but contented himself with saying

"No," put in the veteran; "I traced him down through some popular scientific stuff in the Boston Sunday Star." "Fake, all of it," proffered Severance. "Otherwise it wouldn't be popular." "Is that your creed of journalism?" asked Banneker curiously. "Largely." "Why come to The Patriot, then? It isn't ours." Severance raised his fine eyebrows, but contented himself with saying: "Isn't it? However, I didn't come. I was brought." He indicated Edmonds. "He gave me more ideas on news-dressing," said the veteran, "than I'd pick up in a century on the Row." "Ideas are what we're after. Where do you get yours, Mr. Severance, since you are not a practical newspaper man?" "From talking with people, and seeing what the newspapers fail to do." "Where were you before you went on Guidance?" "Instructor at Harvard." "And you practiced your--er--specified profession there, too?" "Oh, no. I was partly respectable then. "Why did you leave?" "Drink." "Ah? You don't build up much of a character for yourself as prospective employee." "If I join The Patriot staff I shall probably disappear once a month or so on a spree." "Why should you join The Patriot staff? That is what you fail to make clear to me." "Reference, Mr. Russell Edmonds," returned the other negligently.