and Mrs. Skinner at the house," he said. "We've plenty
of room in our car."

The Lewises and the Skinners bade each other a very cordial, if not
affectionate, good-night when Lewis's car pulled up at Skinner's door.

"Can you beat it?" said the "cage man" as they closed the door behind
them. "Lewis has scarcely noticed me for two years."

"It was the dress suit, Dearie."

"It's earned a dollar and a half already."

"How?" said Honey, surprised.

"Cab fare! Say, I'm going to keep an account of what this dress suit
actually cost me and what it brings in," said Skinner.

"And to think of it, Dearie,--it's all because of your getting that
raise."

Honey laid her head on Dearie's shoulder, as she always did when she
felt sentimental.

"Eh-huh," said Skinner absently.

"I'm so grateful to think you got it--I just couldn't help telling Mrs.
McLaughlin--"

"Huh?" Skinner interrupted. "You did n't mention that raise to Mrs.
McLaughlin, did you?"

"Why should n't I?"

"But _did_ you?" said Skinner, with apprehension.

"Why, no. I simply told her I was so grateful for the mark of
appreciation they'd shown!"

"And what did Mrs. McLaughlin say?"

"She asked me what I meant."

"And what did _you_ say?"

"I told her her husband would understand and I wanted him to know just
how I felt about it."

"The devil you did," said Skinner.

True to his word, Skinner proceeded to keep a little book marked
"Dress-Suit Account." He was probably the only man, he reflected, who
had ever done such a thing, and he did it at first more as a joke than
anything else. But he found that the "Dress-Suit Account" developed
serious as well as humorous possibilities. He first entered carefully,
item by item, the cost of the dress suit and its accessories.

_Dress-Suit Account_

_Debit_ _Credit_

Dress suit ......... $90.00
Dress shirt ........ 4.00
Tie ................ .50
Collar ............. .25
Shoes .............. 6.00
Gloves ............. 1.50
Studs and cuff-links 4.00
Hat ................ 6.00
Overcoat ........... 40.00
Hose ............... .50
Garters ............ .50
Underwear .......... 8.00
Monocle chain ...... 1.50
--------
Total .............. $162.75

To that he added the cost of Honey's outfit:

_Debit_