kly:

"What did you say?"

"I told them the bank, and said I left because of insufficient salary."

The elder man was thoughtful. "I guess that's about all you could
say," he replied.

If Evan had not felt so fagged he would probably have written home that
he had a new position: as it was, he went to bed early, and arose next
morning feeling like a human being. He walked down the avenue with his
room-mate, who wished him good luck at Queen Street.

It was before nine when he reached the office of the abattoir company.
The manager came in punctually, and gave the young applicant a cold nod.

"Mr. Nelson," he said, "I'm sorry we cannot give you that position. I
telephoned the manager of the bank you worked for and he referred me to
head office, who said they could not recommend you."

Thunderstruck, dumb-smitten, unable to say a word in his defence
against the lies of head office, Evan turned away. He walked north to
King Street, more miserable than he had ever been in his life. He
wondered, behind his misery, why the bank would not recommend him; were
they intent on making a criminal of him?

The day passed slowly. Evan waited for his old friend at the
boarding-house, and nursed a growing headache.

"I was afraid of it," said Robb. "Bank officials justify themselves
and the bank no matter what happens. Besides being determined to carry
out any bluff they have started they will never admit that they pay a
man too little salary. If he quits because of starvation pay they say
he was no good as a clerk. The bank must maintain at all costs what it
calls its dignity. Dignity be--"

Instead of swearing the old bankclerk sighed. He had often said he was
tired; now he thoroughly looked it.

Evan sighed too, but chiefly on account of the pain in his head. He
went to bed both sick and discouraged, but in an hour he was too sick
to think of discouragement. Mrs. Greig had a doctor in, and the
ex-bankclerk was given a hypodermic injection. It drove away his pains
and sent him sailing into a pleasant land.

Sam Robb did not rest so blissfully.

CHAPTER XVII.

_A BANKCLERK'S GIRL._

After three days' sickness Evan realized, and the doctor emphasized it,
that he had been near to nervous collapse.

"The country and outside work for you now, young man," said the
physician; "leave offices to men with broad shoulders, like Mr. Robb's."

"Yes," observed Robb, present at the consultation, "let them kil