"

"You fraud!" Honey came over and put her head on Skinner's shoulder.

"Are n't we the great little conspirators, you and I?" said Dearie, as
he stroked Honey's glossy hair.

"Yes, each one conspiring all alone by himself against the other."

Next day Skinner bought a new business suit, and accordingly jotted
down:--

_Dress-Suit Account_

_Debit_ _Credit_

Extension dress-suit plant!
One business suit! .... $50.00

The first morning Skinner wore his new suit to business, he left the
house for the depot with head erect. He did n't give a rap whether
Colby saw him or not. But good luck always attends the indifferent in
spirit. Colby's car flashed by and the multi-millionaire nodded
genially to the "cage man," which elated the latter, for he liked
Colby--felt that in a way he was a man after his own heart. But
Skinner was too wise to attempt to force himself on the magnate. If
there were to be any further cultivation of mutual acquaintance, he
resolved to let Colby take the initiative. He would wait.

As Skinner entered the office of McLaughlin & Perkins, Inc., conscious
of his new clothes and suffering somewhat from stage fright, he sensed
something in the air of the great room that was devoted to the
fluttering femininity of the concern, something humorous. But as he
was a man of authority there, there was no outward manifestation of the
same. The messenger boys from outside, however, were not subject to
the rules of McLaughlin & Perkins, Inc.

"Gee," Skinner heard Mickey, the "littlest," whisper to Jimmy of the
Postal, "pipe de new glad rags on de cage man!"

And Postal, duly impressed, admonished, "You better not burn any wood
in here now 'cause he'll git after you." Then, in a whisper, "He never
did before 'cause he never had any breeches on an' he did n't dare to
run out."

"How do you know dat?"

"You never seen him below de middle of his vest, did you?"

"From down here, lookin' up, wid dat winder in de way, I never seen him
much below his collar," whispered Mickey, the "littlest."

"Well, den, you never knew whether he had breeches on or not," pursued
the young logician.

Skinner's lips trembled as he overheard, but he took no official
notice. Instead, he frowned hard at his cash-book. But when the boys
had gone, he turned his face away from the fluttering femininity in the
big room and his form shook with emotion.

A