the dust-第41节

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e　could　not　believe；　a　little　while；　and　luck　would　turn；　and　up　he　would　go　againhigher　than　before。　　Many　a　lawyerto　look　no　farther　than　his　own　professionhad　through　recklessness　or　pride　or　inadvertence　got　the　big　men　down　on　him。　　But　after　a　time　they　had　relented　or　had　found　an　exact　use　for　him；　and　fall　had　been　succeeded　by　rise。　　Was　there　a　single　instance　where　a　man　of　good　brain　had　been　permanently　downed？　　No；　not　one。　　Stay　　Some　of　these　unfortunates　had　failed　to　reappear　on　the　heights　of　success。　　Yes；　thinking　of　the　matter；　he　recalled　several　such。　　Had　he　been　altogether　right　in　assuming；　in　his　days　of　confidence　and　success；　that　they　stayed　down　because　they　belonged　down？　　Perhaps　he　had　judged　them　harshly？　　Yes；　he　was　sure　he　had　judged　them　harshly。　　There　was　such　a　thing　as　breaking　a　proud　spiritand　he　found　within　himself　apparent　proof　that　precisely　this　calamity　had　befallen　him。

There　came　a　timeand　it　came　soonwhen　he　had　about　exhausted　his　desperate　ingenuity　at　cornering　acquaintances　and　former　friends　and　〃sticking　them　up〃　for　loans　of　five　hundred；　a　hundred；　fifty；　twenty…　five　　Because　these　vulgar　and　repulsive　facts　are　not　found　in　the　usual　records　of　the　men　who　have　dropped　and　come　up　again；　do　not　imagine　that　only　the　hopeless　and　never…reappearing　failures　pass　through　such　experiences。　　On　the　contrary；　they　are　part　of　the　common　human　lot；　and　few　indeed　are　the　men　who　have　not　had　themand　worseif　they　could　but　be　brought　to　tell　the　truth。　　Destiny　rarely　permits　any　one　of　us　to　go　from　cradle　to　grave　without　doing　many　a　thing　shameful　and　universally　condemned。　How　could　it　be　otherwise　under　our　social　system？　When　Norman　was　about　at　the　end　of　all　his　resources　Tetlow　called　on　himTetlow；　now　a　partner　in　the　Lockyer　firm。

He　came　with　an　air　of　stealth。　　〃I　don't　want　anyone　to　know　I'm　doing　this；〃　said　he　frankly。　　〃If　it　got　out；　I'd　be　damaged　and　you'd　not　profit。〃

Rarely　does　anyone；　however　unworthyand　Fred　Norman　was　far　from　unworthy；　as　we　humans　go　rarely　does　anyone　find　himself　absolutely　without　a　friend。　　There　is　a　saying　that　no　man　ever　sunk　so　low；　ever　became　so　vile　and　squalid　in　soul　and　body；　but　that　if　he　were　dying；　and　the　fact　were　noised　throughout　the　world；　some　woman　somewhere　would　comeperhaps　from　a　sense　of　duty；　perhaps　from　love；　perhaps　for　the　sake　of　a　moment　of　happiness　long　past　but　never　equaled；　and　so　never　forgotten　but　from　whatever　motive；　she　would　come。　　In　the　same　manner；　anyone　in　dire　straits　can　be　sure　of　some　friend。　　There　were　several　others　whom　Norman　had　been　expectingmen　he　had　saved　by　his　legal　ingenuity　at　turning　points　in　their　careers。　　None　of　these　was　so　imprudent　as　uselessly　to　involve　himself。　It　was　Tetlow　who　cameTetlow；　with　whom　his　accounts　were　more　than　balanced；　with　the　balance　against　him。　　Tetlow；　whom　he　did　not　expect。

Norman　did　not　welcome　him　effusively。　　He　said　at　once：　　〃How　isshe？〃

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；