104 A N G E L P A V E M E N T

tuous tone, "here's threepence. Go away and buy your-
seir something."

'Thank yer? mister/' And the head vanished.
'This City's got more and more rats like that in it
every time I come back to it,"

"There isn't the work, you know/' said Mr, Smeeth
earnestly. "I don't say they all want it, but there isn't
the work. I'll tell you candidly, Mr. Golspie, it frightens
me sometimes to see all the chaps looking for work, If
we've to take on a few new people, and we advertise for
them, you'll see what I mean. Crowds and crowds-
ready to work for next to nothing. It's a heart-breaking
job interviewing them/'

"I dare say," Mr. Golspie replied, in the tone of a
man whose heart is not easily broken, "But I know
this. A man who's ready to work for next to nothing
is no good to me. I wouldn't have him as a gift. And
that reminds me, Smeeth. What's this firm paying
you?"

Mr. Smeeth hesitated a moment, then told him,
"And do you think that's enough?"
Mr. Smeeth hesitated again. "Well, if business was
good, I was going to ask for a rise this Christmas, but,
as you know, it's not been good."

"No, but it's going to be good, don't make any mis*
take about that," cried Mr* Golspie. "It's going to be
a dam* sight better than Twigg and Dersingham have
ever seen it before. Who the devil was Twigg? Never
mind about him, though, I'm going to tell you straight
out, I don't think you're getting enough. I know a good
man when I see one, and when people stand by me-
you know what I doP-that's right—I stand by them
And I'm going to stand by you."