and had already determined
upon his procedure.

Sitting between the two newspaper workers, Marrineal overtopped them
both; the supple strength of Banneker as well as the gnarly slenderness
of Edmonds. He gave an impression of loose-jointed and rather lazy
power; also of quiet self-confidence. He began to talk at once, with the
easy, drifting commentary of a man who had seen everything, measured
much, and liked the glittering show. Both of the others, one his elder,
the other his junior, felt the ready charm of the man. Both were content
to listen, waiting for the clue to his intrusion which he had contrived
to make not only inoffensive, but seemingly a casual act of
good-fellowship. The clue was not afforded, but presently some shrewd
opinion of the newcomer upon the local political situation set them both
to discussion. Quite insensibly Marrineal withdrew from the
conversation, sipping his coffee and listening with an effect of
effortless amenity.

"If we had a newspaper here that wasn't tied hard and fast,
politically!" cried Edmonds presently.

Marrineal fingered a specially fragrant cigar. "But a newspaper must be
tied to something, mustn't it?" he queried. "Otherwise it drifts."

"Why not to its reading public?" suggested Banneker.

"That's an idea. But can you tie to a public? Isn't the public itself
adrift, like seaweed?"

"Blown about by the gales of politics." Edmonds accepted the figure.
"Well, the newspaper ought to be the gale."

"I gather that you gentlemen do not think highly of present journalistic
conditions."

"You overheard our discussion," said Banneker bluntly.

Marrineal assented. "It did not seem private. Katie's is a sort of free
forum. That is why I come. I like to listen. Besides, it touched me
pretty closely at one or two points."

The two others turned toward him, waiting. He nodded, and took upon
himself an air of well-pondered frankness. "I expect to take a more
active part in journalism from now on."

Edmonds followed up the significant phrase. "_More_ active? You have
newspaper interests?"

"Practically speaking, I own The Patriot. What do you gentlemen think of
it?"

"Who reads The Patriot?" inquired Banneker. He was unprepared for the
swift and surprised flash from Marrineal's fine eyes, as if some
profoundly analytical or revealing suggestion had been made.

"Forty thousand men, women, and children. Not half enough, of course."

"Not a tenth enough, I would say, if I