purpose。 He wanted Tracy to get rid of that cowboy hat。 He didn't see
his way to finding mechanical or manual employment for a person rigged in
that fashion。 Barrow presently said：
〃As I understand it； you're not a cowboy。〃
〃No； I'm not。〃
〃Well； now if you will not think me too curious； how did you come to
mount that hat？ Where'd you get it？〃
Tracy didn't know quite how to reply to this； but presently said；
〃Well； without going into particulars； I exchanged clothes with a
stranger under stress of weather； and I would like to find him and re…
exchange。〃
〃Well； why don't you find him？ Where is he？〃
〃I don't know。 I supposed the best way to find him would be to continue
to wear his clothes； which are conspicuous enough to attract his
attention if I should meet him on the street。〃
〃Oh； very well；〃 said Barrow； 〃the rest of the outfit； is well enough；
and while it's not too conspicuous； it isn't quite like the clothes that
anybody else wears。 Suppress the hat。 When you meet your man he'll
recognize the rest of his suit。 That's a mighty embarrassing hat； you
know； in a centre of civilization like this。 I don't believe an angel
could get employment in Washington in a halo like that。〃
Tracy agreed to replace the hat with something of a modester form； and
they stepped aboard a crowded car and stood with others on the rear
platform。 Presently； as the car moved swiftly along the rails； two men
crossing the street caught sight of the backs of Barrow and Tracy； and
both exclaimed at once； 〃There he is！〃 It was Sellers and Hawkins。
Both were so paralyzed with joy that before they could pull themselves
together and make an effort to stop the car； it was gone too far；
and they decided to wait for the next one。 They waited a while； then it
occurred to Washington that there could be no use in chasing one horse…
car with another； and he wanted to hunt up a hack。 But the Colonel said：
〃When you come to think of it； there's no occasion for that at all。
Now that I've got him materialized； I can command his motions。 I'll have
him at the house by the time we get there。〃
Then they hurried off home in a state of great and joyful excitement。
The hat exchange accomplished； the two new friends started to walk back
leisurely to the boarding house。 Barrow's mind was full of curiosity
about this young fellow。 He said；
〃You've never been to the Rocky Mountains？〃
〃No。〃
〃You've never been out on the plains？〃
〃No。〃
〃How long have you been in this country？〃
〃Only a few days。〃
〃You've never been in America before？〃
Then Barrow communed with himself。 〃Now what odd shapes the notions of
romantic people take。 Here's a young； fellow who's read in England about
cowboys and adventures on the plains。 He comes here and buys a cowboy's
suit。 Thinks he can play himself on folks for a cowboy；
all inexperienced as he is。 Now the minute he's caught in this poor
little game； he's ashamed of it and ready to retire from it。 It is that
exchange that he has put up as an explanation。 It's rather thin；
too thin altogether。 Well； he's young； never been anywhere； knows
nothing about the world； sentimental； no doubt。 Perhaps it was the
natural thing for him to do； but it was a most singular choice； curious
freak； altogether。〃
Both men were busy with their thoughts for a time； then Tracy heaved a
sigh and said；
〃Mr。 Barrow； the case of that young fellow troubles me。〃
〃You mean Nat Brady？〃
〃Yes； Brady； or Baxter； or whatever it was。 The old landlord called him
by several different names。〃
〃Oh； yes； he has been very liberal with names for Brady； since Brady fell
into arrears for his board。 Well； that's one of his sarcasmsthe old
man thinks he's great on sarcasm。〃
〃Well； what is Brady's difficulty？ What is Bradywho is he？〃
〃Brady is a tinner。 He's a young journeyman tinner who was getting along
all right till he fell sick and lost his job。 He was very popular before
he lost his job； everybody in the house liked Brady。 The old man was
rather especially fond of him； but you know that when a man loses his job
and loses his ability to support himself and to pay his way as he goes；
it makes a great difference in the way people look at him and feel about
him。〃
〃Is that so！ Is it so？〃
Barrow looked at Tracy in a puzzled way。 〃Why of course it's so。
Wouldn't you know that； naturally。 Don't you know that the wounded deer
is always attacked and killed by its companions and friends？〃
Tracy said to himself； while a chilly and boding discomfort spread itself
through his system； 〃In a republic of deer and men where all are free and
equal； misfortune is a crime； and the prosperous gore the unfortunate to
death。〃 Then he said aloud； 〃Here in the boarding house； if one would
have friends and be popular instead of having the cold shoulder turned
upon him； he must be prosperous。〃
〃Yes；〃 Barrow said； 〃that is so。 It's their human nature。 They do turn
against Brady； now that he's unfortunate； and they don't like him as well
as they did before； but it isn't because of any lack in Bradyhe's just
