with his
simile, "to appease the howling rabble. But it is mostly circus, and
very little bread that our emperors of the news give us."

"We've got to feed what the animal eats," defended Banneker lightly.

"After having stimulated an artificial appetite," said Edmonds.

As the talk flowed on, Betty Raleigh adroitly drew Banneker out of the
current of it. "Your Patriot needn't have screeched at me, Ban," she
murmured in an injured tone.

"Did it, Betty? How, when, and where?"

"I thought you were horridly patronizing about the new piece, and quite
unkind to me, for a friend."

"It wasn't my criticism, you know," he reminded her patiently. "I don't
write the whole paper, though most of my acquaintances seem to think
that I do. Any and all of it to which they take exception, at least."

"Of course, I know you didn't write it, or it wouldn't have been so
stupid. I could stand anything except the charge that I've lost my
naturalness and become conventional."

"You're like the man who could resist anything except temptation, my
dear: you can stand anything except criticism," returned Banneker with a
smile so friendly that there was no sting in the words. "You've never
had enough of that. You're the spoiled pet of the critics."

"Not of this new one of yours. He's worse than Gurney. Who is he and
where does he come from?"

"An inconsiderable hamlet known as Chicago. Name, Allan Haslett.
Dramatic criticism out there is still so unsophisticated as to be
intelligent as well as honest--at its best."

"Which it isn't here," commented the special pet of the theatrical
reviewers.

"Well, I thought a good new man would be better than the good old ones.
Less hampered by personal considerations. So I sent and got this one."

"But he isn't good. He's a horrid beast. We've been specially nice to
him, on your account mostly--Ban, if you grin that way I shall hate you!
I had Bezdek invite him to one of the rehearsal suppers and he wouldn't
come. Sent word that theatrical suppers affected his eyesight when he
came to see the play."

Banneker chuckled. "Just why I got him. He doesn't let the personal
element prejudice him."

"He is prejudiced. And most unfair. Ban," said Betty in her most
seductive tones, "do call him down. Make him write something decent
about us. Bez is fearfully upset."

Banneker sighed. "The curse of this business," he reflected aloud, "is
that every one regards The Patriot as my personal toy for me o