"
"How approximately?"
"Well; the basic idea was there. The old fellows gave me that, and I
fitted it up with talk. Surely there's nothing dishonest in that,"
protested Banneker.
"Surely not," agreed the other. "You gave the essence of the thing. That
is a higher veracity than any literal reporting which would be dull and
unreadable. I thought I recognized the fictional quality in the
dialogue."
"But it wasn't fiction," denied Banneker eagerly.
The Great Gaines gave forth one of his oracles. "But it was. Good
dialogue is talk as it should be talked, just as good fiction is life as
it should be lived--logically and consecutively. Why don't you try
something for The New Era?"
"I have."
"When?"
"Before I got your note."
"It never reached me."
"It never reached anybody. It's in my desk, ripening."
"Send it along, green, won't you? It may give more indications that way.
And first work is likely to be valuable chiefly as indication."
"I'll mail it to you. Before I go, would you mind telling me more
definitely why you advise me against the newspaper business?"
"I advise? I never advise as to questions of morals or ethics. I have
too much concern with keeping my own straight."
"Then it _is_ a question of morals?"
"Or ethics.
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