emed in a manner to have
settled into the shoulders, and furthermore they were humped and
rounded, as if to bear great responsibilities, and great abuse.

At the moment he was wearing a silk skull-cap, pushed to one side and
a little awry, a frock coat of broadcloth, with long sleeves, and a
waistcoat from the lower buttons of which the cloth was worn and, upon
the edges, rubbed away, showing the metal underneath. At the top this
waistcoat was unbuttoned and in the shirt front disclosed were two pearl
studs.

Presley, uninvited, unnoticed apparently, sat down. The assistant
manager was in the act of making a report. His voice was not lowered,
and Presley heard every word that was spoken.

The report proved interesting. It concerned a book-keeper in the
office of the auditor of disbursements. It seems he was at most times
thoroughly reliable, hard-working, industrious, ambitious. But at long
intervals the vice of drunkenness seized upon the man and for three days
rode him like a hag. Not only during the period of this intemperance,
but for the few days immediately following, the man was useless, his
work untrustworthy. He was a family man and earnestly strove to rid
himself of his habit; he was, when sober, valuable. In consideration of
these facts, he had been pardoned again and again.

"You remember, Mr. Shelgrim," observed the manager, "that you have more
than once interfered in his behalf, when we were disposed to let him go.
I don't think we can do anything with him, sir. He promises to reform
continually, but it is the same old story. This last time we saw nothing
of him for four days. Honestly, Mr. Shelgrim, I think we ought to let
Tentell out. We can't afford to keep him. He is really losing us too
much money. Here's the order ready now, if you care to let it go."

There was a pause. Presley all attention, listened breathlessly. The
assistant manager laid before his President the typewritten order in
question. The silence lengthened; in the hall outside, the wrought-iron
door of the elevator cage slid to with a clash. Shelgrim did not look at
the order. He turned his swivel chair about and faced the windows behind
him, looking out with unseeing eyes. At last he spoke:

"Tentell has a family, wife and three children. How much do we pay him?"

"One hundred and thirty."

"Let's double that, or say two hundred and fifty. Let's see how that
will do."

"Why--of course--if you say so, but really, Mr. Shelgrim"