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〃I shall expect that；〃 she rippled。
〃Just as one does a picture too expensive to own。〃
〃I suppose I AM expensive。〃
〃Not a doubt of it。 But if you don't mind I'll come occasionally to the
gallery to study the masterpiece。〃
〃I'll mind if you don't。〃
Voices were heard approaching along the hall。 The portieres parted。
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The immediate effect on Farnum of the great figure that filled the doorway
was one of masterful authority。 A massive head crested a figure of
extraordinary power。 Gray as a mediaeval castle； age had not yet touched
his gnarled strength。 The keen steady eyes； the close straight lips； the
shaggy eyebrows heavy and overhanging； gave accent to the rugged force
of this grim freebooter who had reversed the law of nature which decrees
that railroads shall follow civilization。 Scorning the established rule of
progress； he had spiked his rails through untrodden forests and unexplored
canons to watch the pioneer come after by the road he had blazed。 Chief
among the makers of the Northwest； he yearly conceived and executed
with amazing audacity enterprises that would have marked as monumental
the life work of lesser men。
Farnum； rising from his seat unconsciously as a tribute of respect；
acknowledged thus tacitly the presence of greatness in the person of Joe
Powers。
The straight lips of the empire builder tightened as his eyes gleamed
over the soft luxury of his daughter's boudoir。 James would have been hard
put to it to conceive any contrast greater than the one between this modern
berserk and the pampered daughter of his wealth。 A Hun or a Vandal
gazing down with barbaric scorn on some decadent paramour of captured
Rome was the most analogous simile Farnum's brain could summon。 What
freak of nature； he wondered； had been responsible for so alien an
offspring to this ruthless builder？ And what under heaven had the two in
common except the blood that ran in both their veins？
Peter C。 Frome； who had followed his brother…in…law into the room；
introduced the young man to the railroad king。
The great man's grip drove the blood from Farnum's hand。
〃I've heard about you； young man。 What do you mean by getting in my
way？〃
The young man's veins glowed。 He had made Joe Powers notice him。
Not for worlds would he have winked an eyelash； though the bones of his
hand felt as if they were being ground to powder。
〃Do I get in your way； sir？〃 he asked innocently。
〃Do you？〃 boomed the deep bass of the railroader。 〃You and that mad
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brother of yours。〃
〃He's my cousin；〃 James explained。
〃Brother or cousin； he's got to get off the track or be run over。 And you；
too； with that smooth tongue of yours。〃
Farnum laughed。 〃Jeff's pretty solid。 He may ditch the train； sir。〃
〃No！〃 roared Powers。 〃He'll be flung into the ditch。〃 He turned
abruptly to Frome。 〃Peter； take me to a room where I can talk to this young
man。 I need him。〃
〃'Come into my little parlor；' said the spider to the fly。〃
They wheeled as at a common rein to the sound of the young mocking
voice。 Alice Frome had come in unnoticed and was standing in the
doorway smiling at them。 The effect she produced was demurely daring。
The long lines of her slender sylph…like body； the girlishness of her golden
charm； were vigorously contradicted in their suggestion of shyness by the
square tilted chin and the challenge in the dancing eyes。
〃Alice；〃 admonished her father with a deprecatory apology in his voice
to his brother…in…law。
Powers knit his shaggy brows in a frown not at all grim。 The young
woman smiled back confidently。 She could go farther with him than
anybody else in the world could； and she knew it。 For he recognized in her
vigorous strength of fiber a kinship of the spirit closer than that between
him and his own daughter。 An autocrat to the marrow； it pleased him to
recognize her an exception to his rule。 Valencia was also an exception； but
in a different way。
〃Have you any remarks to make； Miss Frome？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； I've made it；〃 returned the girl unabashed。 She turned to James
and shook hands with him。 〃How do you do； Mr。 Farnum？ I see you are
going to be tied to Uncle Joe's kite； too。〃
Was there in her voice just a hint of scorn？ James did not know。 He
laughed a little uneasily。
〃Shall I be swallowed up alive； Miss Frome？〃
〃You think you won't； but you will。 He always gets what he wants。〃
For all the warmth and energy of youth in her there was a vivid
spiritual quality that had always made a deep appeal to James。 He sensed
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the something fine and exquisite she breathed forth and did reverence to it。
〃And what does he want now？〃 the young man parried。
〃He wants YOU。〃
〃Unless you would like him yourself； Alice；〃 her uncle countered。
The color washed into her cheeks。 〃Not just now； thank you。 I was
merely giving him a friendly warning。〃
〃I'm awfully obliged to you。 I'll be on my guard；〃 laughed James。
He stepped across to the lounge to make his farewell to Mrs。 Van Tyle。
〃You'll come again；〃 she said in a low voice。
〃Whenever the gallery is openif I am sent a ticket of admission。〃
〃Wouldn't it be better to apply for a ticket and not wait for it to be
sent？〃
〃I think it wouldand to apply for one often。〃
〃I am waiting； Mr。 Farnum；〃 interrupted Powers impatiently。
To the young man the suggestion sounded like a command。 He bowed
to Alice and followed the great man out of the room。
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CHAPTER 10
Many business men of every community are respectable cowards。 The
sense of property fills them with a cramping timidity。 From the Note
Book of a Dreamer。
SAFE AND SOUND BUSINESS RALLIES TO THE DEFENSE OF
THE COUNTRY。 THE REBEL； FRUSTRATED； PLANS FURTHER
VILLAINIES
PART 1
When James reached his office next morning he f