And that's the sort you're stringing along with!" She gazed at him in appalled half conviction.

He remained silent to let his truth sink in.
They were standing so, face to face, when a key grated in the outer door of the little hallway as on the occasion of Larry's first visit here.
And as on that occasion, Maggie sprang swiftly forward and shot home the bolt of the inner door.

Then she turned and caught Larry's arm.
"It's Barney--I told you he was coming!" she whispered.

"Oh, why didn't you go before?
Come on!" She tried to drag him toward her bedroom door, through which she had once helped him escape.

But this time he was not to be moved.
"I stay right here," he said to her.
There was the sound of a futile effort to turn the lock of the inner door; then Barney's voice called out: "What's the matter, Maggie?
Open the door." Maggie, still clutching Larry's resisting arm, stood gasping in wide-eyed consternation.
"Open the door for them, Maggie," Larry whispered.
"I'll not do it!" she whispered back.
"Open it, or I will," he ordered.
Their gazes held a moment longer while Barney rattled at the lock.