the dust-第43章

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ld　prove　to　be　merely　a　dip　in　a　securely　brilliant　career　and　not　a　fall　at　all。　　In　that　casewith　such　a　brain；　such　a　genius　for　the　lawlessness　of　the　law；　what　a　laughing　on　the　other　side　of　the　mouth　there　might　yet　be　among　young　Norman's　enemiesand　friends！

He　spent　most　of　the　next　few　daysthe　lunch　time；　the　late　afternoon；　finally　the　early　morning　hours　lurking　about　the　Equitable　Building；　in　which　were　the　offices　of　Pytchley　and　Culver。　　As　that　building　had　entrances　on　four　streets；　the　best　he　could　do　was　to　walk　round　and　round；　with　an　occasional　excursion　through　the　corridors　and　past　the　elevators。　　He　had　written　her；　asking　to　see　her；　he　had　got　no　answer。　He　ceased　to　wait　at　the　elevators　after　he　had　twice　narrowly　escaped　being　seen　by　Tetlow。　　He　was　indifferent　to　Tetlow；　except　as　meeting　him　might　make　it　harder　to　see　Dorothy。　　He　drank　hard。　　But　drink　never　affected　him　except　to　make　him　more　grimly　tenacious　in　whatever　he　had　deliberately　and　soberly　resolved。　　Drink　did　not　explainneither　wholly　nor　in　any　partthis　conduct　of　his。　　It；　and　the　more　erratic　vagaries　to　follow；　will　seem　incredible　conduct　for　a　man　of　Norman's　character　and　position　to　feeble　folk　with　their　feeble　desires；　their　dread　of　criticism　and　ridicule；　their　exaggerated　and　adoring　notions　of　the　master　men。　　In　fact；　it　was　the　natural　outcome　of　the　man's　naturearrogant；　contemptuous　of　his　fellowmen　and　of　their　opinions；　and；　like　all　the　master　men；　capable　of　such　concentration　upon　a　desire　that　he　would　adopt　any　means；　high　or　low；　dignified　or　the　reverse；　if　only　it　promised　to　further　his　end。　　Fred　Norman；　at　these　vulgar　vigils；　took　the　measure　of　his　own　self…abasement　to　a　hair's　breadth。　　But　he　kept　on；　with　the　fever　of　his　infatuation　burning　like　a　delirium；　burning　higher　and　deeper　with　each　baffled　day。

At　noon；　one　day；　as　he　swung　into　Broadway　from　Cedar　street；　he　ran　straight　into　Tetlow。　　It　was　raining　and　his　umbrella　caught　in　Tetlow's。　　It　was　a　ludicrous　situation；　but　there　was　no　answering　smile　in　his　former　friend's　eyes。　　Tetlow　glowered。

〃I've　heard　you　were　hanging　about；〃　he　said。　〃How　low　you　have　sunk！〃

Norman　laughed　in　his　face。　　〃Poor　Tetlow；〃　he　said。　　〃I　never　expected　to　see　you　develop　into　a　crusader。　　And　what　a　Don　Quixote　you　look。　　Cheer　up；　old　man。　　Don't　take　it　so　hard。〃

〃I　warn　you　to　keep　away　from　her；〃　said　Tetlow　in　subdued；　tense　tones；　his　fat　face　quivering　with　emotion。　　〃Hasn't　she　shown　you　plainly　that　she'll　have　nothing　to　do　with　you？〃

〃I　want　only　five　minutes'　talk　with　her；　Tetlow；〃　said　Norman；　dropping　into　an　almost　pleading　tone。　〃And　I　guarantee　I'll　say　nothing　you　wouldn't　approve；　if　you　heard。　　You　are　advising　her　badly。　　You　are　doing　her　an　injury。〃

〃I　am　protecting　her　from　a　scoundrel；〃　retorted　Tetlow。

〃She'll　not　thank　you　for　it；　when　she　finds　out　the　truth。〃

〃You　can　write　to　her。　　What　a　shallow　liar　you　are！〃

〃I　cannot　write　what　I　must　say；〃　said　Norman。　　It　had　never　been　difficult　for　him；　however　provoked；　to　keep　his　temperoutwardly。　　Tetlow's　insults　were　to　him　no　more　than　the　barkings　of　a　watch　dog；　and　one　not　at　all　dangerous；　but　only　amusing。　　〃I　must　see　her。　　If　you　are　her　friend；　and　not　merely　a　jealous；　disappointed　lover；　you'll　advise　her　to　see　me。〃

〃You　shall　not　see　her；　if　I　can　help　it；〃　cried　his　former　friend。　　〃And　if　you　persist　in　annoying　her〃

〃Don't　make　futile　threats；　Tetlow；〃　Norman　interrupted。　　〃You've　done　me　all　the　mischief　you　can　do。　I　see　you　hate　me　for　the　injuries　you've　done　me。　　That's　the　way　it　always　is。　　But　I　don't　hate　you。　　It　was　at　my　suggestion　that　the　Lockyer　firm　is　trying　to　get　you　back　as　a　partner。〃　　Then；　as　Tetlow　colored　〃Oh；　I　see　you're　accepting　their　offer。〃

〃If　I　had　thought〃

〃Nonsense。　　You're　not　a　fool。　　How　does　it　matter　whose　the　hand；　if　only　it's　a　helping　hand？　　And　you　may　be　sure　they'd　never　have　made　you　the　offer　if　they　didn't　need　you　badly。　　All　the　credit　I　claim　is　having　the　intelligence　to　enlighten　their　stupidity　with　the　right　suggestion。〃

