While Larry was keeping at this grind something was happening to Larry of which he was not then conscious:  something which was part of the big development in him that was in time to lead him far.  A confidence man is essentially a “sure-thing” gambler.  It had been Larry’s practice, before the law had tripped him up, to study every detail of an enterprise he was planning to undertake, to know the psychology of the individuals with whom he was dealing, to eliminate every perceivable uncertainty:  that was what had made almost all of his deals “sure things.”  Strip a clever knave of all intent or inclination for knavery, and leave all his other qualities and practices intact and eager, and you have the makings of a “sure-thing” business man:—­a man who does not cheat others, and who takes precious care that his every move is sound and forward-looking.  Aside from the moral element involved, the difference between the two is largely a difference in percentage:  say the difference between a thousand per cent profit and six per cent profit.  The element of trying to play a “safe thing” still remains.

This transformation of character, under the stimulus of hard, steady work upon a tangled thing which contained the germ of great constructive possibilities for some one, was what was happening unconsciously to Larry.

CHAPTER XVI

All this while Maggie, and what he was to do about her, and how do it, was in Larry’s mind.  Even this work he was doing for Miss Sherwood, he was doing also for Maggie in the hope that in some unseen way it might lead him to her and help lead her to herself.  There were difficulties enough between them, God knew; but of them all two were forever presenting themselves as foremost:  first, he did not dare go openly to see her; and, second, even if he so dared he did not know where she was.

When he had been with the Sherwoods some three weeks Larry determined upon a preliminary measure.  By this time he knew that the letters mailed from Chicago, according to the plan he had arranged with Miss Sherwood, had had their contemplated effect.  He knew that he was supposed by his enemies to be in Chicago or some other Western point, and that New York was off its guard as far as he was concerned.

His preliminary measure was to discover, if possible, Maggie’s whereabouts.  The Duchess seemed to him the most likely source of information.  He dared not write asking her for this, for he was certain her mail was still being scrutinized.  The safest method would be to call at the pawnshop in person; the police, and his old friends, and the Ginger Bucks would expect anything else before they would expect him to return to his grandmother’s.  Of course he must use all precautions.

Incidentally he was prompted to this method by his desire to see his grandmother and Hunt.  He had an idea or two which he had been mulling over that concerned the artist.