Old Jimmie regarded his partner with suspicion.
"How about that, Barney--you being a stool and a squealer ?" he demanded.
"I tell you it's all a lie--a damned lie!" cried Barney with feverish emphasis.
"I hope it is!" breathed Old Jimmie.
This was a subject Barney wanted to get away from.

"Maggie," he demanded, "is what Larry Brainard said about how he came here the truth ?--his seeing you on the street and then following you here ?" "How do I know where he first saw me ?" "But is to-night the first time you've seen him ?" "It is." "Sure you haven't been seeing him ?" demanded Barney's quick jealousy.
"I have not." "Did he tell you where he came from ?--where he hangs out ?" "No." Old Jimmie interrupted this cross-examination.
"You're wasting good time asking these questions.

Barney, do you realize the cold fact that it's not a good thing for you, nor for us, for Larry Brainard to be back in New York, floating around as he pleases ?" "I should say not!" Barney saw he was facing a sudden crisis, and in the need for quick action he spoke without thought of Maggie.

"We've got to look after him at once!" "Tell the bunch he's back, and let them take care of him ?" suggested Old Jimmie.
Barney considered rapidly.

If Larry knew of his arrangement with the police, then perhaps his secret was beginning to leak through to others.
He decided that for the present it would be wiser to keep from these old friends and allies.
"Not the bunch--the police!" he said inspiredly.