t, would see that the Norman wares were indeed as
Norman cried them. At first blush Galloway was amused by Norman's candid
self-esteem. But he had often heard of Norman's conceit--and in a long
and busy life he had not seen an able man who was unaware of his
ability; any more than he had seen a pretty woman unaware of her
prettiness. So, at second blush, Galloway was tempted by Norman's calm
strong blast upon his own trumpet to look again at the wares.

"I always have had a high opinion of you, young man," said he, with
laughing eyes. "Almost as high an opinion as you have of yourself. Think
over the legal side of my plan. When you get your thoughts in order, let
me know--and make me a proposition as to your own share. Does that
satisfy you?"

"It's all I ask," said Norman.

And they parted on the friendliest terms--and Norman knew that his
fortune was assured, if Galloway lived another nine months. When he was
alone, the sweat burst out upon him and, trembling from head to foot, he
locked his door and flung himself at full length upon the rug. It was
half an hour before the fit of silent hysterical reaction passed
sufficiently to let him gather strength to rise. He tottered to his desk
chair, and sat with his head buried in his arms upon the desk. After a
while the telephone at his side rang insistently. He took the receiver
in a hand he could not steady.

"Yes?" he called.

"It's Tetlow. How'd you come out?"

"Oh--" He paused to stiffen his throat to attack the words
naturally--"all right. We go ahead."

"With G.?"

"Certainly. But keep quiet. Don't let him know you've heard, if you see
him or he sends for you. Remember, it's in my hands entirely."

"Trust me." Tetlow's voice, suppressed and jubilant, suggested a fat,
hoarse rooster trying to finish a crow before a coming stone from a farm
boy reaches him. "It seems natural and easy to you, old man. But I'm
about crazy with joy. I'll come right over."

"No. I'm going home."

"Can't I see you there?"

"No. I've other matters to attend to. Come about lunch time
to-morrow--to the office, here."

"All right," said Tetlow disappointedly, and Norman rang off.

XX

In the faces of men who have dominion of whatever kind over their fellow
men--be it the brutal rule of the prize fighter over his gang or the
apparently gentle sway of the apparently meek bishop over his loving
flock--in the faces of all men of power there is a dangerous look. They
may