CHAPTER XVII.
KEITH MEETS NORMAN The day after Keith's interview with Mr.Creamer he was walking up-town more slowly than was his wont; for gloom was beginning to take the place where disappointment had for some time been holding session.

His experience that day had been more than usually disheartening.

These people with all their shrewdness appeared to him to be in their way as contracted as his mountaineers.

They lived to amass wealth, yet went like sheep in flocks, and were so blind that they could not recognize a great opportunity when it was presented.

They were mere machines that ground through life as monotonously as the wheels in their factories, turning out riches, riches, riches.
This morning Keith had come across an article in a newspaper which, in a measure, explained his want of success.