faithfully and indefatigably--boldly, moreover, and at times
officiously, in order to attain legitimate results; yet he flattered
himself that no one could ever say of him that he had "butted in"
where others of his craft would have paused, or was lacking in
reportorial delicacy. Was he not simply doing his professional duty
for hire, like any respectable lawyer or doctor or architect, in order
to support his family? Were he to trouble his head because impetuous
people frowned, his wife, Amelia, and infant son, Tesla, would be the
sufferers--a thought which was a constant stimulus to enterprise. His
"job" required "cheek" perhaps, but nine people out of ten were not
sensible enough to realize that he was a modern necessity, and to ask
themselves, "Is this man doing his work creditably?" There was the
essence of the situation for Harrington, and from the world's lack of
nice perception he had made for himself a grievance which rendered him
indifferent to ill-considered scowls.

But, however indifferent his attitude, nothing ever escaped
Harrington, and he noticed that the young man whose eyes met his with
the expression of annoyance was well set up and manly in appearance--a
"dude," in Harrington's parlance, but a pleasant-looking dude, with an
open and rather strong countenance. Such was Harrington's deduction,
in spite of the obvious hostility to himself, and in confirmation of
this view he had the satisfaction of perceiving the tension of the
young man's face relax, as though he had come to the conclusion, on
second thoughts, that interference was, on the whole, not worth while.

"He realizes," said the reporter to himself approvingly, "that there's
no sense in being peevish. A swell funeral must be written up like any
other society function."