ne page and a crook on another? Can
you bang the big drum of righteousness in one column and promise falsely
in the next to commit murder? Ellis, why does the 'Clarion' carry such
stuff as that?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Well, you're asking me to help your sheet," the ex-surgeon reminded
him.

"Because Dr. L. Andre Surtaine _is_ the Neverfail Company."

"Oh," said the other. "And I suppose Dr. L. Andre Surtaine _is_ the
'Clarion,' also. Well, I don't choose to be associated with that
honorable and high-minded polecat, thank you."

"Don't be too sure about the 'Clarion.' Harrington Surtaine isn't his
father."

"The same rotten breed."

"Plus another strain. Where it comes from I don't know, but there's
something in the boy that may work out to big ends."

Dr. Miles Elliot was an abrupt sort of person, as men of independent
lives and thought are prone to be. "Look here, Ellis," he said: "are you
trying to be honest, yourself? Now, don't answer till you've counted
three."

"One--two--three," said McGuire Ellis solemnly. "I'm honestly trying to
put the 'Clarion' on the level. That's what you really want to know, I
suppose."

"Against all the weight of influence of Dr. Surtaine?"

"Bless you; he doesn't half realize he's a crook. Thinks he's a pretty
fine sort of chap. The worst of it is, he _is_, too, in some ways."

"Good to his family, I suppose, in the intervals of distributing poison
and lies."

"He's all wrapped up in the boy. Which is going to make it all the
harder."

"Make what all the harder?"

"Prying 'em apart."

"Have you set yourself that little job?"

"Since we're speaking out in meeting, I have."

"Good. Why are you speaking out in meeting to me, particularly?"

"On the theory that you may have reason for being interested in Mr.
Harrington Surtaine."

"Don't know him."

"Your niece does."

"Just how does that concern this discussion?"

"What business is it of mine, you mean. Well, Dr. Elliot, I'm pretty
much interested in trying to make a real newspaper out of the 'Clarion.'
My notion of a real newspaper is a decent, clean newspaper. If I can get
my young boss to back me up, we'll have a try at my theory. To do this,
I'll use any fair means. And if Miss Elliot's influence is going to be
on my side, I'm glad to play it off against Dr. Surtaine's."

"Look here, Ellis, I don't like this association of my niece's name with
young Surtaine."

"All right. I'll drop it, if