ill drop and the very men
like Pierce will be the first to withdraw their advertising patronage.
Your keen advertiser doesn't waste time fishing in dead pools. So even
as a matter of policy the straight way may be the best, in the long run.
Whether it is or not, get this firmly into your mind, Mr. Shearson. From
now on the first consideration of the 'Clarion' will be news and not
advertising."

"Then, good-_night_ 'Clarion,'" pronounced Shearson with entire
solemnity.

"Is that your resignation, Mr. Shearson?"

"Do you want me to quit?"

"No; I don't. I believe you're an efficient man, if you can adjust
yourself to new conditions. Do you think you can?"

"Well, I ain't much on the high-brow stuff, Mr. Surtaine, but I can take
orders, I guess. I'm used to the old 'Clarion,' and I kinda like you,
even if we don't agree. Maybe this virtuous jag'll get us some business
for what it loses us. But, say, Mr. Surtaine, you ain't going to get
virtuous in your advertising columns, too, are you?"

"I hadn't considered it," said Hal. "One of these days I'll look into
it."

"For God's sake, don't!" pleaded Shearson, with such a shaken flabbiness
of vehemence that both Hal and Ellis laughed, though the former felt an
uneasy puzzlement.

The article and editorial on the Pierce accident had appeared in a
Thursday's "Clarion." In their issues of the following day, the other
morning papers dealt with the subject most delicately. The "Banner"
published, without obvious occasion, a long and rather fulsome editorial
on E.M. Pierce as a model of high-minded commercial emprise and an
exemplar for youth: also, on the same page in its "Pointed Paragraphs,"
the following, with a point quite too palpably aimed:--

"It is said, on plausible if not direct authority, that one of our
morning contemporaries will appropriately alter its motto to read, 'With
Malice toward All: with Charity for None.'"

But it remained for that evening's "Telegram" to bring up the heavy
guns. From its first edition these headlines stood out, black and
bold:--

E.M. PIERCE DEFENDS DAUGHTER

* * * * *

MAGNATE INCENSED AT UNJUST ATTACKS
WILL PUSH CASE AGAINST HER
TRADUCERS TO A FINISH

There followed an interview in which the great man announced his
intention of bringing both civil and criminal action for libel against
the "Clarion." McGuire Ellis frowned savagely at the sheet.

"Dir