s fist down on the desk so that the papers fluttered,
"that's one place they won't come from." Bassett laughed, not very
pleasantly.

"Good stuff, old top. I love to hear that line of talk. It's inspiring.
But they all start that way. I've been in the game a long time. I've
pulled the Washington on tank town weeklies, trimmed boiler plate on
all-home-print, and attained the eminence of space writer on county seat
dailies. I've done time in the newspaper game from soup to nuts, and
I've yet to see the sheet that isn't run from the business office."

"You've got something to live for then, haven't you?" said Good sweetly.

"I've always said that there weren't any surprises in a newspaper man's
life," continued Bassett thoughtfully. "Maybe I'm wrong."

"Life's full of surprises. That's what makes it interesting. But that
butters no turnips. I didn't come here to give you some new ideas about
life. What I want is for you to get your staff together in the city
room, say about five o'clock, for fifteen minutes. I want to talk to the
boys. Can you arrange it?"

"I guess the world won't stop moving."

"All right. See you later." Good put his hand on the door.

"Say," said Bassett, sharply biting his lip, "have you been stringing
me?"

Good laughed. "Call up John Baker, Miss Wynrod's lawyer, and get it
straight. Don't be so suspicious."

"That's my business," said Bassett, sourly. As the door closed on his
strange visitor, he sighed heavily. "It's a great business ... sold up
the river--damned slave!" Then he sighed again and fell to sharpening a
pencil.

Promptly at five Good returned. "Got them all here?" he demanded.

"Nearly all."

"That's fine. Let's break the news."

Bassett led the way to the city room, and with a clap of his hands
achieved silence. "Boys," he said in a tone which was curiously
unfamiliar to them, "you probably all know by now, being good
news-hounds, that the paper has been sold. Mr. Brent Good, the new
managing editor, wishes to say a few words."

Good rose and stood looking thoughtfully at the crowd for a moment
before he spoke.

"Gentlemen, the habit of a lifetime is hard to break. Mr. Bassett proves
it by the way he's coloured the facts. I'm not to be managing editor.
Mr. Bassett will continue in that capacity as long as his editing and
managing seems to be satisfactory. I am merely to be the personal
representative of the owner of the paper. Now I have one or two things
to say to