the dust-第34章

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Tetlow　shifted　uneasily。　　〃I　don't　know。　　She's　not　with　us。　　I　gave　her　a　place　thereto　get　her　away　from　Culver。　　But　she　didn't　stay　long。　　No　doubt　she's　doing　well。〃

〃I　thought　you　cared　about　her；〃　said　Norman；　who　in　estimating　Tetlow's　passion　had　measured　it　by　his　own；　had　neglected　to　consider　that　the　desires　of　most　men　soon　grow　short　of　breath　and　weary　of　leg。

〃Yesso　I　did　care　for　her；〃　said　Tetlow；　in　the　voice　of　a　man　who　has　been　ill　but　is　now　well。　　〃But　that's　all　over。　　Women　aren't　worth　bothering　about　much。　　They're　largely　vanity。　　The　way　they　soon　take　a　man　for　granted　if　he's　at　all　kind　to　them　discourages　any　but　the　poorest　sort　of　fool。　　At　least　that's　my　opinion。〃

〃Then　you　don't　come　from　her？〃　said　Norman　with　complete　loss　of　interest　in　his　caller。

〃No。　　I've　come　Fred；　I　hear　you're　in　difficulties。〃

Norman's　now　deep…set　eyes　gleamed　humorously　in　his　haggard　and　failed…looking　face。　　〃IN　difficulties？　Not　at　all。　　I'm　UNDER　themdrowned　forty　fathoms　deep。〃

〃Then　you'll　not　resent　my　coming　straight　to　the　point　and　asking　if　I　can　help　you？〃

〃That's　a　rash　offer；　Tetlow。　　I　never　suspected　rashness　was　one　of　your　qualities。〃

〃I　don't　mean　to　offer　you　a　loan　or　anything　of　that　sort；〃　pursued　Tetlow。　　〃There's　only　one　thing　that　can　help　a　man　in　your　position。　　He　must　either　be　saved　outright　or　left　to　drown。　　I've　come　with　something　that　may　save　you。〃

There　was　so　much　of　the　incongruous　in　a　situation　where　HE　was　listening　to　an　offer　of　salvation　from　such　a　man　as　Billy　Tetlow　that　Norman　smiled。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　he　said。

〃There's　a　chance　that　within　six　months　or　so　perhaps　soonerBurroughs　and　Galloway　may　end　their　truce　and　declare　war　on　each　other。　　If　so；　Galloway　will　win。　　Anyhow；　the　Galloway　connection　would　be　better　than　the　Burroughs　connection。〃

Norman　looked　at　Tetlow　shrewdly。　　〃How　do　you　know　this？〃　he　asked。

Tetlow's　eyes　shifted。　　〃Can't　tell　you。　　But　I　know。〃

〃Galloway　hates　me。〃

Tetlow　nodded。　　〃You　were　the　one　who　forced　him　into　a　position　where　he　had　to　make　peace　with　Burroughs。　　But　Galloway's　a　big　man；　big　enough　to　admire　ability　wherever　he　sees　it。　　He　has　admired　you　ever　since。〃

〃And　has　given　his　business　to　another　firm。〃

〃But　if　the　break　comes　he'll　need　you。　　And　he's　the　sort　of　man　who　doesn't　hesitate　to　take　what　he　needs。〃

〃Too　remote；〃　said　Norman；　and　his　despondent　gesture　showed　how　quickly　hope　had　lighted　up。　〃Besides；　Billy；　I've　lost　my　nerve。　　I'm　no　good。〃

〃But　you've　gotten　over　thatthat　attack　of　insanity。〃

Norman　shook　his　head。

〃I　can't　understand　it；〃　ejaculated　Tetlow。

〃Of　course　you　can't；〃　said　Norman。　　〃But　there　it　is。〃

〃You　haven't　seen　her　lately？〃

〃Not　since　that　day　。　。　。　　Billy；　she　hasn't〃　Norman　stopped；　and　Tetlow　saw　that　his　hands　were　trembling　with　agitation；　and　marveled。

〃Oh；　no；〃　replied　Tetlow。　　〃So　far　as　I　know；　she's　still　respectable。　　Butwhy　don't　you　go　to　see　her？　　I　think　you'd　be　cured。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　demanded　Norman；　the　veins　in　his　forehead　bulging　with　the　fury　he　was　ready　to　release。

〃For　no　especial　reasonon　my　honor；　Fred；〃　replied　Tetlow。　　〃Simply　because　time　works　wonders　in　all　sorts　of　ways；　including　infatuations。　　Also　well；　the　fact　is；　it　didn't　seem　to　me　that　young　lady　improved　on　acquaintance。　　Maybe　I　got　tired；　or　piquedI　don't　know。　　If　she　hadn't　been　a　silly　little　fool；　would　she　have　refused　you？　　I　know　it　sounds　wellin　a　novel　or　a　playfor　a　poor　girl　to　refuse　a　good　offer；　just　from　sentiment。　　But；　all　the　same；　only　a　fool　girl　does　itin　lifeeh？　　But　go　to　see　her。　　You'll　understand　what　I　mean；　I　think。　　I　want　you　to　brace　up。　　That　may　help。〃

