, 1919-01-02
Discharging
The Editor
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
By N BARLowE

Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
II, was the third time within two
lays that Olive Claggett had called. in
the Office of Bennett Stokes. the man
aging editor. aud she was we'll aware
that her resulting feeling OF embar-
-assment was caused by something
more than the fact that she had come
on an errand, the desired result of
which would be most unfavorable to
Bennett Stokes.
The something more" Olive had felt
always when In Benefits presence
from the first day she met him. 1t was
this that made her on all occasions go
out of her way to avoid him.. Tor Olive
Claggett convinced herself that she
had not the slightest desire to fall un-
der the sway of such fascination as
Bennett might exert over her.
Her newly acquired job as business
manager of the Morning Banner was
far too important to be imperiled by
any such distractions. Blu now she
had come entirely in the interests of
the Banner-she had been delegated to
go by those who she felt had the inter-
ests of the Banner most at heart.
She had asked for an interview with
Mr.. Fordyce, the wner of the Banner.
But he was away.
you told me. you know, hat you
would be able to tell me something
definite by this time,r Olive said with
~distinctness, trying to avoid the smile
hat crept into Benefits gray eyes. "If
he is not in own and won't be, I will
find 1t worth while to go to him. You
ought at least to tell me where he is to
be found"
Yes. quite So" unused Bennett, turn
Ing over with a tinge of embarrassment
some manuscript hat lay half read on
his editorial desk. ''That would at least
seem fair-but the fac is that Fordyce
is an odd sort of fellow. Hasn't per-
sonally visited the office for I'm sure i
don't know how long. Suppose you
write a letter to him and I'll see that
1t gets to him."
Stokes had already made this sug-
gestion, which had met with Olives
disapproval. but the matter was impor-
tant. The entire success of the Banner
depended on laying her proposition be-
fore Mr.. Fordyce without delay. so with
an expression that made 1t quite ap-
parent to Bennett that she held him
personally responsible for the nacces-
slbility of their chief she withdrew,
promising to have the letter ready be-
fore the evening was over.
1t was a harder letter to write than
even Olive had anticipated. but as bust
ness manager of a morning paper she
had no pressing duties at that time,
n while the editorial force and COM
positors and pressmen were working
under the grim concentration necessary
to get ven so u~npretentious a paper
out as the Morning Banner. she was
rather deliberately composing the I'm
portant letter.
She waited until the paper was well
In the hands of the composing room
before she again sought Mr.. Stokes in
his Office. She had thought twice be-
fore she had sealed the envelope-and
then she had sealed IL.
After all, there was no reason why
she should leave 1t open. she was ask
ing Stokes no personal favor in seeing
that IL was addressed and II he did
read it-but something assured her
that Mr.. Stokes was too honorable for
Tint.
won't you walt just two or three
miRutes-tilI / get my desk cleared? ~
he said as she turned to leave the
room. 81 wish / might walk home with
you. 1t is rather late
Thank you. no." Olive said in spite
Of II desire that was strong within her.
81 am going with one of the girls-we
are quite used to It. you know"
Bennett waited only till Olive had
got halfway down the corridor: then
he arose quietly. pushed the door smut,
returned to his desk and dellberate-
ly broke open the sealed flap of the
letter to Mr.. Fordyce.
The proposition was clearly put. 1t
was not Olives proposition. but one
that had been formulated by the entire
STAFF Of the Banner. save. of course.
Mr.. Stokes. who had always failed to
attend the weekly meetings of the per-
sonnet Of the paper. Now. as every one
knew. the Morning Banner had been
especially hard hit by the draft.
Composed as 1t was almost entirely
of young college graduates. who sought
this way to receive their newspaper ap-
premiership. a dozen or SO Of the most
active men In editorial and business
departments had gone Off with the first
call. Results would have been dire In
deed had II not been for the women
who pIuckiIy filled In the places higher
up. calling other women to take their
recently abandoned subordinate places.
Olive herself had been rIght.hand
man" TO the business manager. but
when he enlisted she shifted into his
swivel chair sand had worked with
eagerness and. complete devotion for
the Rnnuar Tho adiforInl atnff Ind