“You could get rid of Lena.”
“Why, Dad! After her noble work tonight!”
“No, I suppose not,” sighed Mr. Parker. “You’ve earned an increase, and I may as well grant it.”
“Retroactive to the time I started working on the story,” added Penny. “I figure if you pay back allowance, I’ll be solvent once more!”
“You drive a hard bargain,” chuckled the publisher. “But I’ll agree.”
Arm in arm, they started on down the street. Rounding a corner of the Star building they abruptly paused before the plate-glass window to watch a long, unbroken sheet of white paper feed through the thundering press. Freshly inked newspapers, cut and folded, slid out one upon the other to be borne away for distribution.
“It’s modern magic, isn’t it, Dad?” Penny said reflectively as the great machine pounded in steady rhythm.
“Yes, Penny,” her father agreed. “And for this edition, at least, you were the master magician!”
THE END