〃What's　she　doing？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I'll　send　you　her　address。　　I　can　get　it。　　About　Galloway　　If　that　break　comes；　I　propose　that　we　get　his　businessyou　and　I。　　I　want　you　for　a　partner。　　I　always　did。　　I　think　I　know　how　to　get　work　out　of　you。　　I　understand　you　better；　than　anyone　else。　　That's　why　I'm　here。〃

〃It's　useless；〃　said　Norman。

〃I'm　willing　to　take　the　risk。　　Now；　here's　what　I　propose。　　I'll　stake　you　to　the　extent　of　a　thousand　dollars　a　month　for　the　next　six　months；　you　to　keep　on　as　you　are　and　not　to　tie　yourself　up　to　any　other　lawyer；　or　to　any　client　likely　to　hamper　us　if　we　get　the　Galloway　business。〃

〃I've　been　borrowing　right　and　left〃

〃I　know　about　that；〃　interrupted　Tetlow。　　〃I'm　not　interested。　　If　you'll　agree　to　my　proposal；　I'll　take　my　chances。〃

〃You　are　throwing　away　six　thousand　dollars。〃

〃I　owe　you　a　position　where　I　make　five　times　that　much。〃

Norman　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Very　well。　　Can　I　have　five　hundred　at　once？〃

〃I'll　send　you　a　check　to…day。　　I'll　send　two　checks　a　monththe　first　and　the　fifteenth。〃

〃I　am　drinking　a　great　deal。〃

〃You　always　did。〃

〃Not　until　recently。　　I　never　knew　what　drinking　meant　until　these　last　few　months。〃

〃Well；　do　as　you　like　with　the　money。　　Drink　it　all；　if　you　please。　　I'm　making　no　conditions　beyond　the　two　I　stated。〃

〃You　will　send　me　that　address？〃

〃In　the　letter　with　the　check。〃

〃Will　she　see　me；　do　you　think？〃

〃I　haven't　an　idea；〃　replied　Tetlow。

〃What's　the　mystery？〃　asked　Norman。　　〃Why　do　you　speak　of　her　so　indifferently？〃

〃It's　the　way　I　feel。〃　　Then；　in　answer　to　the　unspoken　suspicion　once　more　appearing　in　Norman's　eyes；　he　added：　　〃She's　a　very　nice；　sweet　girl；　Norman　so　far　as　I　know　or　believe。　　Beyond　that　　Go　to　see　her。〃

It　had　been　many　a　week　since　Norman　had　heard　a　friendly　voice。　　The　very　sound　of　the　human　voice　had　become　hateful　to　him；　because　he　was　constantly　detecting　the　note　of　nervousness；　the　scarcely　concealed　fear　of　being　entangled　in　his　misfortunes。　　As　Tetlow　rose　to　go；　Norman　tried　to　detain　him。　　The　sound　of　an　unconstrained　voice；　the　sight　of　a　believing　face　that　did　not　express　one　or　more　of　the　shadings　of　contempt　between　pity　and　aversionthe　sight　and　sound　of　this　friend　Tetlow　was　acting　upon　him　like　one　of　those　secret；　unexpected；　powerful　tonics　which　nature　at　times　suddenly　injects　into　a　dying　man　to　confound　the　doctors　and　cheat　death。

〃Tetlow；〃　said　he；　〃I'm　downprobably　down　for　good。　　But　if　I　ever　get　up　again；　I'll　not　make　one　mistakethe　one　that　cost　me　this　fall。　　Do　you　know　what　that　mistake　was？〃

〃I　suppose　you　mean　Miss　Hallowell？〃

〃No；〃　said　Norman；　to　his　surprise。　　〃I　mean　my　lack　of　money；　of　capital；　of　a　large　and　secure　income。　I　used　to　imagine　that　brains　were　the　best；　the　only　sure　asset。　　I　was　guilty　of　the　stupidity　of　overvaluing　my　own　possessions。〃

〃Brains　are　a　mighty　good　asset；　Fred。〃

〃Yesand　necessary。　　But　a　man　of　action　must　have　under　his　brains　another　assetMUST　have　it；　Billy。　　The　one　secure　asset　is　a　big　capital。　　Money　rules　this　world。　　Some　men　have　been　lucky　enough　to　rise　and　stay　risen；　without　money。　　But　not　a　man　of　all　the　men　who　have　been　knocked　out　could　have　been　dislodged　if　he　had　been　armed　and　armored　with　money。　　My　prodigality　was　my　fatal　mistake。　　I　shan't　make　it　againif　I　get　the　chance。　　You　don't　know；　Tetlow；　how　hard　it　is　to　get　money　when　you　are　tumbling　and　must　have　it。　　I　never　dreamed　what　a　factor　it　is　in　calamities　of　EVERY　sort。　　It's　THE　factor。〃

