Mr. Robb called him on the carpet.
"Watson," he said, "you have a nice job in this office. I heard you talking to Nelson a while ago about a move. Now if you shift from here it won't help your salary any, and it may involve you in a bunch of work. Besides, you have a free room here."
Bill thought a while.
"I guess that's a fact," he said finally. "I won't say anything. I guess you and I can hold the fort against Mr. Alfred Castle, eh?"
The manager laughed and extended his hand.
"Bill," he said (usually he called the ledger-keeper "Watson"), "I'm in wrong already, and if you asked to leave, head office might think there was something wrong with my management."
"I get you," said Bill, unconsciously speaking as he would to a pal. "By the way, do you suppose the Big Eye knows that Alf has a girl here?"
"Sure—likely," said Robb; "I'm now convinced that that boy chirrups to his dear uncle about everything."
After musing a bit Bill observed:
"I wish I could make him blow on me. No, I don't, either—he hasn't got the physique to stand it."