gh's
expression was as flat and neutral as the desk over which he presided as
he called Banneker's name and said to him:

"Mr. Horace Vanney wishes to relieve his soul of some priceless
information. Will you call at his office at two-thirty?"

It was Mr. Vanney's practice, whenever any of his enterprises
appeared in a dubious or unfavorable aspect, immediately to materialize
in print on some subject entirely unrelated, preferably an announcement
on behalf of one of the charitable or civic organizations which he
officially headed. Thus he shone forth as a useful, serviceable, and
public-spirited citizen, against whom (such was the inference which the
newspaper reader was expected to draw) only malignancy could allege
anything injurious. In this instance his offering upon the altar of
publicity, carefully typed and mimeographed, had just enough importance
to entitle it to a paragraph of courtesy. After it was given out to
those who called, Mr. Vanney detained Banneker.

"Have you read the morning papers, Mr. Banneker?"

"Yes. That's my business, Mr. Vanney."

"Then you can see, by the outbreak in Sippiac, to what disastrous
results anarchism and fomented discontent lead."

"Depends on the point of view. I believe that, after my visit to the
mills for you, I told you that unless conditions were bettered you'd
have another and worse strike. You've got it."

"Fortunately it is under control. The trouble-makers and thugs have been
taught a needed lesson."

"Especially the six-year-old trouble-making thug who was shot through
the lungs from behind."

Mr. Vanney scowled. "Unfortunate. And the papers laid unnecessary stress
upon that. Wholly unnecessary. Most unfair."

"You would hardly accuse The Ledger, at least, of being unfair to the
mill interests."

"Yes. The Ledger's handling, while less objectionable than some of the
others, was decidedly unfortunate."

Banneker gazed at him in stupefaction. "Mr. Vanney, The Ledger minimized
every detail unfavorable to the mills and magnified every one which told
against the strikers. It was only its skill that concealed the bias in
every paragraph."

"You are not over-loyal to your employer, sir," commented the other
severely.

"At least I'm defending the paper against your aspersions," returned
Banneker.

"Most unfair," pursued Mr. Vanney. "Why publish such matter at all? It
merely stirs up more discontent and excites hostility against the whole
industrial system w