human
You know, I'm to be editor of the college paper next year, and Morse has promised me all summer that when he went away for two weeks' vacation, he'd let me take his place. Well, he went last week and I got out the Courier. It was a good number, too. I don't suppose any of you noticed the difference?
gpt
I remember hearing father say the editorial was especially good,
human
And I heard Mrs. Tracy bewailing the fact when I went in to see her yesterday, that the paper had lost all its spice, and there wasn't a single ridiculous item in it, not even a funny typographical mistake, so I'm sure you ought to feel complimented,
gpt
It's true enough, but that's just where my pickle comes in, said Max gloomily.
human
I didn't tell any one about it, because I wanted to carry it through without any one's knowing. But the reporter has struck, because I blue-pencilled his notes. He says no college boy is going to tamper with his work, and he's just calmly left; and what's worse, his brother has withdrawn an 'ad' which means quite a loss for Morse. I see now why Morse let so many things go by!
gpt
That is a pity! said Catherine sympathetically, while the others declared themselves in stronger terms. Max looked gratified.
human
Now what I want of you girls is to help me gather up news and make the next paper better than any issue has been since that young puppy came on it. And I'll get 'ads' enough to offset the brother's withdrawal, and a new subscription if I have to pay for it myself. I want to leave things in at least as good shape as I found them. Jenkins will come back again as soon as Morse does. He loves to write his wild stuff, and is only willing to stop for a week, because he feels important, acting insulted. Probably thought I'd eat humble pie and raise his salary, too. Why, he had the Ortmeyer-Rawlins wedding fixed out with a scare-head THE WAY OF ALL FLESH! And started it out with a quotation from Shakespeare or somebody about Love looking with the mind, not with the eyes! The bride and all her male relatives would have been down at the office with sticks. She's a pretty girl, you know!
gpt
It would have been worse, if she hadn't been, said Alice.
human
What else did you cut out? It sounds like my pupils' work. I'll help you blue-pencil. It's just my line.
gpt
The other things weren't funny, just poor constructions and general flatness, personals that were too personal, you know, and that sort of thing. But he had a rhapsody on Dawn all worked up that he wanted to run in, this week. It began: 'When I arise at daybreak, a thousand quotations surge into my mind!' The fellow is daft on quoting. He sits with his feet on the desk and reads Bartlett by the hour. Well, I'm rid of him, and I'm looking for substitutes.
human
I'd like nothing better than reporting, said Hannah.
gpt
I'll interview the prominent strangers who come to town and get their views on things. Imagine me strutting around the hotel lobby, getting acquainted!
human
The only prominent stranger in town is Frieda, laughed Max.
gpt
You'll have to get her opinion of American education or the tariff.
human
That's easy. I know all Frieda's opinions. If they are favorable, she gives them out plainly, and if they aren't she keeps still, so it's no work to guess at them. I wish I could do like she does!
gpt
I'll blue-pencil all your reportings, if you use such grammar as 'like she does!'
human
Then I'll get mad and resign as Jenkins did! answered Hannah.
gpt
I guess I know the privileges of a reporter!
human
Do you think you could get the news? asked Max.
gpt
I suppose I could manage alone, but I'd like to have the paper fuller and better than ever, and I thought if you girls would go in, we could have a lark out of it, and not tell the rest.
human
Indeed we can get news! cried Catherine.
gpt
If you let us tell Mother and Father, they can give us news which will be perfectly legitimate, and Hannah and I have some calls to make. Frieda doesn't want to go, and Alice wasn't here when these girls called. They are some of the gossippy kind, and we'll let them talk and report as much as seems fair. And the Three B's meet here this week, and we can make a good society column thing of that.
human
Why not have Algernon give you library notes?
gpt
He does, always, but he would be glad to do something extra, I'm sure, said Max.
human
I don't know but it would be a good plan to take him in on this. He's in a position to gather news easily.
gpt
I don't see how I can help,
human
If you'll tell me something interesting about German schools, said Alice,
gpt
I'll write it up, and that will go in as our contribution. You could make room for it, couldn't you, Mr. Editor?
human
Indeed, I could. I'd be mighty glad to get it. It would be better than filling up with poetry, the way they often do. By the way, I did cut out a poem of the reporter's. I forgot all about that. Wonder where it is,
gpt
That's what made him angry, cried Catherine.
human
Anybody would be angry at that. Was it a very bad poem?