t its staff.

"There's a question I'd like to ask," said Haynerd, as they pursued
their way toward their recent purchase. "I want to know what our
editorial policy will be. Do we condone the offenses of our grafters
and spoilsmen by remaining silent regarding their crimes? Or do we
expose them?"

"We will let their guilt expose and kill itself," quickly returned
Carmen. "How? Well, you will see."

A few minutes later they entered the gloomy, dust-laden offices of the
Express. Hitt's spirits sank again as he looked about him. But Carmen
seemed to suffer no loss of enthusiasm. After a mental appraisal of
the dingy, uninviting environment she exclaimed: "Well, one nice thing
about this is that we don't have much to start with!"

Hitt reflected upon her cryptical remark, and then laughed.

Carlson joined them at this juncture. It was evident that the sale of
his plant had removed a heavy load from his shoulders.

"My best reporter was out yesterday when you called," he said,
addressing Hitt. "He--well, he was a little the worse for wear. But
he's in now. Come into my office and I'll send for him."

In a few minutes a tall, boyish fellow responded to the editor's
summons. He must have been well under twenty, thought Hitt, marveling
that so young a man should be regarded as Carlson's best news
gatherer. But his wonder grew apace when the editor introduced him as
Mr. Sidney Ames.

"Huh!" ejaculated Haynerd. "Know J. Wilton?"

The lad smiled pallidly, as he bent his gaze upon Carmen, and
addressed his reply to her. "My governor," he said laconically.

"The deuce he is!" returned Haynerd, beginning to bristle.

Carlson dismissed the reporter, and turned to the curious group.

"The boy has the making of a fine newspaper man in him. Has something
of his father's terrible energy. But he's doomed. Whiskey and morphine
got him. He used to come down here before his father threw him out. I
let him write little articles for the Express when he was barely
sixteen years old; and they were mighty good, too. But he got mixed up
in some scandal, and J. Wilton cut him off. The boy always did drink,
I guess. But since his family troubles he's been on the straight road
to the insane asylum. It's too bad. But you'll keep him, I suppose?"

"Certainly not!" replied Haynerd aggressively. "His father is no
friend of mine, and--"

"We _shall_ keep him," calmly interrupted Carmen. "His father is a
_very_ good friend of mine."

Carls