dchild, that you'd better give me an official
statement. I'll give the Associated Press man a copy, and that will go
to all the papers."

"But I don't want to say anything," protested Mr. Goodchild, who always
read the _Post_'s money page.

"The other reporters will say it for you. I think you'd better."

"He's right, Mr. Goodchild," said the vice-president.

"But what the dickens can I say?" queried Mr. Goodchild, helplessly, not
daring to look out of the window for fear of seeing the sandwiches.

"If I were you," earnestly advised the _Post_ man, "I'd tell the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"Say why you won't let your daughter--"

"It's preposterous!"

"Say it; but also say why it is preposterous."

Two directors of the bank came in. They were high in high finance. In
fact, they _were_ High Finance. They therefore knew only the newspapers
of an older generation, as they had proven by their testimony before a
Congressional Committee. The older director looked at Mr. Goodchild and
began:

"Goodchild, will you tell me why--"

"You, too?" interrupted Mr. Goodchild, reproachfully but respectfully.
"First the reporters and now--"

The directors gasped.

"You didn't--actually--talk--for--_publication_?"

They stared at him incredulously.

"No. But I'm thinking of giving out a carefully prepared statement--"

The higher of the high financiers, with the masterfulness that made him
richer every panic, assumed supreme command. He turned to the _Post_ man
and said: "I'm surprised to see you here. Your paper used to be decent.
Mr. Goodchild has nothing to say."

"But--" protested the anguished father of Grace Goodchild.

"You haven't!" declared $100,000,000.

"I have nothing to say!" meekly echoed one-tenth of one hundred.

The _Post_ man walked out with a distinctly editorial stride. He began
to envy the yellows and their vulgar editors, as all _Post_ men must at
times.

Mr. Goodchild's efforts to suppress the publication of his family
affairs were in vain. He unfortunately sought to argue over the
telephone with the owners.

The owners spoke to the editors.

"It's _News_!" the editors pointed out.

"It's _News_," the owners regretfully explained to the bank president.

"But it's a crime against decency," said Mr. Goodchild.

"You are right. It's a damned shame. But it's _News_!" said the owners,
and hung up.

Mr. Goodchild summoned his lawyer. The lawyer looked grave. He
recognized the useless