strained his eyes for a glimpse of Maggie； but he had looked in vain。
Despite all that had come to pass at the Grantham the previous evening； Larry was just now feeling restless and rather forlorn。 His breakfast had been brought to him in his room； and he had not seen a single member of last night's party at the Grantham since they had all divided up according to Miss Sherwood's orders and driven away； that is he had really seen no one except Dick。
Dick had gripped his hand when he had slipped in beside Dick in the low seat of the roadster。 〃You're all right； Captain Nemo！only I'm going to be so brash as to call you Larry after this；〃 Dick had said。 〃If you'll let me； you and I are going to be buddies。〃
He was all right； Dick was。 Dick Sherwood was a thoroughbred。
And there was another matter which had pleased him。 The Duchess had called him up that morning； had congratulated him in terms so brief that they sounded perfunctory； but which Larry realized had all his grandmother's heart in them； and had said she wanted him to take over the care of all her housesthose she had put up as bail for him。 When could he come in to see her about this？ 。 。 。 He understood this dusty…seeming； stooped； inarticulate grandmother of his as he had not before。 Considering what her life had been； she also was a brick。
But notwithstanding all this； Larry was lonelyhungrily lonelyand was very much in doubt。 Miss Sherwood had spoken to him fair enough the night beforeyet he really did not know just how he stood with her。 And thenMaggie。 That was what meant most to him just now。 True； Maggie had emerged safe through perils without and within； and to get her through to some such safety as now was hers had b