“Make him put you through college.
This is an age of specialization.
They’re looking for college-trained men.”
“Yes,” said Eugene.
He spoke obediently, indifferently, the hard bright mail of his mind undinted by the jargon: within, the Other One, who had no speech, saw.
“So get your education,” said Ben, scowling vaguely.
“All the Big Men — Ford, Edison, Rockefeller — whether they had it or not, say it’s a good thing.”
“Why didn’t you go yourself?” said Eugene curiously.
“I didn’t have any one to tell me,” said Ben.
“Besides, you don’t think the Old Man would give me anything, do you?”
He laughed cynically.
“It’s too late now.”
He was silent a moment; he smoked.
“You didn’t know I was taking a course in advertising, did you?” he asked, grinning.
“No.
Where?”
“Through the Correspondence School,” said Ben.
“I get my lessons every week.
I don’t know,” he laughed diffidently, “I must be good at it.
I make the highest grades they have — 98 or 100 every time.
I get a diploma, if I finish the course.”
A blinding mist swam across the younger brother’s eyes.
He did not know why.
A convulsive knot gathered in his throat.
He bent his head quickly and fumbled for his cigarettes.
In a moment he said:
“I’m glad you’re doing it.
I hope you finish, Ben.”
“You know,” Ben said seriously, “they’ve turned out some Big Men.
I’ll show you the testimonials some time.
Men who started with nothing: now they’re holding down big jobs.”
“I hope you do,” said Eugene.
“So, you see you’re not the only College Man around here,” said Ben with a grin.
In a moment, he went on gravely: “You’re the last hope, ‘Gene.
Go on and finish up, if you have to steal the money.
The rest of us will never amount to a damn.
Try to make something out of yourself.
Hold your head up!
You’re as good as any of them — a damn sight better than these little pimps about town.”
He became very fierce; he was very excited.
He got up suddenly from the table.
“Don’t let them laugh at you!
By God, we’re as good as they are.
If any of them laughs at you again, pick up the first damn thing you get your hand on and knock him down.
Do you hear?”
In his fierce excitement he snatched up the heavy carving steel from the table and brandished it.
“Yes,” said Eugene awkwardly.
“I think it’s going to be all right now.
I didn’t know how to do at first.”
“I hope you have sense enough now to leave those old hookers alone?” said Ben very sternly. Eugene made no answer. “You can’t do that and be anything, you know.