uccess of the Centennial Old Home Week."

"I can't see what good we should be doing," said the new editor.

"It's big news, if it's true," suggested Wayne, rather wistfully.
"Suppression of a real epidemic."

"Ghost-tales and goblin-shine," laughed the big doctor, recovering his
good humor. "Who's the physician down there?"

"Dr. De Vito, an Italian. Nobody else can get into the Rookeries to see
a case. O'Farrell's the agent, and he sees to that."

"Tip O'Farrell, the labor politician? I know him. And I know De Vito
well. In fact, he does part-time work in the Certina plant. I'll tell
you what, Hal. I'll just make a little expert investigation of my own
down there, and report to you."

"The 'Clarion's' Special Commissioner, Dr. L. Andre Surtaine," said
Ellis sonorously.

"No publicity, boys. This is a secret commission. And here's your chance
right now to make the 'Clarion' useful to the committee, Hal, by keeping
all scare-stuff out of the paper."

"If it really does amount to anything, wouldn't it be better," said Hal,
"to establish a quarantine and go in there and stamp the thing out?
We've plenty of time before Old Home Week."

"No; no!" cried the Doctor. "Think of the publicity that would mean. It
would be a year before the fear of it would die out. Every other city
that's jealous of Worthington would make capital of it and thousands of
people whose money we want would be scared away."

Ellis drew Wayne aside. "What does Dr. Merritt really think? Smallpox?"

"No. The place has been too well vaccinated. It might be scarlet fever,
or diphtheria, or even meningitis. Merritt wants to go in there and open
it up, but the Mayor won't let him. He doesn't dare take the
responsibility without any newspaper backing. And none of the other
papers dares tackle the ownership of the Rookeries."

"Then we ought to. A good, rousing sensation of that sort is just what
the paper needs."

"We won't get it. There's too many ropes on the Boy Boss. First the girl
and now the old man."

"Wait and see. He's got good stuff in him and he's being educated every
day. Give him time."

"Mr. Wayne, I'd like to see the health office reports," called Hal, and
the two went out.

Selecting one of his pet cigars, Dr. Surtaine advanced upon McGuire
Ellis, extending it. "Mac, you're a good fellow at bottom," he said
persuasively.

"What's the price," asked Ellis, "of the cigar and the compliment
together? In other words, what do you