He was in swagger evening clothes and he asked the starter for a taxi; with an almost lordly air and for the service of a white-gloved gesture to a chauffeur, he carelessly handed the starter (who, by the way, was a richer man than Barney) a crisp dollar bill.

Barney was trying to make his best impression.
"Seen much of that stiff, Larry Brainard ?" he asked when the cab was headed southward.
His tone, which he tried to make merely contemptuous, conveyed the deep wrath which he still felt whenever his mind reverted to Larry.

Maggie reserved to herself the privilege of thinking of Larry just as she pleased; but being the kind of girl she was, she could not help being also a bit of a coquette.
"I didn't think he was such a stiff, Barney," she said in an irritatingly pleasant voice.

"His prison clothes were bad, but now that he's dressed right I think he looks awfully nice.

You and father have always said he looked the perfect swell." "See here--has he been talking to you ?" Barney demanded savagely.
"A little.