In　spite　of　himself　Tetlow　was　falling　under　the　spell　of　Norman's　personality；　of　the　old　and　deep　admiration　the　lesser　man　had　for　the　greater。

〃Norman；〃　he　said；　〃how　can　you　be　such　a　com…　bination　of　bigness　and　petty　deviltry？　　You　are　a　monster　of　self…indulgence。　　It's　a　God's　mercy　there　aren't　more　men　with　your　selfishness　and　your　desires。〃

Norman　laughed　sardonically。　　〃The　difference　between　me　and　most　men；〃　said　he；　〃isn't　in　selfishness　or　in　desires；　but　in　courage。　　Courage；　Billythere's　what　most　of　you　lack。　　And　even　in　courage　I'm　not　alone。　　My　sort　fill　most　of　the　high　places。〃

Tetlow　looked　dismal　confession　of　a　fear　that　Norman　was　right。

〃Yes；〃　pursued　Norman；　〃in　this　country　there　are　enough　wolves　to　attend　to　pretty　nearly　all　the　sheep　though　it's　amazing　how　much　mutton　there　is。〃　　With　an　abrupt　shift　from　raillery；　〃You'll　help　me　with　her；　Billy？〃

〃Why　don't　you　let　her　alone；　Fred？〃　pleaded　Tetlow。　　〃It　isn't　worthy　of　youa　big　man　like　you。　　Let　her　alone；　Fred！the　poor　child；　trying　to　earn　her　own　living　in　an　honest　way。〃

〃Let　her　alone？　　Tetlow；　I　shall　never　let　her　alone　as　long　as　she　and　I　are　both　alive。〃

The　fat　man；　with　his　premature　wrinkles　and　his　solemn　air　of　law　books　that　look　venerable　though　fresh　from　the　press；　took　on　an　added　pastiness。　　〃Fredfor　God's　sake；　can't　you　love　her　in　a　noble　waya　way　worthy　of　you？〃

Norman　gave　him　a　penetrating　glance。　　〃Is　love　such　love　as　mineAND　yours〃　　There　Tetlow　flushed　guiltily〃is　it　ever　noble？whatever　that　means。　　No；　it's　humanhuman。　　But　I'm　not　trying　to　harm　her。　I　give　you　my　word。　。　。　。　　Will　you　help　meand　her？〃

Tetlow　hesitated。　　His　heavy　cheeks　quivered。　　〃I　don't　trust　you；〃　he　cried　violentlythe　violence　of　a　man　fighting　against　an　enemy　within。　　〃Don't　ever　speak　to　me　again。〃　　And　he　rushed　away　through　the　rain；　knocking　umbrellas　this　way　and　that。

About　noon　two　days　later；　as　Norman　was　making　one　of　his　excursions　past　the　Equitable　elevators；　he　saw　Bob　Culver　at　the　news　stand。　　It　so　happened　that　as　he　recognized　Culver；　Culver　cast　in　the　direction　of　the　elevators　the　sort　of　look　that　betrays　a　man　waiting　for　a　woman。　　Unseen　by　Culver；　Norman　stopped　short。　Into　his　face　blazed　the　fury　of　suspicion；　jealousy；　and　hateone　of　the　cyclones　of　passion　that　swept　him　from　time　to　time　and　revealed　to　his　own　appalled　self　the　full　intensity　of　his　feeling；　the　full　power　of　the　demon　that　possessed　him。　　Culver　was　of　those　glossy；　black　men　who　are　beloved　of　women。　　He　was　much　handsomer　than　Norman；　who；　indeed；　was　not　handsome　at　all；　but　was　regarded　as　handsome　because　he　had　the　air　of　great　distinction。　　Many　times　these　two　young　men　had　been　pitted　against　each　other　in　legal　battles。　　Every　time　Norman　had　won。　　Twice　they　had　contended　for　the　favor　of　the　same　lady。　　Each　had　scored　once。　　But　as　Culver's　victory　was　merely　for　a　very　light　and　empty…headed　lady　of　the　stage　while　he　had　won　Josephine　Burroughs　away　from　Culver；　the　balance　was　certainly　not　against　him。

As　Norman　slipped　back　and　into　the　cross　corridor　to　avoid　meeting　Culver；　Dorothy　Hallowell　hurried　from　a　just　descended　elevator　and；　with　a　quick；　frightened　glance　toward　Culver；　in　profile；　almost　ran　toward　Norman。　　It　was　evident　that　she　had　only　one　thought　to　escape　being　seen　by　her　new　employer。　　When　she　realized　that　some　one　was　standing　before　her　and　moved　to　one　side　to　pass；　she　looked　up。　　〃Oh！〃　she　gasped；　starting　back。　　And　then　she　stood　there　white　and　shaking。

〃Is　that　beast　Culver　hounding　you？〃　demanded　Norman。

She　recovered　herself　quickly。　　With　flashing　eyes；　she　cried：　　〃How　dare　you！　　How　dare　you！〃

Norman；　possessed　by　his　rage　against　Culver；　paid　no　attention。　　〃If　he　don't　let　you　alone；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　thrash　him　into　a　hospital　for　six　months。　　You　must　leave　his　office　at　once。　　You'll　not　go　back　there。〃

〃You　must　be　crazy；〃　replied　she；　calm　again。　〃I've　no　complaint　to　make　of　the　way　I'm　being　treated。　　I　never　was　so　well　off　in　my　life。