evident the three men were scarcely on speaking terms with each other.
Nothing causes such a state of tension in a newspaper office as the
missing of a piece of news that is important.

"Perhaps it would be better," suggested Hardwick, "if Miss Baxter would
repeat the conversation as she heard it."

"I don't see the use of that," said Mr. Hempstead. "There is only one
point at issue. Did Mr. Alder warn Mr. Hardwick that by delay he would
lose the publication of this report?"

"Hardly that," answered the girl. "As I remember it, he said, 'Isn't
there a danger that some other paper may get this?' Mr. Hardwick
replied, 'I don't think so. Not for three days, at least'; and then Mr.
Alder said, 'Very good,' or 'Very well,' or something like that."

"That quite tallies with my own remembrance," assented Hardwick. "I
admit I am to blame, but I decidedly say that I was not definitely
warned by Mr. Alder that the matter would be lost to us."

"I told you it would be lost if you delayed," cried Alder, with the
emphasis of an angry man, "and it _has_ been lost. I have been on the
track of this for two weeks, and it is very galling to have missed it at
the last moment through no fault of my own."

"Still," said Mr. Hempstead coldly, "your version of the conversation
does not quite agree with what Miss Baxter says."

"Oh, well," said Alder, "I never pretended to give the exact words. I
warned him, and he did not heed the warning."

"You admit, then, that Miss Baxter's remembrance of the conversation is
correct?"

"It is practically correct. I do not 'stickle' about words."

"But you did stickle about words an hour ago," said Mr. Hempstead, with
some severity. "There is a difference in positively stating that the
item would be lost and in merely suggesting that it might be lost."

"Oh, have it as you wish," said Alder truculently. "It doesn't matter in
the least to me. It is very provoking to work hard for two weeks, and
then have everything nullified by a foolish decision from the editor.
However, as I have said, it doesn't matter to me. I have taken service
on the _Daily Trumpet_, and you may consider my place on the _Bugle_
vacant"--saying which, the irate Mr. Alder put his hat on his head and
left the room.

Mr. Hempstead seemed distressed by the discussion, but, for the first
time, Mr. Hardwick smiled grimly.

"I always insist on accuracy," he said, "and lack of it is one of
Alder's failings."

"Nevertheless,