"I tell you I'm going my own way--and it's a big way--and I tell you again nothing you can say or do can stop me! If I could have my best wish, all I'd wish for would be something to keep you from always interfering--something to get you out of my way!" Panting, she paused.

Her tense figure, with hands closing and unclosing, expressed the very acme of furious defiance--of desire to annihilate--of ultimate hatred.

Larry was astounded by the very extent, the profundity, of her passion.

And so they stood, silent except for their quick breathing, eyes fixed upon eyes, for several moments.
And then a key sounded in the outer door of the little hallway.
Instantly there was an almost unbelievable transformation in Maggie.
From an imperious, uncontrollable fury, she changed to a white, quivering thing.
"Barney!" she whispered; and sprang to the inner door of the little hallway, closed and locked it.
She turned on Larry a face that was ghastly in its pallor.
"Barney always carries a pistol," she whispered.
They had heard the outer door close with a click of its automatic lock.
They now heard the knob of the inner door turn and tugged at; and then heard Barney call: "What's the matter, Maggie?
Let us in." Maggie made a supreme effort to reply in a controlled voice: "Just a minute.

I'm not quite ready." Then a second voice sounded from the other side of the door: "Don't keep us too long, Maggie.