The Spectator., 1916-05-12
job. To my mind he found out what

Come, doctor, suppose you and l go down to Daly's for a little turn at billiards?"
 Nothing would suit me better" All aboard, then! Goodnight, Olga. Keep your hair on; l mean your own hair We're going to win out, don't you worry. In all games the min ute you begin to doubt you begin to | lose"
 That same night Norton sat at his desk, in his shirt sleeves, pounding away at his typewriter. From time to time he paused and teetered his chair and ecowled over his pipe at the starlit night outside. Bang would | go his chair again, and clickity-click | would sing the keys of the machine, | The story he was writing was in the | great ocean liner with some political notables who were not adverse to de- nouncing the present administration. You will have noticed. no doubt, that some disgruntled politician is always | denouncing the present administra- tion, it matters not if it be Republican | or Democratic. When you are out of good job you are always prone to denounce. The yarn bored Norton because his thoughts were miles southward.
 He completed his story, yanked out the final sheet, called for copy boy, rose and sauntered over to the man. aging editors door, before which he paused indecisively. The "old man" l had been after him lately regarding the Hargreave story, and he doubted if his errand would prove successful. and walked in. 'Humph!" said the "old man." twist ing his cigar into the corner of his mouth. Got that story?' Norton sat down. "Yes, but l have not got it for print yet Mir. Blair, when you gave me the Hargreave job | you gave me carte blanche"
 T did, grimly. But, on the other hand, l did not give you ten years to clear it up in"
 Have I ever fallen down on a good story" quietly M, cant remember" grudgingly.
 Well if you'll have patience I'll not fall down on this one. It's the greatest criminal story l ever handled. but it's so big that it's going to take time"
 | Gimme an outline" | | grimness equal to the "old mans. If line of this story trickles out 1t will mean that every other paper will | be moving around. and in the end will discover enough to spoil my end of it. I'll tell you this much: The most colossal band of thieves this country ever saw is at one end of the stick. And when l say that counter feiting and politics and millions are involved. you'll understand how big it is. This gang has city protection. We are running them all into cor that none of them can wriggle out of | it."
 | "Umhm. Go on.''
 T want two months more"
 The old man" beat tattoo with his fat pencil. Sixty days, then And if the yarn isn't on my desk at mid night, you
 Hunt for another job. All light. l came in to ask for three days leave"
 You're your own boss, Jim, for sixty | days more Whadda y mean counter feiting?"
 Those new tens and twenties If stumble on that right, why. can turn it over without conflicting with the other story"
 Well, go to it."
 I'm turning in my regular work, day in and day out, and while doing it I've gone through more hairbreadth escapes than you ever heard of. They have been after me. I've lodged fall ing safes; I've been shanghaied, poi soned; but l haven't said a word.' Good Lord. Do you mean all that?"
 | Every word, sir"
 "I'll make it ninety days, Jim; and If this story comes in I'll see that you get a corking bonus"
 I'm not looking for bonuses. I'm proud of my work. To get this story is all I want. Thatll be enough. Thanks for the extension in time. Goodnight"
 So Florence received long night letter in the morning. l And the doctor arrived at about the same time. And called promptly upon his patient. | "Fine," he said. The sea air was | just the thing. A doctor always likes to find his advice turning out we'll" He glanced quizzically at Florence. who was the picture of glowing health. Suddenly he frowned anxiously. | You need not look at mo-" she laughed Il never felt better in all my life"
 Are you sure?" he asked gravely.