The labor standard., 1919-03-01
Discharging The Editor
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& A AxC I@O1xlo1 X al ga<D s 68 By UNA BARLoWE N &seessssssssssssssssssssss Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
 Syndicate.)
 It was the third time within two days that Olive Claggett had called in the office of Bennett Stokes, the man. aging editor, and she was well aware that her resulting feeling, of embar- rassment 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 Bennett's presence from the first day she met him. It was this that made her on all occasions go out of her way to avoid him. For Olive CIaggett 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 SNy yucA distractions. But 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 MT. Fordyce, the owner of the Banner. But he was away.
 'You told me, you know. that you would be able to tell me something definite by this time," Olive said with distinctness, trying to avoid the smile that crept into Bennett's gray eyes eff he is not in town and won't be, I will find it worth while to go to him. You ought at least to tell me where he is to be found"
 'IYes, quite so,N unused Bennett. turn ing over with tinge of embarrassment some uaanuscript that lay half read on his editorial desk. -"That would at least seem fair-but the fact 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 it gets to him."
 Stokes had already made this sug- gestion, which had met with Olives disapproval, but the matter was irnpor- tant. The entire success of the Banner depended on laying her proposition be fore MT. Fordyce without delay, so with an expression that made it quite ap- parent to Bennett that she held him personally responsible for the inacces- sibility of their chief she withdrew, promising to have the letter ready be- fore the evening was over.
 It was a harder letter to write than even Olive had anticipated, but as busi- ness manager of a morning paper she had no pressing duties ~at that time, and while the editorial force and com positors and pressnep were working under the grim concentration necessary to get even so unpretenti0us paper out as the Morning Banner, she was rather deliberately composing the inn portant letter.
 Ii She waited until the paper was we'll In the hands of the composing room before she again sought MT. Stokes in his office. She had thought twice be-. fore she had sealed the envelope and then she had sealed it.
 After all, there was no reason why she should leave 1t open, she was ask ing Stokes no personal favor in seeing that it was addressed and if he did read it--but something assured her that Mir, Stokes was too honorable for that.
 Wont you wait just two or three minutes till get my desk cleared" he said as she turned to leave the room. T wish might walk home with you. It is rather late"
 saThank you, mo-" Olive said in spite of desire that was strong within her. .sI 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 shut, returned to his desk and deliberate ly broke open the sealed flap of the letter to MT. Fordyce.
 The proposition was clearly put. It was not Olives proposition, but one that had been formulated by the entire staff of the Banner, save, of course, MT. Stokes. who had always failed to attend the weekly meetings of the per sOnnel of the paper Now, as every one knew, the Morning Banner had been especially hard hit by the draft.
 Composed as it was almost entirely of young college graduates, who sought this way to receive their newspaper ap- premiership, 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 it not been for the women who pluckily 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 and had worked with eagerness and complete devotion for the Banner. The editorial staff had