"We'll do even better by him," said McLaughlin. "You know this business as well as I do, Skinner. I 'm darned if I don't think you know it better. You know how closely we can shave figures with our competitors, I don't care who they are. I 'm going to make you our minister plenipotentiary. Do as you please, only get Jackson. I don't care if you take a small loss. We can make it up later. But we want his business." Skinner pondered a moment. "Really, Mr. McLaughlin, I don't know what to say. I'm very grateful to you for such confidence. I 'll do my best, sir." "It'll take rare diplomacy, rare diplomacy, Skinner," McLaughlin warned. "What kind of a man is Mr. Jackson?" Skinner asked presently. "I know him by his letters, but what kind of man is he to meet?" "The worst curmudgeon west of Pittsburg," said McLaughlin. "He'll insult you, he'll abuse you, he might even threaten to assault you like he did me. But he's got a bank roll as big as Vesuvius--and you know what his business means to us. Take as much time as you like, spend as much money as you like, Skinner,--don't stint yourself,--but _get_ Jackson!" "Have you any suggestions?" said Skinner. "Not one--and if I had, I would n't offer it. I want you to use your wits in your own way, unhampered, unencumbered. It's up to you." "When do you want me to go?" "Business is business--the sooner the quicker!" Skinner thought a moment. "Let's see--to-morrow's Sunday. I'll start Monday morning, if that is satisfactory." "Fine!" said McLaughlin, rising and shaking hands with his cashier. Skinner walked to the door, paused, then came halfway back. "What kind of a woman is Mrs. Jackson, Mr. McLaughlin?" "Well," said McLaughlin, staggered by the question, "she don't handsome much and she ain't very young, if that's what you mean." Skinner blushed. "I didn't mean it that way." "The only thing I've got against Mrs. Jackson is she's a social climber," Perkins broke in. "The only thing I 've got against her," said McLaughlin, "is--she don't climb. She wants to, but she don't." "Is there any particular reason why she does n't climb?" said Skinner. "Vulgar--ostentatiously vulgar," said McLaughlin. Skinner smiled. He pondered a moment, then ventured, "Say, Mr. McLaughlin, it'd be a big feather in my cap if I landed Jackson, wouldn't it?" "One of the ostrich variety, my son,--seeing that the great auk is dead," said McLaughlin solemnly. Skinner's voice faltered a bit. "You don't know, Mr. McLaughlin, and you, Mr. Perkins, how grateful I am for this opportunity. I--I--" He turned and left the room. "It's pathetic, ain't it? I feel like a sneak, Perk," said McLaughlin. "Pathetic, yes," said Perkins. "But it's for his good. If he's all right, we're vindicating him--if he is n't all right, we want to know it."