hat was expected of us; but if we tried that way of
doing things now, we'd have to shut up shop in a week. When we need
news nowadays we simply make it. I don't mean that we invent news--that
doesn't pay in the long run; people learn your game and you lose in the
end. No, I mean that we create the events that make the news. We were
running short of news last year, that's the whole truth of it; and so
we got up this war. It's been a complete success. We've quadrupled our
circulation, and it's doubling every month. We're well ahead of the
other papers because it's known as our war, and of course we are
expected to know more about it than anybody else."

"But I thought the war was to free the oppressed Cubapinos--an outburst
of popular sympathy with the downtrodden sufferers from Castalian
misrule," interposed Sam, flushing. "That's the reason why I applied
for a commission, and I am ready to pour out my last drop of blood for
my country."

"Of course you are, my dear captain; of course you are. And your ideas
of the cause of the war, as a military man, are quite correct. Indeed,
if you will read my editorial of yesterday you will see the same ideas
developed at some length."

He pressed an electric button on his desk, and a clerk entered.

"Get me a copy of yesterday's paper."

In a moment it was brought; the editor opened it, marked an article
with a dash of his blue pencil, and handed it to Sam.

"There," said he, "put that in your pocket and read it. I am sure that
you will agree with every word of it. Your understanding of the
situation does great credit to your insight. That is, if I may use the
term, the esoteric side of the question. It is only on the external and
material side that it is really a _Daily Lyre's_ war. There's really
no contradiction, none at all, as you see."

"Oh! none at all," said Sam, with a sigh of relief. "I never quite
understood it before, and you make it all so clear!"

"Now you will be prepared by what I have said to comprehend that it's
just in this line of creating the news beforehand that we want to make
use of you, and at the same time it will be the making of you, do you
see?"

"Not quite," said Sam. "How do you mean?"

"Why, we understand that you're a most promising military man and that
you intend to distinguish yourself. Suppose you do, what good will it
do, if nobody ever hears of it? Doesn't your idea of heroism include a
certai