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He held his head down and looked ashamed。 Some of the women cast glances
of pity toward him from time to time in a furtive and half afraid way；
and some of the youngest of the men plainly had compassion on the young
fellowa compassion exhibited in their faces but not in any more active
or compromising way。 But the great majority of the people present showed
entire indifference to the youth and his sorrows。 Marsh sat with his
head down； but one could catch the malicious gleam of his eyes through
his shaggy brows。 He was watching that young fellow with evident relish。
He had not neglected him through carelessness； and apparently the table
understood that fact。 The spectacle was making Mrs。 Marsh very
uncomfortable。 She had the look of one who hopes against hope that the
impossible may happen。 But as the impossible did not happen； she finally
ventured to speak up and remind her husband that Nat Brady hadn't been
helped to the Irish stew。
Marsh lifted his head and gasped out with mock courtliness； 〃Oh； he
hasn't； hasn't he？ What a pity that is。 I don't know how I came to
overlook him。 Ah； he must pardon me。 You must indeed MrerBaxter
Barker； you must pardon me。 Iermy attention was directed to some
other matter； I don't know what。 The thing that grieves me mainly is；
that it happens every meal now。 But you must try to overlook these
little things； Mr。 Bunker； these little neglects on my part。 They're
always likely to happen with me in any case； and they are especially
likely to happen where a person haserwell； where a person is； say；
about three weeks in arrears for his board。 You get my meaning？you get
my idea？ Here is your Irish stew； anderit gives me the greatest
pleasure to send it to you； and I hope that you will enjoy the charity as
much as I enjoy conferring it。〃
A blush rose in Brady's white cheeks and flowed slowly backward to his
ears and upward toward his forehead； but he said nothing and began to eat
his food under the embarrassment of a general silence and the sense that
all eyes were fastened upon him。 Barrow whispered to Tracy：
〃The old man's been waiting for that。 He wouldn't have missed that
chance for anything。〃
〃It's a brutal business；〃 said Tracy。 Then he said to himself； purposing
to set the thought down in his diary later：
〃Well； here in this very house is a republic where all are free and
equal； if men are free and equal anywhere in the earth； therefore I have
arrived at the place I started to find； and I am a man among men； and on
the strictest equality possible to men； no doubt。 Yet here on the
threshold I find an inequality。 There are people at this table who are
looked up to for some reason or another； and here is a poor devil of a
boy who is looked down upon； treated with indifference； and shamed by
humiliations； when he has committed no crime but that common one of being
poor。 Equality ought to make men noble…minded。 In fact I had supposed
it did do that。〃
After supper； Barrow proposed a walk； and they started。 Barrow had a
purpose。 He wanted Tracy to get rid of that cowboy hat。 He didn't see
his way to finding mechanical or manual employment for a person rigged in
that fashion。 Barrow presently said：
〃As I understand it； you're not a cowboy。〃
〃No； I'm not。〃
〃Well； now if you will not think me too curious； how did you come to
mount that hat？ Where'd you get it？〃
Tracy didn't know quite how to reply to this； but presently said；
〃Well； without going into particulars； I exchanged clothes with a
stranger under stress of weather； and I would like to find him and re…
exchange。〃
〃Well； why don't you find him？ Where is he？〃
〃I don't know。 I supposed the best way to find him would be to continue
to wear his clothes； which are conspicuous enough to attract his
attention if I should meet him on the street。〃
〃Oh； very well；〃 said Barrow； 〃the rest of the outfit； is well enough；
and while it's not too conspicuous； it isn't quite like the clothes that
anybody else wears。 Suppress the hat。 When you meet your man he'll
recognize the rest of his suit。 That's a mighty embarrassing hat； you
know； in a centre of civilization like this。 I don't believe an angel
could get employment in Washington in a halo like that。〃
Tracy agreed to replace the hat with something of a modester form； and
they stepped aboard a crowded car and stood with others on the rear
platform。 Presently； as the car moved swiftly along the rails； two men
crossing the street caught sight of the backs of Barrow and Tracy； and
both exclaimed at once； 〃There he is！〃 It was Sellers and Hawkins。
Both were so paralyzed with joy that before they could pull themselves
together and make an effort to stop the car； it was gone too far；
and they decided to wait for the next one。 They waited a while； then it
occurred to Washington that there could be no use in chasing one horse…
car with another； and he wanted to hunt up a hack。 But the Colonel said：
〃When you come to think of it； there's no occasion for that at all。
Now that I've got him materialized； I can command his motions。 I'll have
him at the house by the time we get there。〃
Then they hurried off home in a state of great and joyful excitement。
The hat exchange accomplished； the two new friends started to walk back
leisurely to the boarding house。 Barrow's mind was full of curiosity
about this young fellow。 He said；
〃You've never been to the Rocky Mountains？〃
〃No。〃
〃You've never been out on the plains？〃
〃No。〃
〃How long have you been in this country？〃
〃Only a few days。〃
〃You've never been in America before？〃
Then Barrow communed with himself。 〃Now what odd shapes the notions of
romantic people take。 Here's a young； fellow who's read in England about
cowboys and adventures on the plains。 He comes here and buys a cowboy's
suit。 Thinks he can play himself on folks for a cowboy；
all inexperienced as he is。 Now the minute he's caught in this poor
little game； he's ashamed of it and ready to retire from it。 It is that
exchange that he has put up as an explanation。 It's rather thin；
too thin altogether。 Well； he's young； never been anywhere； knows
nothing about the world； sentimental； no doubt。 Perhaps it was the
natural thing for him to do； but it was a most singular choice； curious
freak； altogether。〃
Both men were busy with their thoughts for a time； then Tracy heaved a
sigh and said；
〃Mr。 Barrow； the case of that young fellow troubles me。〃
〃You mean Nat Brady？〃
〃Yes； Brady； or Baxter； or whatever it was。 The old landlord called him
by several different names。〃
〃Oh； yes； he has been very liberal with names for Brady； since Brady fell
into arrears for his board。 Well； that's one of his sarcasmsthe old
man thinks he's great on sarcasm。〃
〃Well； what is Brady's difficulty？ What is Bradywho is he？〃
〃Brady is a tinner。 He's a young journeyman tinner who was getting along
all right till he fell sick and lost his job。 He was very popular before
he lost his job； everybody in the house liked Brady。 The old man was
rather especially fond of him； but you know that when a man loses his job
and loses