www.freeclassicebooks.com

I don't recall that I made any such agreement," said Jimmy. "I must insist on

seeing that pay-roll."

Bince turned white with suppressed anger, and then suddenly slamming his pen

on the desk, he wheeled around toward the other.

"I might as well tell you something," he said, "that will make your path easier

here, if you know it. I understand that you want a permanent job with us. If you

do you might as well understand now as any other time that you have got to be

satisfactory to me. Of course, it is none of your business, but it may help you to

understand conditions when I tell you that I am to marry Mr. Compton's

daughter, and when I do that he expects to retire from business, leaving me in

full charge here. Now, do you get me?"

Jimmy had involuntarily acquired antipathy toward Bince at their first meeting,

an antipathy which had been growing the more that he saw of the assistant

general manager. This fact, coupled with Bince's present rather nasty manner,

was rapidly arousing the anger of the efficiency expert. "I didn't come in here," he

said, "to discuss your matrimonial prospects, Mr. Bince. I came in here to see the

pay-roll, and you will oblige me by letting me see it."

"I tell you again," said Bince, "once and for all, that you don't see the pay-roll nor

anything else connected with my office, and you will oblige me by not bothering

me any longer. As I told you when you first came in, I am very busy."

Jimmy turned and left the room. He was on the point of going to Compton's office

and asking for authority to see the pay-roll, and then it occurred to him that

Compton would probably not take sides against his assistant general manager

and future son-in-law.

123

The Efficiency Expert