nneker reflected with profound distaste that
the plan upon which he was hired was not essentially different from the
Zucker scheme, in Marrineal's intent. He, too, was--if Marrineal's idea
worked out--to draw down a percentage varying in direct ratio to his
suppleness in accommodating his writings to "the best interests of the
paper." He swore that he would see The Patriot and its proprietor
eternally damned before he would again alter jot or tittle of his
editorial expression with reference to any future benefit.

It did not take long for Mr. Zucker to manifest his presence to Banneker
through a line asking for an interview, written in a neat, small hand
upon a card reading:

_The Patriot--Special Theatrical Features E. Zucker, Representative_.

Mr. Zucker, being sent for, materialized as a buoyant little person,
richly ornamented with his own initials in such carefully chosen
locations as his belt-buckle, his cane, and his cigarettes. He was, he
explained, injecting some new and profitable novelties into the
department of dramatic criticism.

"Just a moment," quoth Banneker. "I thought that Allan Haslett had come
on from Chicago to be our dramatic critic."

"Oh, he and the business office didn't hit it off very well," said
little Zucker carelessly.

"Oh! And do you hit it off pretty well with the business office?"

"Naturally. It was Mr. Haring brought me on here; I'm a special
departmental manager in the advertising department."

"Your card would hardly give the impression. It suggests the news rather
than the advertising side."

"I'm both," stated Mr. Zucker, brightly beaming. "I handle the criticism
and the feature stuff on salary, and solicit the advertising, on a
percentage. It works out fine."

"So one might suppose." Banneker looked at him hard. "The idea being, if
I get it correctly, that a manager who gives you a good, big line of
advertising can rely on considerate treatment in the dramatic column of
The Patriot."

"Well, there's no bargain to that effect. That wouldn't be classy for a
big paper like ours," replied the high-if somewhat naive-minded Mr.
Zucker. "Of course, the managers understand that one good turn deserves
another, and I ain't the man to roast a friend that helps me out. I
started the scheme in Boston and doubled the theater revenue of my paper
there in a year."

"I'm immensely interested," confessed Banneker. "But what is your idea
in coming to me about this?"

"Big stuff,