“Kentucky,” answered Buck.
“How long have you been with the Herald?”
“Six months.”
“You are about twenty-one years old?”
“Twenty in the fall.”
“How did you get your job?”
“I worked on the Paducah News-Democrat until I had money enough to get to New York. Then I came here and asked for work. They put me on.”
“Right away?” went on the managing editor with an incredulous smile.
“No, not at once. I think it was after two weeks.” Buck became a little embarrassed and shifted his position. “At first the city editor told me there wasn’t any chance; that he couldn’t even try me out until I’d had some city experience. I told him news was news, whether it was in the ‘tenderloin’ or in Paducah. But he didn’t seem to hear me. Then I found out when the city editor came to work and I showed up at the same time each day for two weeks. He was pleasant enough for a few days. Then he began to look bored. At last he used to scowl at me.”
“Then what?” laughed the editor softly.