ough the actuality of the quarantine fell far
short of the expectant fears, still there was a mighty turmoil. Families
were separated, fugitives were chased down and arrested, and close upon
the heels of the primary harassment came the threat of economic
complications, as factories and stores all over the city, for their own
protection, dismissed employees known to live within the near range of
the pestilence. In the minds of the sufferers from these measures and of
their friends, the "Clarion" was an enemy to the public. But it was read
with avid impatience, for Wayne, working on the principle that "it is
news and not evil that stirs men," contrived to find some new
sensational development for every issue. Do what the rival papers might,
the "Clarion" had and held the windward course.

Representative Business, that Great Mogul of Worthington, was, of
course, outraged by the publication. Hal Surtaine was an ill bird who
had fouled his own nest. The wires had carried the epidemic news to
every paper in the country, and Worthington was proclaimed "unclean" to
the ears of all. The Old Home Week Committee on Arrangements held a
hasty meeting to decide whether the celebration should be abandoned or
postponed, but could come to no conclusion. Denunciation of the
"Clarion" for its course was the sole point upon which all the speakers
agreed. Also there was considerable incidental criticism of its editor,
as an ingrate, for publishing the article on Milly Neal's death which
reflected so severely upon Dr. Surtaine. As the paper had been bought
with Dr. Surtaine's hard cash, the least Hal could have done, in
decency, was to refrain from "roasting" the source of the money. Such
was the general opinion. The representative business intellect of
Worthington failed to consider that the article had been confined
rigidly to a statement of facts, and that any moral or ethical inference
must be purely a derivative of those facts as interpreted by the reader.
Several of those present at the meeting declared vehemently that they
would never again either advertise in or read the "Clarion." There was
even talk of a boycott. One member was so incautious as to condole with
Dr. Surtaine upon his son's disloyalty. The old quack's regard fell upon
his tactless comforter, dull and heavy as lead.

"My son is my son," said he; "and what's between us is our own business.
Now, as to Old Home Week, it'll be time enough to give up when we're
licked." An