ut to him the direct
question. "What is the matter with the story as I gave it to you?"

Burt assumed an air of touching innocence. "The story had to be handled
with great care," he explained blandly.

"Come off, Tommy. Didn't you write the police part?"

Tommy Burl's eyes denoted the extreme of candor. "It was suggested to me
that your views upon the police, while interesting and even important,
might be misunderstood."

"Is _that_ so? And who made the suggestion?"

"An all-wise city desk."

"Thank you. Tommy."

"The Morning Ledger," volunteered Tommy Burt, "has a high and
well-merited reputation for its fidelity to the principles of truth and
fairness and to the best interests of the reading public. It never gives
the public any news to play with that it thinks the dear little thing
ought not to have. Did you say anything? No? Well; you meant it. You're
wrong. The Ledger is the highest-class newspaper in New York. We are the
Elect!"

In his first revulsion of anger, Banneker was for going to Mr. Greenough
and having it out with him. If it meant his resignation, very good. He
was ready to look his job in the eye and tell it to go to hell. Turning
the matter over in his mind, however, he decided upon another course. So
far as the sensational episode of which he was the central figure went,
he would regard himself consistently as a private citizen with no
responsibility whatsoever to The Ledger. Let the paper print or suppress
what it chose; his attitude toward it would be identical with his
attitude toward the other papers. Probably the office powers would
heartily disapprove of his having any dealings with Enderby and his Law
Enforcement Society. Let them! He telephoned a brief but final message
to Enderby and Enderby. When, late that night, Mr. Gordon called him over
and suggested that it was highly desirable to let the whole affair drop
out of public notice as soon as the startling facts would permit, he
replied that Judge Enderby had already arranged to push an
investigation.

"Doubtless," observed the managing editor. "It is his specialty. But
without your evidence they can't go far."

"They can have my evidence."

Mr. Gordon, who had been delicately balancing his letter-opener, now
delivered a whack of such unthinking ferocity upon his fat knuckle as to
produce a sharp pang. He gazed in surprise and reproach upon the aching
thumb and something of those emotions informed the regard which he
turned sl