the dust-第44章

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；　as　much　as　any　other　one　quality；　that　gave　Norman's　clients　their　confidence　in　him。　　Galloway；　than　whom　no　man　was　shrewder　judge　of　men；　showed　in　his　gratified　eyes　and　voice；　long　before　he　had　finished；　how　strongly　his　conviction　of　Norman's　high　ability　was　confirmed。

When　Galloway　ended；　Norman　rapidly　and　in　clear　and　simple　sentences　summarized　what　Galloway　had　said。　　〃That　is　right？〃　he　asked。

〃Precisely；〃　said　Galloway　admiringly。　　〃What　a　gift　of　clear　statement　you　have；　young　man！〃

〃It　has　won　me　my　place；〃　said　Norman。　　〃As　to　your　campaign；　I　can　tell　you　now　that　the　legal　part　of　it　can　be　arranged。　　That　is　what　the　law　is　forto　enable　a　man　to　do　whatever　he　wants。　　The　penalties　are　for　those　who　have　the　stupidity　to　try　to　do　things　in　an　unlawful　way。〃

Galloway　laughed。　　〃I　had　heard　that　they　were　for　doing　unlawful　things。〃

〃Nothing　is　unlawful；〃　said　Norman；　〃except　in　method。〃

〃That's　an　interesting　view　of　courts　of　justice。〃

〃But　we　have　no　courts　of　justice。　　We　have　only　courts　of　law。〃

Galloway　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　till　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。　　〃What　a　gift　for　clear　statement！〃　he　cried。

Norman　beamed　appreciation　of　a　compliment　so　flattering。　　But　he　went　back　to　business。　　〃As　I　was　saying；　you　can　do　what　you　want　to　do。　　You　wish　me　to　show　you　how。　　In　our　modern　way　of　doing　things；　the　relation　of　lawyer　and　client　has　somewhat　changed。　　To　illustrate　by　this　case；　you　are　the　bear　with　the　taste　for　honey　and　the　strength　to　rob　the　bees。　　I　am　the　honey　birdthat　is；　the　modern　lawyer　who　can　show　you　the　way　to　the　hive。　　Most　of　the　honey　birdsas　yetare　content　with　a　very　small　share　of　the　honeywhatever　the　bear　happens　to　be　unable　to　find　room　for。　　But　I〃　　Norman's　eyes　danced　and　his　strong　mouth　curved　in　a　charming　smile　〃I　am　a　honey　bird　with　a　bear　appetite。〃

Galloway　was　sitting　up　stiffly。　　〃I　don't　quite　follow　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

〃Yet　I　am　plain　enough。　　My　ability　at　clear　statement　has　not　deserted　me。　　If　I　show　you　the　way　through　the　tangled　forest　of　the　law　to　this　hive　you　scentI　must　be　a　partner　in　the　honey。〃

Galloway　rose。　　〃Your　conceptions　of　your　profession　and　of　me；　I　may　sayare　not　attractive。　　I　have　always　been；　and　am　willing　and　anxious　to　pay　liberallymore　liberally　than　anyone　elsefor　legal　advice。　　But　my　business；　sir；　is　my　own。〃

Norman　rose；　his　expression　one　of　apology　and　polite　disappointment。　　〃I　see　I　misunderstood　your　purpose　in　coming　to　me；〃　said　he。　　〃Let　us　take　no　more　of　each　other's　time。〃

〃And　what　did　you　think　my　object　was　in　coming？〃　demanded　Galloway。

〃To　get　from　me　what　you　realized　you　could　get　nowhere　elsewhich　meant；　as　an　old　experienced　trader　like　you　must　have　known；　that　you　were　ready　to　pay　my　price。　　Of　course；　if　you　can　get　elsewhere　the　assistance　you　need；　why；　you　would　be　most　unwise　to　come　to　me。〃

Galloway　moved　toward　the　door。　　〃And　you　might　have　charged　practically　any　fee　you　wished；〃　said　he；　laughing　satirically。　　〃Young　man；　you　are　making　the　mistake　that　is　ruining　this　generation。　You　wish　to　get　rich　all　at　once。　　You　are　not　willing　to　be　patient　and　to　work　and　to　build　your　fortune　solidly　and　slowly。〃

Norman　smiled　as　at　a　good　joke。　　〃What　an　asset　to　you　strong　men　has　been　the　vague　hope　in　the　minds　of　the　masses　that　each　poor　devil　of　them　will　have　his　turn　to　loot　and　grow　rich。　　I　used　to　think　ignorance　kept　the　present　system　going。　　But　I　have　discovered　that　it　is　that　sly；　silly；　corrupt　hope。　　But；　sir；　it　does　not　catch　me。　　I　shall　not　work　for　you　and　the　other　strong　men；　and　patiently　wait　my　turn　that　would　never　come。　　My　time　is　NOW。〃

