phrases to fling at him when the door from the pawnshop began to creak
open. Instantly Larry turned toward it, relaxed and yet alert for
anything. Old Jimmie and Barney Palmer entered.

"Hello, Larry!" cried the old man, crossing. "Welcome to our city!"

"Hello, Jimmie. Hello, Barney." And Larry shook hands with his
partners of other days.

"Gee, Larry, it's good to see you!" exclaimed the cunning-eyed old
man. "Didn't know you were back till I bumped into Gavegan on
Broadway. He told me, and so Barney and I beat it over here to see
you. Believe me, Larry, that flatfoot is certainly sore at you!"

Larry ignored the last sentence. "Think it exactly wise for you two to
come here?"

"Why, Larry?"

"Gavegan, Casey, the police, may follow, thinking you've come to see
me for some purpose. That outfit may act upon suspicion."

Jimmie grinned cunningly. "A man can come to visit his own daughter as
often as he likes. Father love, Larry."

"I see; that'll be your explanation." Larry's eyes grew keen at the
new understanding. "I hadn't thought of that before, Jimmie. So that's
why you've always boarded Maggie around in shady joints: so's you
could meet your pals and yet always have the excuse that you had come
to meet your daughter?"