he time.
Her father's objections to the plan had been overruled finally when
McAllister had offered Miss Lawson a position on the _Recorder's_ day
staff as "Society Editor," and it was not long before her interest in
the work and her natural aptitude for it rejuvenated the Society Page
into one of the best features the paper boasted.

Not content with this success, Miss Lawson became ambitious to try her
journalistic wings in other directions; but her desire for more
important assignments than the reporting of afternoon teas brought down
the paternal foot--flat! No daughter of Nathaniel Lawson was going to
be allowed to roam the city at all hours. "No night work," her father
had insisted. Nevertheless, the young woman continued to hope that
this edict would be removed eventually, and she never lost an
opportunity of coaxing if she happened to be at home when McAllister
was present; but there came a night finally when Nat Lawson grew
impatient at her persistence and kindly but firmly put a final period
to the topic.

She arrived home from a recital at the Conservatory of Music just in
time to serve the refreshments and to listen breathlessly to the
conclusion of the evening's animated discussion. Both Wade and
McAllister were there and it was evident that they had been "at it
again." From the quiet elation in the editor's eye and the
corresponding amusement of her father, she judged that McAllister
temporarily was having the better of the argument.

"Mac, I don't care a hoot what you've found out!" declared Ben Wade.
"You can sit there and talk till this time to-morrow night, but you'll
never convince me that the Honorable Milt isn't as straight as the best
man who ever went into politics."

"Ah, just so--who ever went into politics," drawled McAllister with a
provoking grin.

"Who ever did his duty in public life and became the victim of
hidebound newspapers!" retorted Wade. "Milt Waring and I grew up in
the same town together--went to the same school, played both hookey and
hockey together. Why, I know him inside and out and I tell you he's as
straight as a string."

"Your simile is unfortunate, Ben. The straightest string can be tied
in knots."

"I see by this morning's papers that Rives has been released from the
penitentiary," interposed their host. "Good conduct has got him out
three years ahead of time. His sentence was fifteen, wasn't it?"

Wade nodded, but was not to be turned from his tilt