The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-09-23

his former city reporter.
! Ned Rowlands laughed sarcasticaIly
In his face and sneerei: You forgot
! Nelson, that you We're not working fol
the public, but that you were working
for the Courier Publishing company
They have no more use for YOU"
''And have no more use for you!
exclaimed Reginald, Selling the Other
by the coat collar. 81 have wanted to
discharge you for a month, and dc
it now. Your place is vacant"
AS he was speaking these words
Reginald marched Ned Gowlands to
the door of his private Office and push,
ed him into the outer room. The GUST.
ed city reporter made no resistance
being alarmed at the excitement of the
other, and he was Fastening away
when he ran square into a gentleman
who was approaching the editorial
sanctum.
Excuse me, sir" said Rowlands,
glancing up and seeing the face Of Mr..
Graham, white with anger.
Come back with me, you coward, -
said the lawyer in a low tone, After
the expulsion of his city reporter Reg
inald had slammed the door and had
just seated himself at his desk to col
lect his thoughts when he heard the
voice of Mr. Graham saying: You are
discharged as editor of the Courier,
Mr.. Nelson. We have no further use
for your services. and you will Oblige
us by leaving the Office at once. We
have appointed Ned Rowlands in your
place."
Reginald Nelson turned and glared at
the intruders.
"Come, come" said the lawyer
sharply. Get out Of here
"Who has discharged me?" asked
Reginald, restraining himself with diff
fculty.
"The directors of the Courier Pub
fishing company"
"Who are these directors?" asked
Reginald. II am a part owner of this
paper, and claim to have some voice
In the management" Reginald Nelson
had paid no attention to the business
management of the newspaper, leaving
that entirely to Mr.. Graham.
Il control a majority of the stock
Of this concern" said Mr.. Graham lofti-
ly, land have decided that such a
person as you is not fit to be editor of
l1n rnt11far VnI1 will oh INV
leaving this Office at once or | shall
be forced to have you expelled by the
officers of the law"
Reginald Nelson slowly began to see
his hopeless position. He had looked
on himself Gs part owner and manager
of his paper. He believed that his
course as an editor would be judged
successful if he could keep his sub
scription lists growing, as newspaper
is saved or damned by this standard in
the commercial world. Reginald felt
that his declining number of readers
was due to the incompetency of his
city reporter, and the consequent loss
of confidence in the Courier by large
numbers of the working people. He
had been assured by the events of the
day that his bold attack on the city
administration and his exposure of the
evils which were tolerated by the Bron
son officials had re-established the
credit of the paper as a genuine friend
of reform. He had an extra large edi
ton of that days paper printed, but
after Allan Rutledge's speech at Bron-
son park the demand for the Courier
was SO great that the edition was soon
exhausted and the young editor had
been congratulated on every hand.
Il thought the Courier had deserted
u.s." an enthusiastic advocate of re-
form had declared to him during the
but your issue of today will
make the Courier the most popular
paper In all Michigan"
Encouraged by the marks of popular
approval on every hand, and deeming
that his position as editor had been as
sured by his Independence day edi-
ton, Reginald Nelson had returned to
the Courier office in high spirits. His
Interview with Ned Rowlands and the
words of Mr.. Graham had almost I'M
manned him. He could not as yet
quite understand the situation.
II will admit the circulation of the
paper dropped thousand or so in the
Dast few weeks" said Reginald in a
tone, "but that was the re-
suit of lack Of confidence in US as
genuine friends of reform. The edition
If today has convinced the most skepti- |
al that the Courier will represent the
people, and | look for an immediate
Use In the number Of papers printed. |
was going to order 1000 extra copies |
struck off for tomorrow
Mr.. Graham listened impatiently I'M
IL Reginald had ceased and responded |
quickly, 1--WE don't want you as our
ditor a day longer If the circulation
increased at once 10000 a day."
In moment the whole situation be-
anne plain TO Reginald. The Courier
ad been purchased by the enemies of
eform. His position as editor had
cen given him in order to blind the
eople to the fact that henceforth the
'ourier was to be in the hands of these
nemieS.
Reginald Nelson felt his strength re-
lrning. He met the look of the law
er fearlessly.
Let me show you something" then