eged" so and so, and threw doubt
on its truth, which was precisely what Mr. Stoneham wished them to do,
as he was in a position to prove the accuracy of his statement.

Promptly, at five o'clock that afternoon a hansom containing Miss Jennie
Baxter drove up to the side entrance of the _Daily Bugle_ office, and
the young woman once more accosted the Irish porter, who again came out
of his den to receive her.

"Miss Baxter?" said the Irishman, half by way of salutation, and half by
way of inquiry. "Yes," said the girl.

"Well, Mr. Hardwick left strict orders with me that if ye came, or,
rather, that _whin_ ye came, I was to conduct ye right up to his room at
once."

"Oh, that is very satisfactory," cried Miss Jennie, "and somewhat
different from the state of things yesterday."

"Indeed, and that's very true," said the porter, his voice sinking.
"To-day is not like yesterday at all, at all. There's been great
ructions in this office, mum; although what it's about, fly away with me
if I know. There's been ruunin' back and forrad, an' a plentiful deal of
language used. The proprietor himself has been here, an' he's here now,
an' Mr. Alder came out a minute ago with his face as white as a sheet of
paper. They do be sayin'," added the porter, still further lowering his
voice, and pausing on the stairway, "that Mr. Hardwick is not goin' to
be the editor any more, but that Mr. Alder is to take his place. Anyway,
as far as I can tell, Mr. Hardwick an' Mr. Alder have had a fine fall
out, an' one or other of them is likely to leave the paper."

"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" said Miss Jennie, also pausing on the stairs. "Is
it so serious as all that?"

"Indeed it is, mum, an' we none of us know where we're standin', at all,
at all."

The porter led the way to Mr. Hardwick's room, and announced the
visitor.

"Ask her to come in," she heard the editor say, and the next instant the
porter left them alone together.

"Won't you sit down, Miss Baxter?" said Mr. Hardwick, with no trace of
that anger in his voice which she had expected. "I have been waiting for
you. You said you would be here at five, and I like punctuality. Without
beating round the bush, I suppose I may take it for granted that the
_Evening Graphite_ is indebted to you for what it is pleased to call the
Board of Public Construction scandal?"

"Yes," said the young woman, seating herself; "I came up to tell you
that I procured for the _Graphite_ that interesting bit