Penny’s anger subsided, to be replaced by a cool determination that Harley Schirr should not remain in charge of the Star another hour.
“I meant just what I said,” she told him quietly. “Please go.”
Schirr smiled grimly. Seating himself at the desk, his eyes challenged hers.
“I remain as editor here,” he announced. “If you wish to contest my right, take your case to court. In the meantime, keep out of my private office.”
CHAPTER
10
TALE OF A GHOST
Beaten and close to tears, Penny stumbled out of Harley Schirr’s office. As she paused just beyond the closed door, every eye in the newsroom focused upon her. Salt Sommers, camera box slung over his shoulder, went over and spoke to her.
“Penny, we all heard that row. If you say the word, we’ll walk out of here in a body.”
Penny smiled, touched by the expression of loyalty. “That would do no good,” she replied. “Thanks just the same.”
“We’re through taking orders from Schirr!” Salt went on. “He always has been a pain in the neck, and now that he has authority, there’s no holding him down. How about it, boys?”
A chorus of approval greeted his words. One of the reporters picked up a paper weight and would have hurled it against the closed door, had not another restrained him.