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〃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； 〃I'm downprobably down for good。 But if I ever get up again； I'll not make one mistakethe one that cost me this fall。 Do you know what that mistake was？〃
〃I suppose you mean Miss Hallowell？〃
〃No；〃 said Norman； to his surprise。 〃I mean my lack of money； of capital； of a large and secure income。 I used to imagine that brains were the best； the only sure asset。 I was guilty of the stupidity of overvaluing my own possessions。〃
〃Brains are a mighty good asset； Fred。〃
〃Yesand necessary。 But a man of action must have under his brains another assetMUST have it； Billy。 The one secure asset is a big capital。 Money rules this world。 Some men have been lucky enough to rise and stay risen； without money。 But not a man of all the men who have been knocked out could have been dislodged if he had been armed and armored with money。 My prodigality was my fatal mistake。 I shan't make it againif I get the chance。 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 i