The independent-reporter., 1910-10-13
A RAISE FOR HILL.
For Which He Is Indebted to HIS CO.
Workers, but Their Assistance Was
Quite Unintentional.

SO, 1t has three heroes, a heroine, an
eccentric philanthropist. and score
of supernumeraries of too little i'm
portance. SC far as this incident is
concerned. TO be mentioned by name.
The heroes are Mr.. Harris, Mr.. Har-
per and MIR. Hill; the heroine Is. or
was, Miss Balsam. The eccentric
philanthropist Is MIR. Warren. SO
much for the introduction; now for
the story:
Harris. Harper and Hill work for
Mr.. Warren. On September last the
three young men held an important
interview with their employer.
What do you want?" said Mr..
Warren to Mr.. Harris.
"A raise" said Harris.
And your" to Harper.
"A raise"
And your" to Hill.
"A raise"
Cant have it," said Mr. Warren.
You get $25 week now"
Il know we do" said Harris, but
that amt enough, We are worth
more than that. We want $50"
Too much," said Mr. Warren.
Still, do not wish to discourage you.
You are worthy young men and | like
you. do not wish to leave you with
out hope. ! will increase your salary
on one condition. Ii you will get
married | will pay you $50 week"
Harris, Harper and Hill turned
pale.
"Married?" they said. This is very
sudden. We must have time to think. =
They retired into an adjoining room
and thought. After due deliberation
they reported their decision.
Sir" said they. I'VE refuse to ac-
cept prosperity on such onerous
terms. Twenty-Five dollars week. ac-
cording to our calculation, will go
further for one than $50 for two. We
prefer positive to potential evils. we
will not get married.
Then Harris, Harper and Hill went
back to their desks and continued TO
work for $25 a week. always bearing
in mind the opportunity for advance
ment should they care to purchase
promotion at such a cost.
Harris, Harper and Hill are good
friends. Uusually they lunch together
Last Monday that amicable arrange
ment would have been satisfactory to
Harris and Harper, but when they go'
ready to leave the office and look
around for Hill they found that he
had already gone. They saw him al
the restaurant but they did not join
him. Hill was not alone. Miss Bal
sam sat opposite. Miss Balsam
beamed upon Hill and Hill beamed
upon Miss Balsam. They were hap
{ py. Harris and Harper were no,
happy; they were envious.
"Ungrateful dog" said Harris. sc
that's why he left US? He has treat
ed us most shabbily. But we'll gel
even. Well have revenge.
He called the waitress.
Jennie" he said, do you see ouf
friend over there? Well, he has de-
serted us. He's married"
Married." said Jennie. "Sure?'
J Sure" said Harris. Married last
night. My friend and | were at the
wedding Weren't we Benz"
"Uh, huh" grunted Harper.
"You don't say" said Jennie. WAS
it a church wedding? I hope 80. l dc
love church weddings. They are sc
, swell and so awfully solemn.
, No." said Harris, this was not q
church wedding. 1t was just home
affair, but it was swell enough and
solemn enough, just the same. Go and
tell the rest of the girls the old chap
ls married. til make him feel good
for you to take some notice of him. u
Jennie told the other girls, the 9TH
er girls told the proprietor, the pro-
prietor told the patrons, and the pa
irons told each other. 1t was an ex-
citing time. Everybody looked, ev-
, erybody talked.
See the bride and groom" they
said. Don't they look nice?"
But Hill and Miss Balsam did not
look nice. They were too red for that
They heard, they saw, they blushed
they felt very uncomfortable. Also
they looked very silly; nevertheless
they talked earnestly. Harris and Har-
per tried to make out what they said
but they could hear nothing. However
they found OFT all about that the next
day. Early Tuesday morning Hill en-
gagged Mr.. Warren in an animated
conversation.
Sir" said he, II want my $50 a
week.
Married." said Mr. Warren.
Yes, sir"
"When?"
Yesterday"
Good" said Mr.. Warren. Il am
glad. | am an advocate of domestic
tranquility. | like a man who has
home ties. shall do well by you
You deserve more than $40 week
! You have set good example.
will promote you. Times are hard
but you shall have $40 a week with
the prospect OF $50 the first of the
year."
Harris and Harper nearly tainted.
When they came to Harris asked:
Say, Hill, were you married at
lunch time yesterday"
mot on your life," said Hill. Hadn't
thought of 1t then. Little girl just
came down from Worcester to spend
the day. You put the notion into our
heads. Congratulations, you know, and
gossip and dishes Of rice and wedding
cake. Seemed like the real thing. LIT
tie girl awfully nice. Known her long
time. Like each other tremendously
why notT says l.
Why not? says she.
so we did. All due to you. Thanks
awfully."
Good Lord" said Harris.
Good Lord" said Harper.