Hoosier group"; "a new Jane
Austen knocks at the door of Fame," etc. He jotted down a list of the
commonest typographical symbols, and warned Phil against an
over-indulgence in changes, as it might prejudice the "Journey's End"
office against her.

"I was about to offer you a job, Phil, but now that you're a high-priced
magazine writer I'm ashamed to do it. Our local has skipped and I'm
almost up against going out to chase a few items myself. You might pull
out that church fair a few joints, or I'll be reduced to shoving in
boiler plate on the first page; which is reprehensible. Kindly humble
yourself and give me some 'Personal and Society,'--some of your highly
interesting family must be doing something or somebody,--dish it up and
don't spare the gravy."

"You haven't heard rumors that the Hastings is to be turned into a
fil-lum show-house, have you?" asked Phil, fishing a lead pencil stub
from her pocket.

"Lord, no! Has our own Hamlet come to that? Write a hot roast of it;
turn the screw on this commercializing of our only theater--this base
betrayal of public confidence by one to whom we all looked for nobler
things. I'm sore at Lawrence anyhow for kicking at our write-up of those
outlaws who strolled through here playing 'She Never Told Her Love.' The
fact is that girl told it in the voice of one who should be bawling
quick orders in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Here's where we taunt Mr.
Hastings with his own lofty idealism. Have all the fun with him you
like; and not a soul shall ever know from me who knocked him."

Phil nibbled her pencil meditatively.

"You've got the wrong number. Lawr_i_nce hasn't found the price yet;
he's only getting estimates; but you'd better coax him to make the
change--bring the drammer closer to the hearts of the people. None of
these cheap fil-lums where a comic dog runs in and upsets the tea-table,
just as the parson is about to say grace, but the world's greatest
artists brought within the reach of all who command the homely nickel.
Do you follow me, O protector of the poor?"

"I see your family pride is stung, Phil. Let it go at that. There's a
cut of Hastings as Romeo that I'm utilizing as a paper-weight, and I'll
run that just to show there's no hard feeling. By the by, Phil, how's
your pa getting on with the traction company?"

"Nothing doing! I'm not as foolish as I am young. And besides I don't
know."

The editor took a turn across the room and rumpled his hair. H