I won't stand for the high and flighty philosophical, and I perceive
you have a tendency that way. Throw in the local color, wads of it,
and a bit of sentiment perhaps, but no slumgullion about political
economy nor social strata or such stuff. Make it concrete, to the
point, with snap and go and life, crisp and crackling and
interesting--tumble?'

"And I tumbled and borrowed a dollar.

"'Don't forget the local color!' he shouted after me through the door.

"And, Anak, it was the local color that did for me.

"The anaemic Cerberus grinned when I took the elevator. 'Got the
bounce, eh?'

"'Nay, pale youth, so lily-white,' I chortled, waving the copy
paper; 'not the bounce, but a detail. I'll be City Editor in three
months, and then I'll make you jump.'

"And as the elevator stopped at the next floor down to take on a
pair of maids, he strolled over to the shaft, and without frills or
verbiage consigned me and my detail to perdition. But I liked him.
He had pluck and was unafraid, and he knew, as well as I, that death
clutched him close."

"But how could you, Leith," I cried, the picture of the consumptive
lad strong before me, "how could you treat him so barbarously?"

Leith laughed dryly. "My dear fellow, how often must I explain to