"He ain't that kind, is he?"
"No, Mac, it just occurred to him, that's all—it just occurred to him." Perkins paused, looked out of the window, then turned. "What do you think, Mac?"
"We can't start in raising salaries just now, Perk. If one gets it, the others 'll want it, too. They 'll all be dissatisfied."
"Don't do it—that's all."
McLaughlin reflected a moment. "Did you ever hear of such a thing as a worm turning?"
"Yes, but a worm does n't turn very fast. There'd be plenty of time to see the indications and head it off."
McLaughlin drummed with his paper-cutter. "Somehow, I 've always been afraid of worms. They 're so damned humble," he said presently.
Perkins laughed. "I believe you're afraid you 'll lose Skinner."
"Somebody might have got after him—Billings or Humphreys."
"Nobody's after a man that dresses like that!"