as he was before； has the same nature and the same impulses； but they
well； Brady is a thorn in their consciences； you see。 They know they
ought to help him and they're too stingy to do it； and they're ashamed of
themselves for that； and they ought also to hate themselves on that
account； but instead of that they hate Brady because he makes them
ashamed of themselves。 I say that's human nature； that occurs
everywhere； this boarding house is merely the world in little； it's the
case all overthey're all alike。 In prosperity we are popular；
popularity comes easy in that case； but when the other thing comes our
friends are pretty likely to turn against us。〃
Tracy's noble theories and high purposes were beginning to feel pretty
damp and clammy。 He wondered if by any possibility he had made a mistake
in throwing his own prosperity to the winds and taking up the cross
of other people's unprosperity。 But he wouldn't listen to that sort of
thing； he cast it out of his mind and resolved to go ahead resolutely
along the course he had mapped out for himself。
Extracts from his diary：
Have now spent several days in this singular hive。 I don't know quite
what to make out of these people。 They have merits and virtues； but they
have some other qualities； and some ways that are hard to get along with。
I can't enjoy them。 The moment I appeared in a hat of the period；
I noticed a change。 The respect which had been paid me before； passed
suddenly away； and the people became friendlymore than thatthey
became familiar； and I'm not used to familiarity； and can't take to it
right off； I find that out。 These people's familiarity amounts to
impudence； sometimes。 I suppose it's all right； no doubt I can get used
to it； but it's not a satisfactory process at all。 I have accomplished
my dearest wish； I am a man among men； on an equal footing with Tom； Dick
and Harry； and yet it isn't just exactly what I thought it was going to
be。 II miss home。 Am obliged to say I am homesick。 Another thing
and this is a confessiona reluctant one； but I will make it： The thing
I miss most and most severely； is the respect； the deference； with which
I was treated all my life in England； and which seems to be somehow
necessary to me。 I get along very well without the luxury and the wealth
and the sort of society I've been accustomed to； but I do miss the
respect and can't seem to get reconciled to the absence of it。 There is
respect； there is deference here； but it doesn't fall to my share。 It is
lavished on two men。 One of them is a portly man of middle age who is a
retired plumber。 Everybody is pleased to have that man's notice。
He's full of pomp and circumstance and self complacency and bad grammar；
and at table he is Sir Oracle and when he opens his mouth not any dog in
the kennel barks。 The other person is a policeman at the capitol…
building。 He represents the government。 The deference paid to these two
men is not so very far short of that which is paid to an earl in England；
though the method of it differs。 Not so much courtliness； but the
deference is all there。
Yes； and there is obsequiousness； too。
It does rather look as if in a republic where all are free and equal；
prosperity and position constitute rank。
CHAPTER XIII。
The days drifted by； and they grew ever more dreary。 For Barrow's
efforts to find work for Tracy were unavailing。 Always the first
question asked was； 〃What Union do you belong to？〃
Tracy was obliged to reply that he didn't belong to any trade…union。
〃Very well； then； it's impossible to employ you。 My men wouldn't stay
with me if I should employ a 'scab；' or 'rat；'〃 or whatever the phrase
was。
Finally； Tracy had a happy thought。 He said； 〃Why the thing for me to
do； of course； is to join a trade…union。〃
〃Yes；〃 Barrow said； 〃that is the thing for you to doif you can。〃
〃If I can？ Is it difficult？〃
〃Well； Yes；〃 Barrow said； 〃it's sometimes difficultin fact； very
difficult。 But you can try； and of course it will be best to try。〃
Therefore Tracy tried； but he did not succeed。 He was refused admission
with a good deal of promptness； and was advised to go back home； where he
belonged； not come here taking honest men's bread out of their mouths。
Tracy began to realize that the situation was desperate； and the thought
made him cold to the marrow。 He said to himself； 〃So there is an
aristocracy of position here； and an aristocracy of prosperity； and
apparently there is also an aristocracy of the ins as opposed to the
outs； and I am with the outs。 So the ranks grow daily； here。 Plainly
there are all kinds of castes here and only one that I belong to； the
outcasts。〃 But he couldn't even smile at his small joke； although he was
obliged to confess that he had a rather good opinion of it。 He was
feeling so defeated and miserable by this time that he could no longer
look with philosophical complacency on the horseplay of the young fellows
in the upper rooms at night。 At first it had been pleasant to see them
unbend and have a good time after havin