ly, he wondered that he had never
learned to pray; not knowing that, in the unfinished phrase he had
uttered true prayer. A chill breeze swept down upon him. Looking up into
the jeweled heavens he recalled from the far distance of memory, the
prayer of a great and simple soul,--

"Make thou my spirit pure and clear
As are the frosty skies."

Hal set out for home, ready now for a few hours' sleep. At a blind
corner he all but collided with a man and a woman, walking at high
speed. The woman half turned, flinging him a quick and silvery
"Good-evening." It was Milly Neal. The man with her was Max Veltman.

CHAPTER XIX

DONNYBROOK

Worthington began to find the "Clarion" amusing. It blared a new note.
Common matter of everyday acceptance which no other paper in town had
ever considered as news, became, when trumpeted from between the rampant
roosters, vital with interest. And whithersoever it directed the public
attention, some highly respectable private privilege winced and snarled.
Worthington did not particularly love the "Clarion" for the enemies it
made. But it read it.

Now, a newspaper makes its enemies overnight. Friends take months or
years in the making. Hence the "Clarion," whilst rapidly broadening its
circle of readers, owed its success to the curiosity rather than to the
confidence which it inspired. Meantime the effect upon its advertising
income was disastrous. If credence could be placed in the lamenting
Shearson, wherever it attacked an abuse, whether by denunciation or
ridicule, it lost an advertiser. Moreover the public, not yet ready to
credit any journal with honest intentions, was inclined to regard the
"Clarion" as "a chronic kicker." The "Banner's" gibing suggestion of a
reversal of the editorial motto between the triumphant birds to read
"With malice toward all," stuck.

But there were compensations. The blatant cocks had occasional
opportunity for crowing. With no small justification did they shrill
their triumph over the Midland & Big Muddy Railroad. The "Mid and Mud"
had declared war upon the "Clarion," following the paper's statement of
the true cause of the Walkersville wreck, as suggested by Marchmont, the
reporter, at the breakfast. Marchmont himself had been banished from
the railroad offices. All sources of regular news were closed to him.
Therefore, backed by the "Clarion," he proceeded to open up a line of
irregular news which stirred the town. For years the "Mid an