〃I　don't　like　to　hear　you　talk　that　way；　Norman；〃　said　Tetlow　earnestly。　　〃I've　always　most　admired　in　you　the　fact　that　you　weren't　mercenary。〃

〃And　I　never　shall　be；〃　said　Norman；　with　the　patient　smile　of　a　swift；　keen　mind　at　one　that　is　slow　and　hard　to　make　understand。　　〃It　isn't　my　nature。　But；　if　I'm　resurrected；　I'll　seem　to　be　mercenary　until　I　get　a　full　suit　of　the　only　armor　that's　invulnerable　in　this　world。　　Why；　I　built　my　fort　like　a　fool。　　It　was　impregnable　except　for　one　thingone　obvious　thing。　It　hadn't　a　supply　of　water。　　If　I　build　again　it'll　be　round　a　springan　income　big　enough　for　my　needs　and　beyond　anybody's　power　to　cut　off。〃

Tetlow　showed　that　he　was　much　cheered　by　Norman's　revived　interest　in　life。　　But　he　went　away　uneasy；　for　the　last　thing　Norman　said　to　him　was：

〃Don't　forget　that　address！〃



XV


BUT　it　chanced　that　Norman　met　her　in　the　street　about　an　hour　after　Tetlow's　call。

He　was　on　the　way　to　lunch　at　the　Lawyer's　Club　one　of　those　apparent　luxuries　that　are　the　dire　and　pitiful　necessities　of　men　in　New　York　fighting　to　maintain　the　semblance　and　the　reputation　of　prosperity。　It　must　not　be　imagined　by　those　who　are　here　let　into　Norman's　inmost　secrets　that　his　appearance　betrayed　the　depth　to　which　he　had　fallen。　　At　least　to　the　casual　eye　he　seemed　the　same　rich　and　powerful　personage。　An　expert　might　have　got　at　a　good　part　of　the　truth　from　his　somber　eyes　and　haggard　face；　from　the　subtle　transformation　of　the　former　look　of　serene　pride　into　the　bravado　of　pretense。　　And　as；　in　a　general　way；　the　facts　of　his　fall　were　known　far　and　wide；　all　his　acquaintances　understood　that　his　seeming　of　undiminished　success　was　simply　the　familiar　〃bluff。〃　　Its　advantage　to　him　with　them　lay　in　its　raising　a　doubt　as　to　just　what　degree　of　disaster　it　hidno　small　advantage。　Nor　was　this　〃bluff〃　altogether　for　the　benefit　of　the　outside　world。　　It　made　his　fall　less　hideously　intolerable　to　himself。　　In　the　bottom　of　his　heart　he　knew　that　when　drink　and　no　money　should　finally　force　him　to　release　his　relaxing　hold　upon　his　fashionable　clubs；　upon　luxurious　attire　and　habits；　he　would　suddenly　and　with　accelerated　speed　drop　into　the　abyss　We　have　all　caught　glimpses　of　that　abyssfrayed　fine　linen　cheaply　laundered；　a　tie　of　one　time　smartness　showing　signs　of　too　long　wear；　a　suit　from　the　best　kind　of　tailor　with　shiny　spot　glistening　here；　patch　peeping　there；　a　queer　unkemptness　about　the　hair　and　skinthese　the　beginnings　of　a　road　that　leads　straight　and　short　to　the　barrel…house；　the　park　bench；　and　the　police　station。　　Because；　when　a　man　strikes　into　that　stretch　of　the　road　to　perdition；　he　ceases　to　be　one　of　our　friends；　passes　from　view　entirely；　we　have　the　habit　of　SAYING　that　such　things　rarely　if　ever　happen。　　But　we　KNOW　better。　　Many's　the　man　now　high　who　has　had　the　sort　of　drop　Norman　was　taking。　　We　remember　when　he　was　making　a　bluff　such　as　Norman　was　making　in　those　days；　but　we　think　now　that　we　were　mistaken　in　having　suspected　it　of　being　bluff。

Norman；　dressed　with　more　than　ordinary　care　how　sensitive　a　man　becomes　about　those　things　when　there　is　neither　rustle　nor　jingle　in　his　pockets；　and　his　smallest　check　would　be　returned　with　the　big　black　stamp　〃No　Funds〃　　Norman；　groomed　to　the　last　button；　was　in　Broadway　near　Rector　Street。　　Ahead　of　him　he　saw　the　figure　of　a　girla　trim；　attractive　figure；　slim　and　charmingly　long　of　line。　　A　second　glance；　and　he　recognized　her。　　What　was　the　change　that　had　prevented　his　recognizing　her　at　once？　　He　had　not　seen　that　particular　lightish…blue　dress　before　nor　the　coquettish　harmonizing　hat。　　But　that　was　not　the　reason。　　No；　it　was　the　coquetry　in　her　toilet　the　effort　of　the　girl　to　draw　attention　to　her　charms　by　such　small　devices　as　are　within　the　reach　of　extremely　modest　means。　　He　did　not　like　this　change。　It　offended　his　taste；　it　alarmed　h