use, but, like most
men, he was a good advocate for others but a poor advocate for himself.
Besides, if he did so, he would give McLaughlin a chance to depreciate
his services, which would be very humiliating. At the mere thought of it
he became nervous, and decided to plead rather than argue.

"My expenses are increasing and--"

But McLaughlin cut him short. "So are ours." The boss was going to add
his customary excuse when tackled for more money, "And times are hard
with us, our customers don't pay up, and our creditors--" but he suddenly
remembered that he was speaking to his cashier.

He turned away and looked into space and drummed on his desk with an
ivory paper-cutter. Thus he remained, apparently pondering the matter
for some seconds, while hope and fear chased each other up and down
Skinner's spinal column. Then the boss turned to his papers.

"I'll talk it over with Perkins. Stop in on your way home, Skinner."

McLaughlin did n't even look up as he spoke, and Skinner felt that
somehow a chasm of antagonism had yawned between him and the boss, that
their relations had suddenly ceased to be harmonious, that they were no
longer pulling together, working against a common competitor, but were
scheming against each other.

"Why the devil does he want to keep me on the rack for seven hours more?"
thought Skinner on his way back to his cage. "Why could n't he say 'yes'
or 'no'?"

Well, anyway, the die was cast. He was n't going to worry about it any
more. Let McLaughlin & Perkins, Inc., do that! The "cage man" opened
his cash-book and went to work.

After Skinner had gone, McLaughlin rang the bell on his desk, and when
the boy appeared, he said, "Ask Mr. Perkins please to step in here."

The junior partner, immaculately dressed and twirling his tawny mustache
with a proper Harvard affectation of poise, entered a few moments later
and found McLaughlin with his feet on the desk, staring ahead with
humorous intentness.

"Well," said McLaughlin, "it's come at last!" With true Irish dramatic
instinct, he paused, then plumped out, "Skinner's asked for a raise!"

[Illustration: "It's come at last! Skinner's asked for a raise"]

He turned to note the effect of his words.

"What?" said the junior, taken by surprise, then hastening to suppress
any suggestion of emotion. "That great, big, long-eared, over-grown
rabbit? Did he dare come in here and beard the hound in his kennel?"

"He did that same,"