Enderby is the brains and character back of the Laird
administration. He represents the clean government crowd, with its
financial power."
Banneker stirred fretfully in his chair. "Damn it!" he growled. "I wish
we could run this paper _as_ a newspaper and not as a chestnut rake."
"How sweet and simple life would be!" mocked the veteran. "Still, you
know, if you're going to use The Patriot as a blunderbuss to point at
the heads of your own enemies, you can't blame the owner if he--"
"You think Marrineal knows?" interposed Banneker sharply.
"About The Searchlight matter? You can bet on one thing, Ban. Everything
that Ely Ives knows, Tertius Marrineal knows. So far as Ives thinks it
advisable for him to know, that is. Over and above which Tertius is no
fool, himself. You may have noticed that."
"It's bothered me from time to time," admitted the other dryly.
"It'll bother both of us more, presently," prophesied Edmonds.
"Then I've been playing direct into Marrineal's hands in attacking Laird
on the franchise matter."
"Yes. Keep on."
"Strange advice from you, Pop. You think my position on that is wrong."
"What of that? You think it's right. Therefore, go ahead. Why quit a
line of policy just because it obliges your employes? Don't be
over-conscientious, son.
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