having worked
beside him more than once, ventured to say that he appreciated his
valuable qualities better than any other director. If the Colonel had
but lived a year or two longer, there could not, in his opinion, be the
smallest question as to what step the honorable directors should now
take. But as it was, Mr. West, as Mr. Queed's original sponsor on the
_Post_, felt it his duty to call attention to two things. The first was
the young man's extreme youth. The second was the fact that he was a
stranger to the State, having lived there less than two years. At his
present rate of progress, it was of course patent to any observer that
he was a potential editor of the _Post_, and a great one. But might it
not be, on the whole, desirable--Mr. West merely suggested the idea in
the most tentative way, and wholly out of his sense of sponsorship for
Mr. Queed--to give him a little longer chance to grow and broaden and
learn, before throwing the highest responsibility and the final honors
upon him?

Mr. West's graceful and sensible remarks made a distinct impression upon
the directors, and Mr. Hopkins took occasion to say that it was
precisely such thoughts as these that had led him to suggest looking
abroad for a man. Mr. Shorter and Mr. Porter asserted that they would
deprecate doing anything that Mr. West, with his closer knowledge of
actual conditions, thought premature. Mr. Boggs admitted that the
ability to write editorials of the first order was not all that should
be required of the editor of the _Post_. It might be doubtful, thought
he, whether so young a man could represent the _Post_ properly on
occasions of a semi-public nature, or in emergency situations such as
occasionally arose in an editorial office.

Mr. Wilmerding inquired the young man's age, and upon being told that he
was under twenty-six, remarked that only very exceptional abilities
could counteract such youth as that.

"That," said Mr. Hickok, glancing cursorily at Charles Gardiner West,
"is exactly the sort of abilities Mr. Queed possesses."

Discussion flagged. The chairman asked if they were ready for a vote
upon Mr. Queed.

"No, no--let's take our time," said Mr. Wilmerding.

"Perhaps somebody has other nominations to offer."

No one seemed to have other nominations to offer. Some minutes were
consumed by random suggestions and unprogressive recommendations. Busy
directors began to look at their watches.

"Look here, Gard--I mean Mr. We