The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-07-26
GErTING A RAIsE.

There's just this to it." said young Bourland to the clerk next him. Tive got to get raise. Living in this blamed town on s12 a week is skinning the cat too close. Anyway. that's not the point Of view. If I'm worth s12 to the company, I'm worth all Of $15. I've been here for ten months, too.
 The boss Is in there alone said the nearest clerk, with grin.
 T dare you" said the nearest stenographer
 < Young Bourland realized his mistake. He should have done the deed and told it later. Now his brave intention would spread all over the office, and was bound. sooner or later, to reach the told mans ears. There was nothing to do but take the dare and settle the question offhand. although Bourland did not feel like boarding any lion that morning. Besides, he had not studied his boss yet with sufficient earnest ness to know the eastiest road to his good graces. But he laid down his pen. and, amid the concentrated gaze of his associates walked into the sacred pre- cincts oe the boss.
 That gentleman was sitting by his desk tapping heavily on 1t with a ruler. There was scowl on his brow. That did not necessarily mean he was in bad temper, but young Bourland had no other explanation.
 Well, young man?" the boss re- marked inquiringly.
 Young Bourland instantly realized that he had no earthly business there; that instead of being worth $15 to the firm, he was in reality worth not more than $1O. and that there were better men then he to be had for that small sum. He also realized that since he could not come cashing down with his extraordinary demand, he must ask about something else, and that mighty quick. His brain clogged.
 "Do you-want us to get all the bills out to-night?" he asked, weakly. l Hasn't Ransone enough men to do it?" asked the great man. This Is the day they should go, you know. Don't you get all your orders from Ransome? You're a new man, aren't you? I don't bother over that sort of thing. Go to him.
 Young Bourland left, Keeping time to the renewed tapping of the ruler and abusing himself for driveling idiot The yellow-haired stenographer asked I him if he got his raise. The nearest clerk asked if he had got his grit up I to ask for more money. Bourland took l up his pen with a superb air, consider ling his distraught state of mind, and raised his eyebrows enigmatically. He il added up a column four times and got a different result each time, the differ- ence running into the thousands, He was wondering what he could do to square himself with the old man. All about the clerks and stenographers /, were talking the matter up in all it's
 bearings. He wondered how long he I could stand their horseplay.
 I Young Bourland needed the money in all verity, but he grew to dread pay I day like torment. Then every bit oi
 clownishness in the whole aggregation
 of office freaks was turned loose. They asked to see his enoromous check
 They assured him that his case was
 being considered at directors meetings;
 that as soon as the old man had a spare
 day he would take up the matter in all
 it's ramifications. They were sure hs
 would pay Bourland as much as the
 firm could afford, though, of course
 that was not all he was worth.
 For six months young Bourland
 suffered. Asking for raise became his
 nightmare by night, his distractins
 companion by day. He planned it al
 out many times. even to his necktie
 And each day he put 1t off until to
 morrow. Finally he did arrive at on,
 immense decision. He would either asl
 for the raise by June 15, or he would ge
 out. By the night of the 14th he haS
 not made good.