It's amazingly clever."
"I'm glad you like it," replied Banneker, pleased but not surprised.
Mr. Gaines's expression became one of limpid innocence. "Like it? Did I
say I liked it?"
"No; you didn't say so."
"No. As a matter of fact I don't like it. Dear me, no! Not at all. Where
did you get the idea?" asked Mr. Gaines abruptly.
"The plot?"
"No; no. Not the plot. The plot is nothing. The idea of choosing such an
environment and doing the story in that way."
"From The New Era Magazine."
"I begin to see. You have been studying the magazine."
"Yes. Since I first had the idea of trying to write for it."
"Flattered, indeed!" said Mr. Gaines dryly. "And you modeled yourself
upon--what?"
"I wrote the type of story which the magazine runs to."
"Pardon me. You did not. You wrote, if you will forgive me, an imitation
of that type. Your story has everything that we strive for except
reality."
"You believe that I have deliberately copied--"
"A type, not a story. No; you are not a plagiarist, Mr. Banneker. But
you are very thoroughly a journalist."
"Coming from you that can hardly be accounted a compliment."
"Nor is it so intended. But I don't wish you to misconstrue me. You are
not a journalist in your style and method; it goes deeper than that.
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