he replied. "I mention this only to make you remember that
Robert is entitled to at least a part of the credit for your
advancement."

Jimmie nodded. Ungraciously he said:

"He gave me my start, I'll admit that. But did he raise me to
seventy-five and then to a hundred out of charity? Not much! He did it
because I was worth it."

"Of course," she smiled.

"Yes," he went on, "and I'm worth more than a hundred now. I'm going
to strike for a raise pretty soon, and if I don't get it--if I don't
get it, I'll put on my coat, walk right out and leave him flat."

"James!" exclaimed Fanny, making frantic signs to him to desist.

"And then? What will you do?" asked Virginia quickly.

"Go to work somewhere else!" he snapped.

"As a shipping clerk?"

"I should say not."

"Then what will you do?"

"I'll find something."

"At a salary of over five thousand dollars a year?"

"Yes."

Virginia shrugged her shoulders. Curtly she said:

"Don't be foolish."

Fanny nodded approval.

"I think myself you'd better stick to Robert," she said.

Folding his arms, the young man faced the two women. Indignantly he
cried:

"You two talk as though I was getting my salary out of charity--as
though Mr. Stafford was handing me something! Well, I tell you he
isn't. There's no friendship in business, and if I wasn't worth a
hundred I wouldn't get it! I'm a valuable man to your husband. I've
put him onto four or five good things in Wall Street already. Did he
tell you about 'em?"

"No," said Virginia, shaking her head.

"I did, just the same," he went on exultantly, "and if he followed my
advice and played it strong he must have made half a million or so
just out of my tips! I'm not conceited--not a bit--but I know what I
can do! I know--"

Before he had completed the sentence the telephone rang. Virginia
quickly took the receiver. After listening a moment, she said:

"Thank you!" Replacing the instrument, she turned to the others and
said quietly:

"Robert has just come in."

Jimmie had still grievances to ventilate. Peevishly he exclaimed:

"There's another thing. Why shouldn't I call him Robert the same as
you and Fanny do?"

"Has he objected?" asked Virginia, a slight smile hovering around her
mouth.

"No," he answered; "I never tried it! I feel like a fool, though, at
the office. Everybody knows he's my brother-in-law, and yet I have to
call him 'Mr. Stafford,' just as though he was no relation at all. Do
you t