"How long do you think I'd be allowed to run my paper without interference if I did?"
"Oh, I never thought of that."
"Well, remember next time. I can't use this story either. But don't let it discourage you. It's well done; a lead sentence and everything. How do you get all this information?"
The man grinned. "I hear things. And what I don't hear, my wife does. She has women friends who get together for games of backgammon, and they talk."
"It's too bad I don't dare run a gossip column," said Padway. "But you would seem to have the makings of a newspaper man. What's your name?"
"George Menandrus."
"That's Greek, isn't it?"
"My parents were Greek; I am Roman."
"All right, George, keep in touch with me. Some day I may want to hire an assistant to help run the thing."
Padway confidently visited the tanner to place another order for vellum.