E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 26080-h.htm or 26080-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/8/26080/26080-h/26080-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/0/8/26080/26080-h.zip) SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT by HENRY IRVING DODGE With Illustrations [Frontispiece: "I won't take your order unless you throw in that trout dinner"] Toronto Thomas Allen Publisher 1916 Copyright, 1916, by the Curtis Publishing Company Copyright, 1916, by Henry Irving Dodge All Rights Reserved TO MY WIFE CONTENTS I. SKINNER ASKS FOR A RAISE II. HOW SKINNER GOT HIS RAISE III. SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT IV. SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT BEGINS TO GET IN ITS FINE WORK V. THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE DRESS SUIT VI. DODGING A MAGNATE AND WHAT CAME OF IT VII. SKINNER AND THE "GOLD BUGS" VIII. CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST IX. SKINNER FISHES WITH A DIPLOMATIC HOOK X. SKINNER LANDS A CURMUDGEON XI. THE OSTRICH FEATHER ILLUSTRATIONS "I WON'T TAKE YOUR ORDER UNLESS YOU THROW IN THAT TROUT DINNER" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "IT'S COME AT LAST! SKINNER'S ASKED FOR A RAISE" "THE GENERAL EFFECT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT!" "THERE," SHE CRIED, "YOU CAN CREDIT YOUR DRESS-SUIT ACCOUNT WITH THAT!" "MRS. SKINNER, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE ARCHIBALD RUTHERFORD, OF HASTINGS-ON-THE-HUDSON, ACCOMPANIES HER HUSBAND" "WHY CAN'T _I_ GO WITH THOSE PEOPLE," SHE SNIFFLED _From Drawings by F. Vaux Wilson_ SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT CHAPTER I SKINNER ASKS FOR A RAISE Skinner had inhabited the ironbound enclosure labeled "CASHIER" at McLaughlin & Perkins, Inc., so long, that the messenger boys had dubbed him the "cage man." To them he had become something of a bluff. Skinner's pet abomination was cigarettes, and whenever one of these miniatures in uniform chanced to offend that way, he would turn and frown down upon the culprit. The first time he did this to Mickey, the "littlest" messenger boy of the district, who was burning the stub of a cigarette, Mickey dropped the thing in awe. But Jimmie of the Postal said, "Don't be scared of _him_! He's locked up in his cage. He can't get at you!" So the sobriquet "cage man" was evolved from this chance remark, and the wit of the thing had spread until everybody had come to think of Skinner as the "cage man"--a fact which did not add greatly to his dignity.