ins,
who seemed to know what he was talking about, at once expressed his
conviction that they might safely proceed to the business which had
brought them together.

"Perceiving clearly that I represent a minority view," said Mr. Hickok,
"I request the director who nominated Mr. Queed to withdraw his name. I
think it proper that our action should be unanimous. But I will say,
frankly, that if Mr. Queed's name remains before the board, I shall vote
for him, since I consider him from every point of view the man for the
position."

Mr. Queed's name having been duly withdrawn, the directors unanimously
elected Charles Gardiner West to the editorship of the _Post_. By a
special resolution introduced by Mr. Hopkins, they thanked Mr. Queed for
his able conduct of the editorial page in the absence of the editor, and
voted him an increased honorarium of eighteen hundred dollars a year.

The directors adjourned, and Mr. Hickok stalked out, looking more like
James E. Winter than ever. The other directors, however, looked highly
gratified at themselves. They went out heartily congratulating each
other. By clever work they had secured for their paper the services of
one of the ablest, most gifted, most polished and popular young men in
the State. Nevertheless, though they never knew it, their action was
decidedly displeasing to at least one faithful reader of the _Post_, to
wit, Miss Charlotte Lee Weyland, of the Department of Charities. Sharlee
felt strongly that Mr. Queed should have had the editorship, then and
there. It might be said that she had trained him up for exactly that
position. Of course, Mr. West, her very good friend, would make an
editor of the first order. But, with all the flocks that roamed upon his
horizon, ought he to have reached out and plucked the one ewe lamb of
the poor assistant? Besides, she thought that Mr. West ought to have
remained at Blaines College.

But how could she maintain this attitude of criticism when the new
editor himself, bursting in upon her little parlor in a golden nimbus of
optimism, radiant good humor and success, showed up the shallowness and
the injustice of it?

"To have that college off my neck--Whew! I'm as happy, my friend, as a
schoolboy on the first day of vacation. I haven't talked much about it
to you," continued Mr. West, "for it's a bore to listen to other
people's troubles--but that college had become a perfect old man of the
sea! The relief is glorious! I'm burstin