. And I never did have luck
with the cards and the horses."

"Why did you want to be respectable?" she asked.

"Because that's the best graft," explained he. "It means the
most money, and the most influence. The coyotes that raid the
sheep fold don't get the big share--though they may get a good
deal. No, it's the shepherds and the owners that pull off the
most. I've been leader of coyotes. I'm graduating into
shepherd and proprietor."

"I see," said Susan. "You make it beautifully clear."

He bowed and smiled. "Thank you, kindly. Then, I'll go on.
I'm deep in the contracting business now. I've got a pot of
money put away. I've cut out the cards--except a little
gentlemen's game now and then, to help me on with the right
kind of people. Horses, the same way. I've got my political
pull copper-riveted. It's as good with the Republicans as
with Democrats, and as good with the reform crowd as with
either. My next move is to cut loose from the gang. I've put
a lot of lieutenants between me and them, instead of dealing
with them direct. I'm putting in several more fellows I'm not
ashamed to be seen with in Delmonico's."

"What's become of Jim?" asked Susan.

"Dead--a kike shot him all to pieces in a joint in Seventh
Avenue about a month ago. As I was saying, how do these big
multi-millionaires do the trick? They don't tell somebody to
go steal what they happen to want. They tell somebody they
want it, and that somebody else tells somebody else to get it,
and that somebody else passes the word along until it reaches
the poor devils who must steal it or lose their jobs. I
studied it all out, and I've framed up my game the same way.
Nowadays, every dollar that comes to me has been thoroughly
cleaned long before it drops into my pocket. But you're
wondering where _you_ come in."

"Women are only interested in what's coming to them," said Susan.

"Sensible men are the same way. The men who aren't--they work
for wages and salaries. If you're going to live off of other
people, as women and the rich do, you've got to stand steady,
day and night, for Number One. And now, here's where _you_
come in. You've no objection to being respectable?"

"I've no objection to not being disreputable."

"That's the right way to put it," he promptly agreed.
"Respectable, you know, doesn't mean anything but appearances.
People who are really respectable, who let it strike in,
instead of keeping it on the outsi