e out of it."

"What d'ye mean, leave you out of it?" Birsky cried. "When we would got
here an employees' mutual aid society, Golnik, who would be president
from it if the designer wouldn't, Golnik?"

Golnik gave an excellent imitation of a disinterested onlooker as he
shrugged his shoulders in reply.

"What's the matter with Kanef, Mr. Birsky?" he asked.

"Kanef is a shipping clerk only, Golnik," Birsky replied; "and you know
as well as I do, Golnik, a shipping clerk is got so much influence with
the operators like nothing at all. Besides, Golnik, we already got your
name in as president, which, if we would change it now, right away we
are out twenty dollars we paid Henry D. Feldman this afternoon he
should draw up the papers for us."

"So!" Golnik exclaimed. "Feldman draws up the papers!"

"Sure he did," Birsky said; "which, if we started this thing, Golnik,
we want to do it right."

Golnik nodded.

"And he would do it right, too, Mr. Birsky," he commented; "which,
judging from the contract he is drawing up between you and me last
December, an elegant chance them operators is got in such a society."

Birsky patted his designer confidentially on the shoulder.

"What do you care, Golnik?" he said. "You ain't an operator--and
besides, Golnik, I couldn't stand here and argue with you all night; so
I tell you what I would do, Golnik: come in this here society as
president and we wouldn't deduct nothing from your wages at all, and
you would be a member in good standing, anyhow."

Golnik shook his head slowly, whereat Birsky continued his confidential
patting.

"And so long as the society lasts, Golnik," he said, "we ourselves
would pay you two dollars a week to boot."

"And I am also to get sick benefits?" Golnik asked.

"You would get just so much sick benefits as anybody else in the
society," Birsky replied, "because you could leave that point to me,
Golnik, which I forgot to told you, Golnik, that I am the treasurer; so
you should please be so good and break it to Bogin and Kanef and the
operators. We want to get through with this thing."

For the remainder of the afternoon, therefore, the business premises of
Birsky & Zapp were given over to speechmaking on the part of Birsky and
Golnik; and when at the conclusion of his fervid oration Golnik
exhibited to the hundred operators the passbook of L. Birsky,
Treasurer, the enthusiasm it evoked lost nothing by the omission of the
conjunctive adverb "as." In