〃You　threaten　me！〃　cried　Galloway　furiously。

〃Threaten　you？〃　exclaimed　Norman；　amazed。

〃You　think；　because　I　have　given　you；　my　lawyer；　my　secrets；　that　you　can　compel　me〃

With　an　imperious　gesture　Norman　stopped　him。　〃Good　day；　sir；〃　he　said　haughtily。　　〃Your　secrets　are　safe　with　me。　　I　am　a　lawyer；　not　a　financier。〃

Galloway　was　disconcerted。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Norman；〃　he　said。　　〃I　misunderstood　you。　　I　thought　I　heard　you　say　in　effect　that　you　purposed　to　be　rich；　and　that　you　purposed　to　compel　me　to　make　you　so。〃

〃So　I　did；〃　replied　Norman。　　〃But　not　by　the　methods　you　financiers　are　so　adept　at　using。　　Not　by　high…class　blackmail　and　blackjacking。　　I　meant　that　my　abilities　were　such　that　you　and　your　fellow　masters　of　modern　society　would　be　compelled　to　employ　me　on　my　own　terms。　　A　few　moments　ago　you　outlined　to　me　a　plan。　　It　may　be　you　can　find　other　lawyers　competent　to　steer　it　through　the　channel　of　the　law。　　I　doubt　it。　I　may　exaggerate　my　value。　　But〃　　He　smiled　pleasantly〃I　don't　think　so。〃

In　this　modern　world　of　ours　there　is　no　more　delicate　or　more　important　branch　of　the　art　of　material　success　than　learning　to　play　one's　own　tune　on　the　trumpets　of　fame。　　To　those　who　watch　careers　intelligently　and　critically；　and　not　merely　with　mouth　agape　and　ears　awag　for　whatever　sounds　the　winds　of　credulity　bear；　there　is　keen　interest　in　noting　how　differently　this　high　art　is　practiced　by　the　fame…seekershow　well　some　modest　heroes　disguise　themselves　before　essaying　the　trumpet；　how　timidly　some　play；　how　brazenly　others。　It　is　an　art　of　infinite　variety。　　How　many　there　are　who　can　echo　Shakespeare's　sad　lament；　through　Hamlet's　lips〃I　lack　advancement！〃　Those　are　they　who　have　wholly　neglected；　as　did　Shakespeare；　this　essential　part　of　the　art　of　advancementShakespeare；　who　lived　almost　obscure　and　was　all　but　forgotten　for　two　centuries　after　his　death。

Norman；　frankly　seeking　mere　material　success；　and　with　the　colossal　egotism　that　disdains　egotism　and　shrugs　at　the　danger　of　being　accused　of　itNorman　did　not　hesitate　to　proclaim　his　own　merits。　　He　reasoned　that　he　had　the　wares；　that　crying　them　would　attract　attention　to　them；　that　he　whose　attention　was　attracted；　if　he　were　a　judge　of　wares　and　a　seeker　of　the　best；　would　see　that　the　Norman　wares　were　indeed　as　Norman　cried　them。　　At　first　blush　Galloway　was　amused　by　Norman's　candid　self…esteem。　　But　he　had　often　heard　of　Norman's　conceitand　in　a　long　and　busy　life　he　had　not　seen　an　able　man　who　was　unaware　of　his　ability；　any　more　than　he　had　seen　a　pretty　woman　unaware　of　her　prettiness。　　So；　at　second　blush；　Galloway　was　tempted　by　Norman's　calm　strong　blast　upon　his　own　trumpet　to　look　again　at　the　wares。

〃I　always　have　had　a　high　opinion　of　you；　young　man；〃　said　he；　with　laughing　eyes。　　〃Almost　as　high　an　opinion　as　you　have　of　yourself。　　Think　over　the　legal　side　of　my　plan。　　When　you　get　your　thoughts　in　order；　let　me　knowand　make　me　a　proposition　as　to　your　own　share。　　Does　that　satisfy　you？〃

〃It's　all　I　ask；〃　said　Norman。

And　they　parted　on　the　friendliest　termsand　Norman　knew　that　his　fortune　was　assured；　if　Galloway　lived　another　nine　months。　　When　he　was　alone；　the　sweat　burst　out　upon　him　and；　trembling　from　head　to　foot；　he　locked　his　door　and　flung　himself　at　full　length　upon　the　rug。　　It　was　half　an　hour　before　the　fit　of　silent　hysterical　reaction　passed　sufficiently　to　let　him　gather　strength　to　rise。　　He　tottered　to　his　desk　chair；　and　sat　with　his　head　buried　in　his　arms　upon　the　desk。　After　a　while　the　telephone　at　his　side　rang　insistently。　He　took　the　receiver　in　a　hand　he　could　not　steady。

〃Yes？〃　he　called。

〃It's　Tetlow。　　How'd　you　come　out？〃

〃Oh〃　　He　paused　to　stiffen　his　throat　to　attack　the　words　naturally〃all　right。　　We　go　ahead。〃

