"Have you had any newspaper experience, Mr. Surtaine?" inquired Sterne.

"Not on the practical side."

"As owner I suppose you'll want to make changes."

"Undoubtedly."

"They all do," sighed Sterne. "But my contract has several months--"
"Yes: I've been over the contracts with a lawyer. Yours and Mr.
Ellis's. He says they won't hold."

"All newspaper contracts are on the cheese," observed McGuire Ellis
philosophically. "Swiss cheese, at that. Full of holes."

"I don't admit it," protested Sterne. "Even so, to turn a man out--"

A snort of disgust from Ellis interrupted the plea. The glare with which
that employee favored his boss fairly convicted the seamed and graying
editor of willful and captious immaturity.

"Contract or no contract, you'll both be fairly treated," said the new
owner shortly.

"Who, me?" inquired Ellis. "You can go rapidly to hell and take my
contract with you. I know when I'm fired."

"Who fired you?"