“That—” he began.
“I’ve been here longer than any of the other men, and I know every line of the business now, even the manufacturing. You remember I held down Henson’s job when his wife was sick.”
“Yes, but—”
“And I guess Jake thinks I can boss all right, and Miss Leavenbetz, too.”
“Now will you kindly ’low me to talk a little, Wrenn? I know a little something about how things go in the office myself! I don’t deny you’re a good man. Maybe some day you may get to be assistant manager. But I’m going to give the first try at it to Glover. He’s had so much more experience with meeting people directly—personally. But you’re a good man—”
“Yes, I’ve heard that before, but I’ll be gol-darned if I’ll stick at one desk all my life just because I save you all the trouble in that department, Guilfogle, and now—”
“Now, now, now, now! Calm down; hold your horses, my boy. This ain’t a melodrama, you know.”
“Yes, I know; I didn’t mean to get sore, but you know—”
“Well, now I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to make you head of the manufacturing department instead of getting in a new man, and shift Henson to purchasing. I’ll put Jake on your old job, and expect you to give him a lift when he needs it. And you’d better keep up the most important of the jollying-letters, I guess.”
“Well, I like that all right. I appreciate it. But of course I expect more pay—two men’s work—”