He walked through the open door, whistling his Teutonic melody. He had not that fear of his employer which most employees have of the man for whom they work. Schleger had proved himself lenient and good-natured, and Hermann, whose cheerful round face and easy smile did not interfere with the use of a knotted arm and a mighty fist, was quite aware that there was no complaint justly to be made against the manner in which he performed his alloted tasks. "Hoffmann," said Schleger, smiling, "you're all right." "Sure," grinned Hermann. "Yes," pursued the proprietor, "I been thinkin' about you that you sure have made good." "I'm glad you vas sadisfied, Schleger." "I am satisfied; but I think you need a little more time off now an' then. I haven't got nothin' to do this evenin'. I'll take your place." Hermann's eyes brightened with unaffected pleasure. It had not always been pleasant to work in the nights when Katie was all day busy in the shop. "Thanks," he said. "Yes," nodded Schleger, benignantly; "it will be like old times for me. You take a night off." "Shall I start out righd avay?" "Certainly.--Of course you understand I'll want you around here the day of the primaries." Hermann nodded. "And Hermann, there's somethin' else I've been meanin' to talk to you about, and kep' forgettin' till O'Malley reminded me of it again this afternoon." Hoffmann, pulling off his white jacket, stopped with arms extended. "O'Malley?" he said in a strained voice. "Vat's dot man got to do vith me?" "Well, you know he don't miss no tricks nowheres, an' some time back I was tellin' him what a good man you was, an' he said we ought to get you a little more active for him. A fellow behind a bar can do a whole lot that way, you know,--an' make a good thing of it." "I know," replied Hermann, ripping off the coat, "but I ain't no politician." "Nobody said you was, but all the fellows help a little." "Sure; only I don't." "Why not? We want to do well for the slate this time. Wesley Dyker's on it; you know him; he's all right." "I ain't no politician, Schleger." This stolid attitude plainly began to puzzle the proprietor. "Don't be a fool, Hoffmann," he said. "The boys all have their eye on you, an' O'Malley don't forget any of his friends." "Schleger, I got my own friends, und I make my own friends. I don't vant nussing I don't earn from nobody." "But that sort of thing won't look right," argued Schleger. "You see, you're registered from here-- "No I ain't, Schleger; I'm registered from my own blace." "Well, I didn't know that; you didn't tell me, an' so I registered you from here." Hoffmann's pink cheeks became red. He folded his coat neatly over his arm. "Vatch here, Schleger," he began. "I ain't no politician. I don't care----" But he bit his lip and mastered himself to silence.