"And when I found how he just naturally ate up music," says Snick, "and how he'd had some training in a boy choir, and what a range he had, I says to him, 'Hermy,' says I, 'you come with me!' First I blows in ten good hard dollars getting a lawyer to draw up a contract. I thought it all out by myself; but I wanted the whereases put in right. And it's a peach. It bound me to find board and lodging and provide clothes and incidentals for Hermy for the period of one year; and in consideration of which, and all that, I am to be the manager and sole business representative of said Hermy for the term of fifteen years from date, entitled to a fair and equal division of whatsoever profits, salary, or emoluments which may be received by the party of the second part, payable to me, my heirs, or assigns forever. And there I am, Shorty. I've done it! And I'm going to stay with it!" "What!" says I. "You don't mean to say you've invested a year's board and lodgin' and expenses in--in that?" and I gazes once more at this hundred and eighty-pound wrist slapper, who is standin' there in front of the mirror pattin' down a stray lock. "That's what I've done," says Snick, shovin' his hands in his pockets and lookin' at the exhibit like he was proud of it. "But how the--where in blazes did you get it?" says I. "Squeezed it out," says Snick; "out of myself, too. And you know me. I always was as good to myself as other folks would let me. But all that had to be changed. It come hard, I admit, and it cost more'n I figured on. Why, some of his voice culture lessons set me back ten a throw. Think of that! He's had 'em, though. And me? Well, I've lived on one meal a day. I've done a double trick: on the wagon day times, night cashier in a drug store from nine till two a.m. I've cut out theaters, cigarettes, and drinks. I've made my old clothes last over, and I've pinched the dimes and nickels so hard my thumbprints would look like treasury dies. But we've got the goods, Shorty. Hermy may be the mushiest, sappiest, hen brained specimen of a man you ever saw; but when it comes to being a high class grand opera barytone, he's the kid! And little Percival here is his manager and has the power of attorney that will fix him for keeps if I know anything!" "Ye-e-es?" says I. "Reminds me some of the time when you was backin' Doughnut to win the Suburban. Recollect how hard you scraped to get the two-fifty you put down on Doughnut at thirty to one, and how hard you begged me to jump in and pull out a bale of easy money? Let's see; did the skate finish tenth, or did he fall through the hole in his name?" "Ah, say!" says Snick. "Don't go digging that up now. That was sport. This is straight business, on the level, and I ain't asking you to put up a cent." "Well, what then?" says I.