ty
columns. By the way, how comes it that a paper devoted to the interests
of the common people maintains that aristocratic feature?"

"Oh, the common people eat it alive. Russell Edmonds is largely
responsible for keeping it up. You should hear his theory. It's
ingenious. I'll send for him."

Edmonds, who chanced to be at his desk, entered the editorial den with
his tiny pipe between his teeth, and, much disconcerted at finding a
lady there, hastily removed it until Miss Van Arsdale suggested its
restitution.

"What? The society page?" said he. "Yes; I was against dropping it. You
see, Miss Van Arsdale, I'm a Socialist in belief."

"Is there a pun concealed in that or are you serious, Mr. Edmonds?"

"Serious. I'm always that on the subjects of Socialism and The Patriot."

"Then you must explain if I'm to understand."

"By whom is society news read? By two classes," expounded the veteran;
"those whose names appear, and those who are envious of those whose
names appear. Well, we're after the envious."

"Still I don't see. With what purpose?'

"Jim Simpson, who has just got his grocery bill for more than he can
pay, reads a high-colored account of Mrs. Stumpley-Triggs's aquatic
dinner served in the hundred-thousand-dollar swimming-pool on her
Westchester estate. That makes Jim think."

"You mean that it makes him discontented."

"Well, discontent is a mighty leaven."

Miss Van Arsdale directed her fine and serious eyes upon Banneker. "So
it comes back to the cult of discontent. Is that Mr. Marrineal's
formula, too, Mr. Edmonds?"

"Underneath all his appearance of candor, Marrineal's a secret animal,"
said Edmonds.

"Does he leave you a free hand with your editorials, Ban?" inquired the
outsider.

"Absolutely."

"Watches the circulation only," said Edmonds. "Thus far," he added.

"You're looking for an ulterior motive, then," interpreted Miss Van
Arsdale.

"I'm looking for whatever I can find in Marrineal, Miss Van Arsdale,"
confessed the patriarch of the office. "As yet I haven't found much."

"I have," said Banneker. "I've discovered his theory of journalism. We
three, Edmonds, Marrineal, and I, regard this business from three
diverse viewpoints. To Edmonds it's a vocation and a rostrum. He wants
really, under his guise as the most far-seeing news man of his time, to
call sinners against society to repentance, or to force repentance down
their throats. There's a good deal of the stern evangelist