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ed to the cruelest； most hostile criticism。 One glance at her； and he knew a triumph awaited him。 No man and no woman would wonder that he had lost his head over such beauty as hers。 Hat and dress seemed just what had been needed to bring out the full glory of her charms。
〃You are incredibly beautiful；〃 he said in an awed tone。 〃I am proud of you。〃
A little color came into her cheeks。 She looked at herself in the mirror with her quiet intense secret； yet not covert vanity。 He laughed in boyish pleasure。 〃This is only the small beginning；〃 said he。 〃Wait a few months。〃
At dinner and in a box at the theater afterwards； he had the most exquisite pleasure of his life。 She had been seen by many of his former friends； and he was certain they knew who she was。 He felt that he would have no difficulty in putting her in the place his wife should occupy。 A woman with such beauty as hers was a sensation； one fashionable society would not deny itself。 She had good manners； an admirable manner。 With a little coaching she would be as much at home in grandeur as were those who had always had it。
The last fear of losing her left him。 On the way back to the hotel he； in a delirium of pride and passion； crushed her in his arms and caressed her with the frenzy that had always terrified her。 She resisted only faintly； was almost passive。 〃She is mine！〃 he said to himself； exultantly。 〃She is really mine！〃
When he awoke in the morning she was still asleep looked like a tired lovely child。 Several times； while he was dressing； he went in to feast his eyes upon her beauty。 How could he possibly have thought her homely； in whatever moment of less beauty or charm she might have had？ The crowning charm of infinite variety！ She had a delightfully sweet disposition。 He was not sure how much or how little intelligence she hadprobably more than most women。 But what did that matter？ It would be impossible ever to grow weary or to be anything but infatuated lover when she had such changeful beauty。
He kissed her lightly on her thick braids； as he was about to go。 He left a note explaining that he did not wish to disturb her and that it was necessary for him to be at the office earlier。 And that morning in all New York no man left his home for the day's struggle for dollars with a freer or happier heart； or readier to play the game boldly； skillfully； with success。
Certainly he needed all his courage and all his skill。
To most of the people who live in New York and elsewhere throughout the countryor the world； for that matteran income of a thousand dollars a month seems extremely comfortable； to say the least of it。 The average American family of five has to scrape along on about half that sum a year。 But among the comfortable classes in New Yorkand perhaps in one or two other citiesa thousand dollars a month is literally genteel poverty。 To people accustomed to what is called luxury nowadayspeople with the habit of the private carriage； the private automobile； and several servantsto such people a thousand dollars a month is an absurd little sum。 It would not pay for the food alone。 It would not buy for a man and his wife； with no children； clothing enough to enable them to make a decent appearance。
Norman； living alone and living very quietly indeed； might have got along for a while on that sum； if he had taken much thought about expenditures； had persisted in such severe economies as using street cars instead of taxicabs and drinking whisky at dinner instead of his customary quart of six…dollar champagne。 Norman； the married man； could not escape disaster for a single month on an income so pitiful。
Probably on the morning on which he set out for downtown in search of money enough to enable him to live decently； not less than ten thousand men on Manhattan Island left comfortable or luxurious homes faced with precisely the same problem。 And each and every one of them knew that on that day or some day soon they must find the money demanded imperiously by their own and their families' tastes and necessities or be ruined flung out； trampled upon； derided as failures； hated by the 〃loved ones〃 they had caused to be humiliated。 And every man of that legion had a fine； an unusually fine brainresourceful； incessant； teeming with schemes for wresting from those who had dollars the dollars they dared not go home without。 And those ten thousand quickest and most energetic brains； by their mode of thought and action； determined the thought and action of the entire countrygave the mercenary and unscrupulous cast to the whole social system。 Themselves the victims of conditions； they were the bellwethers to millions of victims compelled to follow their leadership。
Norman； by the roundabout mode of communication he and Tetlow had established； summoned his friend and backer to his office。 〃Tetlow；〃 he began straight off； 〃I've got to have more money。〃
〃How much？〃 said Tetlow。
〃More than you can afford to advance me。〃
〃How much？〃 repeated Tetlow。
〃Three thousand a month right awayat the least。〃
〃That's a big sum；〃 said Tetlow。
〃Yes； for a man used to dealing in small figures。 But in reality it's a moderate income。〃
〃Few large families spend more。〃
〃Few large or small families in my part of New York pinch along on so little。〃
〃What has happened to you？〃 said Tetlow； dropping into a chair and folding his fat hands on his stomach。
〃Why？〃 asked Norman。
〃It's in your voicein your facein your cool demand for a big income。〃
〃Let's start right； old man；〃 said Norman。 〃Don't CALL thirty…six thousand a year big or you'll THINK it big。 And if you think it big； you will stay little。〃
Tetlow nodded。 〃I'm ready to grow；〃 said he。 〃Now what's happened to you？〃
〃I've got married；〃 replied Norman。
〃I thought so。 To MissHallowell？〃
〃To Miss Hallowell。 So my way's clear； and I'm going to resume the march。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I've two plans。 Either will serve。 The first is yoursthe one you partly revealed to me the other day。〃
〃Partly？〃 said Tetlow。
〃Partly；〃 repeated Norman； laughing。 〃I know you； Billy； and that means I know you're absolutely incapable of plotting as big a scheme as you suggested to me。 It came either from Galloway or from some one of his clique。〃
〃I said all I'm at liberty to say； Fred。〃
〃I don't wish you to break your promise。 All I want to know is； can I get the three thousand a month and assurance of its lasting and leading to something bigger？〃
〃What is your other scheme？〃 said Tetlow； and it was plain to the shrewder young lawyer that the less shrewd young lawyer wished to gain time。
〃Simple and sure；〃 replied Norman。 〃We will buy ten shares of Universal Fuel Company through a dummy and bring suit to dissolve it。 I looked into the matter for Burroughs once when he was after the Fosdick… Langdon group。 Universal Fuel wouldn't dare defend the action I could bring。 We could get what we pleased for our ten shares to let up on the suit。 The moment their lawyers saw the papers I'd draw； they'd advise it。〃
Tetlow shook his large； impressively molded head。 〃Shady；〃 said he。 〃Shady。〃
Norman smiled with good…natured patience。 〃You soun