e, "we'll talk! What is to be done first
about the MAIL?"

"No insurance, you know," he began at once. "We never did carry any in
the old days and I suppose that's why I didn't. So that makes it a dead
loss. Worse than that--for I wasn't clear yet, you know. The safe they
carried out; so the books are all right, I suppose, although they say
we had better not open it for a few days. Then I can settle everything
up as far as possible. And after that--well, I've been thinking that
perhaps Barker, of the San Francisco TELEGRAM might give me a start of
some sort--" He rumpled his hair with a desperate gesture. "The thing's
come on me like such a thunderbolt that I really haven't thought it
out!" he ended apologetically.

"The thing's come on you like such a thunderbolt," she echoed
cheerfully, "that you aren't taking it like yourself at all! The
question, is if we work like Trojans from now on, can we get an issue
of the MAIL out tomorrow?"

"Get an issue out tomorrow!" he repeated, staring at her.

"Certainly. I would have done what I could about it," said Sidney
briskly, "but not knowing where you were, or when you were coming back,
my hands were absolutely tied. Now, Barry, LISTEN!" she broke off, not
reassured by his expression, "and don't jump at the conclusion that
it's impossible. What would it mean?"

"To get an issue of the MAIL out tomorrow? Why, great Scott, Sid, you
don't seem to realize that there's not a stick left standing!"

"I do realize. I was there until the fire was out," she said calmly.
And for a few minutes they talked of the fire. Then she said abruptly:
"Would Ferguson let you use the old STAR PRESS for a few weeks, do you
think?"

"I don't see why he should," Barry said perversely.

"I don't see why he shouldn't. I'll tell you something you don't know.
Night before last, Barry, while I was down in the office, old Ferguson
himself came in, and poked about, and asked various questions. Finally
he asked me what I thought the chances were of your wanting to buy out
the Star. What do you think at THAT?"

"He's sick of it, is he?" Barry said, with kindling eyes. "Well, we've
seen that coming, haven't we? I will be darned!" He shook his head
regretfully. "That would have been a big thing for the MAIL" he said,
"but it's all up now!"

"Not necessarily," the lady undauntedly rejoined. "I've been thinking,
Barry," she went on, "if you reordered the presses, they'd give you
plenty of time to pay f