〃With　G。？〃

〃Certainly。　　But　keep　quiet。　　Don't　let　him　know　you've　heard；　if　you　see　him　or　he　sends　for　you。　Remember；　it's　in　my　hands　entirely。〃

〃Trust　me。〃　　Tetlow's　voice；　suppressed　and　jubilant；　suggested　a　fat；　hoarse　rooster　trying　to　finish　a　crow　before　a　coming　stone　from　a　farm　boy　reaches　him。　　〃It　seems　natural　and　easy　to　you；　old　man。　But　I'm　about　crazy　with　joy。　　I'll　come　right　over。〃

〃No。　　I'm　going　home。〃

〃Can't　I　see　you　there？〃

〃No。　　I've　other　matters　to　attend　to。　　Come　about　lunch　time　to…morrowto　the　office；　here。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Tetlow　disappointedly；　and　Norman　rang　off。



XX


IN　the　faces　of　men　who　have　dominion　of　whatever　kind　over　their　fellow　menbe　it　the　brutal　rule　of　the　prize　fighter　over　his　gang　or　the　apparently　gentle　sway　of　the　apparently　meek　bishop　over　his　loving　flockin　the　faces　of　all　men　of　power　there　is　a　dangerous　look。　　They　may　never　lose　their　tempers。　They　may　never　lift　their　voices。　　They　may　be　ever　suave　and　civil。　　The　dangerous　look　is　thereand　the　danger　behind　it。　　And　the　sense　of　that　look　and　of　its　cause　has　a　certain　restraining　effect　upon　all　but　the　hopelessly　impudent　or　solidly　dense。　　Norman　was　one　of　the　men　without　fits　of　temper。　　In　his　moments　of　irritation；　no　one　ever　felt　that　a　storm　of　violent　language　might　be　impending。　　But　the　danger　signal　flaunted　from　his　face。　　Danger　of　what？　　No　one　could　have　said。　　Most　people　would　have　laughed　at　the　idea　that　so　even　tempered　a　man；　pleased　with　himself　and　with　the　world；　could　ever　be　dangerous。　　Yet　everyone　had　instinctively　respected　that　danger　flaguntil　Dorothy。

Perhaps　it　had　struck　for　herhad　really　not　been　there　when　she　looked　at　him。　　Perhaps　she　had　been　too　inexperienced；　perhaps　too　self…centered；　to　see　it。　Perhaps　she　had　never　before　seen　his　face　in　an　hour　of　weariness　and　relaxationwhen　the　true　character；　the　dominating　and　essential　trait　or　traits；　shows　nakedly　upon　the　surface；　making　the　weak　man　or　woman　look　pitiful；　the　strong　man　or　woman　formidable。

However　that　may　be；　when　he　walked　into　the　sitting　room；　greeted　her　placidly　and　kissed　her　on　the　brow；　she；　glancing　uncertainly　up　at　him；　saw　that　danger　signal　for　the　first　time。　　She　studied　his　face；　her　own　face　wearing　her　expression　of　the　puzzled　child。　　No；　not　quite　that　expression　as　it　always　had　been　theretofore；　but　a　modified　form　of　it。　　To　any　self…centered；　self…absorbed　womanthere　comes　in　her　married　life；　unless　she　be　married　to　a　booby；　a　time；　an　hour；　a　moment　evenfor　it　can　be　narrowed　down　to　a　pointwhen　she　takes　her　first　SEEING　look　at　the　man　upon　whom　she　is　dependent　for　protection；　whether　spiritual　or　material；　or　both。　　In　her　egotism　and　vanity　she　has　been　regarding　him　as　her　property。　Suddenly；　and　usually　disagreeably；　it　has　been　revealed　to　her　that　she　is　his　property。　　That　hour　had　come　for　Dorothy　Norman。　　And　she　was　looking　at　her　husband；　was　wondering　who　and　what　he　was。

〃You've　had　your　lunch？〃　he　said。

〃No；〃　replied　she。

〃You　have　been　out　for　the　air？〃

〃No。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃You　didn't　tell　me　what　to　do。〃

He　smiled　good　humoredly。　　〃Oh；　you　had　no　money。〃

〃Yesa　little。　　But　I〃　　She　halted。

〃Yes？〃

〃You　hadn't　told　me　what　to　do；〃　she　repeated；　as　if　on　mature　thought　that　sentence　expressed　the　whole　matter。

He　felt　in　his　pockets；　found　a　small　roll　of　bills。　He　laid　twenty…five　dollars　on　the　table。　　〃I'll　keep　thirty；〃　he　said；　〃as　I　shan't　have　any　more　till　I　see　Tetlow　to…morrow。　　Now；　fly　out　and　amuse　yourself。　I'm　going　to　sleep。　　Don't　wake　me　till　you're　ready　for　dinner。〃

And　he　went　into　his　bedroom　and　closed　the　door。　When　he　awo