k on an added
pastiness. "Fred--for God's sake, can't you love her in a noble way--a
way worthy of you?"

Norman gave him a penetrating glance. "Is love--such love as mine--_and_
yours--" There Tetlow flushed guiltily--"is it ever noble?--whatever
that means. No, it's human--human. But I'm not trying to harm her. I
give you my word. . . . Will you help me--and her?"

Tetlow hesitated. His heavy cheeks quivered. "I don't trust you," he
cried violently--the violence of a man fighting against an enemy within.
"Don't ever speak to me again." And he rushed away through the rain,
knocking umbrellas this way and that.

About noon two days later, as Norman was making one of his excursions
past the Equitable elevators, he saw Bob Culver at the news stand. It so
happened that as he recognized Culver, Culver cast in the direction of
the elevators the sort of look that betrays a man waiting for a woman.
Unseen by Culver, Norman stopped short. Into his face blazed the fury of
suspicion, jealousy, and hate--one of the cyclones of passion that swept
him from time to time and revealed to his own appalled self the full
intensity of his feeling, the full power of the demon that possessed
him. Culver was of those glossy, black men who are beloved of women. He
was much handsomer than Norman, who, indeed, was not handsome at all,
but was regarded as handsome because he had the air of great
distinction. Many times these two young men had been pitted against each
other in legal battles. Every time Norman had won. Twice they had
contended for the favor of the same lady. Each had scored once. But as
Culver's victory was merely for a very light and empty-headed lady of
the stage while he had won Josephine Burroughs away from Culver, the
balance was certainly not against him.

As Norman slipped back and into the cross corridor to avoid meeting
Culver, Dorothy Hallowell hurried from a just descended elevator and,
with a quick, frightened glance toward Culver, in profile, almost ran
toward Norman. It was evident that she had only one thought--to escape
being seen by her new employer. When she realized that some one was
standing before her and moved to one side to pass, she looked up. "Oh!"
she gasped, starting back. And then she stood there white and shaking.

"Is that beast Culver hounding you?" demanded Norman.

She recovered herself quickly. With flashing eyes, she cried: "How dare
you! How dare you!"

Norman, possessed by his rage again