ance。 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 his jealousy。
He quickened his step； and when almost at her side spoke her name〃Miss Hallowell。〃
She stopped； turned。 As soon as she recognized him there came into her quiet； lovely face a delightful smile。 He could not conceal his amazement。 She was glad to see him！ Instantly； following the invariable habit of an experienced analytical mind； he wondered for what unflattering reason this young woman who did not like him was no longer showing it； was seeming more than a little pleased to see him。 〃Why； how d'ye do； Mr。 Norman？〃 said she。 And her friendliness and assurance of manner jarred upon him。 There was not a suggestion of forwardness； but he； used to her old… time extreme reserve； felt precisely as if she were bold and gaudy； after the fashion of so many of the working girls who were popular with the men。
This unfavorable impression disappearedor； rather； retired to the backgroundeven as it became definite。 And once more he was seeing the charms of physical loveliness； of physicaland moral； and mental mystery that had a weird power over him。 As they shook hands； a quiver shot through him as at the shock of a terrific stimulant； and he stood there longing to take her in his arms； to feel the delicate yet perfect and vividly vital life of that fascinating form longing to kiss that sensitive； slightly pouted rosy mouth； to try to make those clear eyes grow soft and dreamy
She was saying： 〃I've been wondering what had become of you。〃
〃I saw Tetlow；〃 he said。 〃He promised to send me your address。〃
At Tetlow's name she frowned slightly； then a gleam of ridicule flitted into her eyes。 〃Oh； that silly； squeamish old maid！ How sick I got of him！〃
Norman winced； and his jealousy stirred。 〃Why？〃 he asked。
〃Always warning me against everybody。 Always giving me advice。 It was too tiresome。 And at last he began to criticize methe way I dressedthe way I talkedsaid I was getting too free in my manner。 The impudence of him！〃
Norman tried to smile。
〃He'd have liked me to stay a silly little mouse forever。〃
〃So you've beenblossoming out？〃 said Norman。
〃In a quiet way；〃 replied she； with a smile of self… content； so lovely as a smile that no one would have minded its frank egotism。 〃There isn't much chance for fununless a girl goes too far。 But at the same time I don't intend life to be Sunday when it isn't work。 I got very cross with himMr。 Tetlow； I mean。 And I took another position。 It didn't pay quite so well only fifteen a week。 But I couldn't stand being watchedand guyed by all the other girls and boys for it。〃
〃Where are you working？〃
〃With an old lawyer named Branscombe。 It's awful slow； as I'm the only one； and he's old and does everything in an old…fashioned way。 But the hours are easy； and I don't have to get down till ninewhich is nice when you've been out at a dance the night before。〃
Norman kept his eyes down to hide from her the legion of devils of jealousy。 〃You HAVE changed；〃 he said。
〃I'm growing up；〃 replied she with a charming toss of her small headwhat beautiful effects the sunlight made in among those wavy strands and strays！
〃And you're as lovely as everlovelier；〃 he said and his eyes were the eyes of the slave she had spurned。
She did not spurn him nowand it inflamed his jealousy that she did not。 She said： 〃Oh； what's the good of looks？ The town's full of pretty girls。 And so many of them have moneywhich I haven't。 To make a hit in New York a girl's got to have both looks and dress。 But I must be going。 I've an engagement to lunch〃 She gave a proud little smile〃at the Astor House。 It's nice upstairs there。〃
〃With Bob Culver？〃
She laughed。 〃I haven't seen him since I left his office。 You know； Mr。 Tetlow took me with himback to your old firm。 I didn't like Mr。 Culver。 I don't care for those black men。 They are bad…tempered and two…faced。 Anyhow； I'd not have anything to do with a man who wanted to slip round with me as if he were ashamed of me。〃
She was looking at Norman pleasantly enough。 He wasn't sure that the hit was for him as well as for Culver； but he flushed deeply。 〃Will you lunch with me at the Astor House at one to…morrow？〃
〃I've got an engagement；〃 said she。 〃And I must be going。 I'm awfully late。〃 He had an instinct that her engagement on both days was with the same man。 〃I'm glad to have seen you〃
〃Won't you let me call on you？〃 he said imploringly； but with the suggestion that he had no hope of being permitted to come。
〃Certainly；〃 responded she with friendly promptness。 She opened the shopping bag swinging on her arm。 〃Here is one of my cards。〃
〃When？ This evening？〃
Her laugh showed the beautiful deep pink and daz… zling white behind her lips。 〃NoI'm going to a party。〃
〃Let me take you。〃
She shook her head。 〃You wouldn't like it。 Only young people。〃
〃But I'm not so old。〃
She looked at him critically。 〃Noyou're not。 It always puzzled me。 You aren't oldyou look like a boy lots of the time。 But you always SEEM old to me。〃
〃I'll try to do better。 To…night？〃
〃Not to…night；〃 laughed she。 〃Let's seeto… morrow's Sunday。 Come to…morrowabout half past two。〃
〃Thank you；〃 he said so gratefully that he cursed himself for his folly as he heard his voicethe idiotic folly of so plainly betraying his feelings。 No wonder she despised him！ Beginning againand beginning； wrong。
〃Good…by。〃 Her eyes； her smile flashed and he was alone； watching her slender grace glide through the throngs of lower Broadway。
At his office again at three； he found a note from Tetlow inclosing another of Dorothy's cards and also the promised check。 Into his face came the look that always comes into the faces of the prisoners of despair when the bolts slide back and the heavy door swings and hope stands on the threshold instead of the famil… iar grim figure of the jailer。 〃This looks like the turn of the road；〃 he muttered。 Yes； a turn it certainly wasbut was it THE turn？ 〃I'll know more as to that；〃 said he with a glance at the clock； 〃about this time to…morrow。〃
It was a boarding house on the west side。 And when the slovenly