he foreign cables
and the local fire-brigade items, got exceedingly drunk--a weekly
occurrence--and, for his own safety, was locked up by the intelligent
police. The three reporters, who all hated Pinkham, declined to sub-edit
his cables, and consequently the editor was himself driven to take
refuge in drink. The business manager, however, took his place, and told
Denison that he relied on him to assist with the cables. Denison hinted
at increased emoluments, and the manager promptly threatened to sack him
and all the rest of the literary staff. He would do the cables himself,
he said. He abhorred Denison on account of Susie and the kummerbund.

Just then the Emperor Frederick was dying at San Remo, and cables were
coming through _via_ Sydney.

At one a.m. the business manager came in to Denison and said that they
should try to get along amicably. As both the editor and Mr Pinkham, he
said, were in a disgraceful condition, he relied upon the rest of the
staff to maintain the credit of the _Trumpet-Call_, etc. Then he showed
Denison a cable he had just received, and asked him if he could assist
him to make it out. It ran in this wise:

'London--Emperor Frederick condition very grave. German
physicians hamper Morell Mackenzie, but approve suggestion
operation trache Otomy esophagus without delay.'

Denison said (with secret joy) that he was afraid he couldn't help.
But he believed that there were two world-famous Italian doctors named
Tracchi and Tomy. 'Esophagus' was, he also remarked, no doubt meant for
'sarcophagus'--the Latin name for the gullet. And he suggested to his
enemy that it would be well to rush the cable through as quickly as
possible. The business manager said he should--he merely felt a little
doubt about the proper spelling of the Italian doctors' names, though
he, of course, knew that there was no such word as esophagus. As he went
out Denison smiled like a fiend. His anticipations of an ample revenge
upon the low, sordid creature who had refused him another sovereign a
week were gratified in the morning, for under a large heading he saw
this:--

'THE EMPEROR FREDERICK

'Serious Condition

'_San Remo.-- The Emperor Frederick's condition is causing
grave anxiety. The German physicians in attendance hinder
Morell Mackenzie in every possible way. They, however, agree
to his suggestion to send for the two celebrated Italian
spec