by luck, partly by favor, partly through the personal connections of the
staff. One paper is differentiated from another principally by getting
or missing this sort of stuff. For instance, the 'Banner' yesterday had
a 'beat' about you. It said that you had come back and were going to
settle down and go into your father's business."

"That's not true."

"Glad to hear it. Your hands will be full with this job. But it was
news. Everybody is interested in the son of our leading citizen. The
'Banner' is strong on that sort of local stuff. I think I'll jack up our
boys in the city room by hinting that there may be a shake-up coming
under the new owner. Knowing they're on probation will make 'em
ambitious."

"And the news of the outside world?"

"Much the same principle as the local matter and just as machine-like.
The 'Clarion' is a unit in a big system, the National News Exchange
Bureau. Not only has the bureau its correspondents in every city and
town of any size, but it covers the national sources of news with
special reporters. Also the international. Theoretically it gives only
the plainest facts, uncolored by any bias. As a matter of fact, it's
pretty crooked. It suppresses news, and even distorts it. It's got a
secret financial propaganda dictated by Wall Street, and its policies
are always open to suspicion."

"Why doesn't it get honest reporters?"

"Oh, its reporters are honest enough. The funny business is done higher
up, in the executive offices."

"Isn't there some other association we can get into?"

"Not very well, just now. The Exchange franchise is worth a lot of
money. Besides," he concluded, yawning, "I don't know that they're any
worse than we are."

Hal got to his feet and walked the length of the office and back, five
times. At the end of this exercise he stood, looking down at his
assistant.

"Ellis, are you trying to plant an impression in my mind?"

"No."

"You're doing it."

"Of what sort?"

"I hardly know. Something subtle, and lurking and underhanded in the
business. I feel as if you had your hands on a curtain that you might
pull aside if you would, but that you don't want to shock my--my
youthfulness."

"Plain facts are what you want, aren't they?"

"Exactly."

"Well, I'm giving them to you as plain as you can understand them. I
don't want to tell you more than you're ready to believe."

"Try it, as an experiment."

"Who do you suppose runs the newspapers of this town?"