River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-06-03

us by leaving tie 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
ficulty.
1.-The directors Of the Courier Pub
fishing company"
WHO are these directors" asked
Reginald. II am a part owner of this
paper, and I 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
person as you is not fit to be editor of
the Courier You will oblige me by
leaving this office at once or I 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 as 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 q 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
afternoon, but youl 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.
| 81 will admit the circulation of the
! paper dropped a thousand or so in the
/ past few weeks said Reginald in a
| perplcXed tone, but that was the re-
! suit of 4 lack of confidence in us as
| genuine friends of reform. The edition
| of today has convinced the most skepti-
cal that the Courier will represent the
people. and | look for an immediate
rise in the number of papers printed.
l was going TO order 1000 extra copies
! struck off for tomorrow
Mr.. Graham listened impatiently I'M
! Ill Reginald had ceased and responded
| quickly. I'VE don't want you as our
editor a day longer if the circulation
| ucreased at once 10000 a day"
In 4 moment the whole situation be
came plain to Reginald. The Courier
had been purchased by the enemies of
reform. His position as editor had
been given him in order to blind the
! people to the fact that henceforth the
Courier was to be in the hands of these
| enemies.
Reginald Nelson felt his strength re-
turning He met the look of the law
yer fearlessly.
Let me show you something" then
went on Mr. Graham sneeringly. He
led the way out of the Office into the
printing room. Two or three men We're
already at work, and one of them was
fixing one of the forms of the paper for
| the next day.
Give Mr.. Nelson a proof of that ar
ticle which / wrote ordered Mr.. Ora
/ ham.
The workman fastened to obey. the
] lawyer being recognized as the owner
of the plant. In a few minutes q