"I did. To save you the satisfaction."

"Very good of you, I'm sure," drawled Hal in a tone of lofty
superiority, turning away. Out of the corner of his eye, however, he
could see McGuire Ellis making pantomime as of one spanking a baby with
fervor. Amusement helped him to the recovery of his temper.

"Working under an amateur journalist will just suit Sterne," observed
Ellis, in a tone quite as offensive as Hal's.

"Cut it out, Mac," suggested his principal. "There's no occasion for
hard words."

"Amateur isn't the hardest word in the dictionary," said Hal quietly.
"Perhaps I'll become a professional in time."

"Buying a newspaper doesn't make a newspaper man."

"Well, I'm not too old to learn. But see here, Mr. Ellis, doesn't your
contract hold you?"

"The contract that you said was no good? Do you expect it to work all
one way?"

"Well, professional honor, then, I should suppose--"

"Professional honor!" cut in Ellis, with scathing contempt. "You step
in here and buy a paper out of a freak of revenge--"

"Hold on, there! How can you know my motive?"