can know
what it means to come down in the world!"

He listened in silence to her tirade, carelessly rocking back and
forth on the two rear legs of his tilted chair. When finally she
stopped for sheer want of breath he said:

"I guess you're right, Fanny, I'm sorry I spoke. The woman gets the
worst of it every time."

"Yes--every time, Jimmie," she said emphatically as she proceeded to
lay the table. "Whether she's right or wrong."

"If Virginia hadn't quit Stafford," he grumbled, "it would have been
different."

"There's no use talking of that--she did leave him--"

Jimmie looked up, an injured expression on his face.

"Yes, and what day did she pick out?" he cried indignantly. "The very
day Stafford raised me to a hundred and fifty!" Jumping up from his
chair he began to pace the floor nervously. "Great Scott!" he
exclaimed, "just think of it! I used to get a hundred and fifty! Of
course I only got it for a day and a quarter--but I got it!"

His wife stopped in her work. Sharply she demanded:

"And whose fault was it that you only got it for a day and a quarter?"

"Mine, I suppose," he replied gloomily.

"You had no right to try to interfere between Mr. Stafford and
Virginia--that was their business."

"So he told me! And when I said that anything that concerned my wife's
sister was _my_ business and I wouldn't be associated with a man
who didn't treat her right, and walked out, I thought he'd send a
messenger after me before I reached the corner. In fact, I waited at
the corner."

"But the messenger didn't come," she said sarcastically.

"No. But even that didn't bother me much--then! I thought I'd soon get
another job just as good."

Fanny shrugged her shoulders. With a sigh she said:

"I wonder if you'll ever have one 'just as good.'"

"Of course, I will," he said confidently.

"When?"

"I'm likely to get a good job most any time."

"Well, till you do," she retorted, "hang on to the one you have. When
rent day comes, thirteen dollars in real money is a heap sight better
than a hundred and fifty in hopes."

Jim shifted about uneasily on his feet. Stupidly he said:

"Yes, I suppose so."

"I know so," she exclaimed.

"Besides," he said with some hesitation, "one of my ideas might turn
out big."

His wife laughed scornfully.

"Might--yes," she exclaimed.

"Oh, I know you don't believe in 'em any more," he went on. "But let
me tell you this--I've got one idea right now that would mak