n the verge of assuming
a responsibility which makes any servant intolerable. But after his
interview he resolved that he would never again overstep his position.
He made sure that it should be the last offense. The day following the
dinner Rawles appeared before young Mr. Brewster and indicated by his
manner that the call was an important one. Brewster was seated at his
writing-table, deep in thought. The exclamation that followed Rawles's
cough of announcement was so sharp and so unmistakably fierce that all
other evidence paled into insignificance. The butler's interruption
came at a moment when Monty's mental arithmetic was pulling itself out
of a very bad rut, and the cough drove it back into chaos.

"What is it," he demanded, irritably. Rawles had upset his calculations
to the extent of seven or eight hundred dollars.

"I came to report h'an unfortunate condition h'among the servants,
sir," said Rawies, stiffening as his responsibility became more and
more weighty. He had relaxed temporarily upon entering the room.

"What's the trouble?"

"The trouble's h'ended, sir."

"Then why bother me about it?"

"I thought it would be well for you to know, sir. The servants was
going to ask for 'igher wiges to-day, sir."

"You say they were going to ask. Aren't they?" And Monty's eyes lighted
up at the thought of new possibilities.

"I convinced them, sir, as how they were getting good pay as it is,
sir, and that they ought to be satisfied. They'd be a long time finding
a better place and as good wiges. They 'aven't been with you a week,
and here they are strikin' for more pay. Really, sir, these American
servants--"

"Rawles, that'll do!" exploded Monty. The butler's chin went up and his
cheeks grew redder than ever.

"I beg pardon, sir," he gasped, with a respectful but injured air.

"Rawles, you will kindly not interfere in such matters again. It is not
only the privilege, but the duty of every American to strike for higher
pay whenever he feels like it, and I want it distinctly understood that
I am heartily in favor of their attitude. You will kindly go back and
tell them that after a reasonable length of service their wiges--I mean
wages--shall be increased. AND DON'T MEDDLE AGAIN, Rawles."

Late that afternoon Brewster dropped in at Mrs. DeMille's to talk over
plans for the next dinner. He realized that in no other way could he
squander his money with a better chance of getting its worth than by
throwing