“And haven’t I told you,” returned the girl promptly, “that the only thing new in this world is good? Our news is going to be good news––the collection and dissemination of good to all mankind. People who read our paper will no longer feel 91 that it is dangerous to be alive, but a glorious privilege. I am simply laying out our program. And Mr. Hitt said I could go the limit, you know.”
Hitt had caught the girl’s infectious enthusiasm, and his face was beaming.
“That’s it!” he exclaimed. “It’s your unlimited thought, Carmen, that we old dry-bones want! I understand you!”
“Of course you do!” she cried. “And so does dear old protesting Ned. Why, what is money? What is anything in this life, compared with real service to our fellow-men? The Express is not in business to make money! It is in the business of collecting and scattering the news of good. Its dividends will be the happiness and joy it gives to mankind. Will it fail? It simply can’t! For good is the greatest success there is!”
It is likely that Hitt did not catch the full meaning of the girl’s words; and it is certain that Haynerd did not. But her boundless enthusiasm did penetrate in large degree into their souls, and they ceased to insist on the query, Will it pay? The broader outlook was already beginning to return profits to these men, as the newer definition of ‘news’ occupied their thought. Fear and doubt fled. Seizing their hats, they bade Carmen go with them to inspect the plant of the Express, and meet its staff.
“There’s a question I’d like to ask,” said Haynerd, as they pursued their way toward their recent purchase. “I want to know what our editorial policy will be. Do we condone the offenses of our grafters and spoilsmen by remaining silent regarding their crimes? Or do we expose them?”
“We will let their guilt expose and kill itself,” quickly returned Carmen. “How? Well, you will see.”
A few minutes later they entered the gloomy, dust-laden offices of the Express. Hitt’s spirits sank again as he looked about him. But Carmen seemed to suffer no loss of enthusiasm. After a mental appraisal of the dingy, uninviting environment she exclaimed: “Well, one nice thing about this is that we don’t have much to start with!”
Hitt reflected upon her cryptical remark, and then laughed.
Carlson joined them at this juncture. It was evident that the sale of his plant had removed a heavy load from his shoulders.