“It won’t take much time,” Tom assured her, “and since Marg Stevens is vice president of the juniors Helen can turn a lot of the work over to her.”
They were still at the dinner table when a heavy knock at the front door startled them. Tom answered the summons and they heard him talking with someone with an exceedingly harsh voice. When Tom returned he was accompanied by a stranger.
“Mother,” he said, “this is Mr. Atwell, editor of the Auburn Advocate.”
Mrs. Blair acknowledged the introduction and Tom introduced the visiting editor to Helen. Mr. Atwell sat down heavily in a chair Tom offered.
“I suppose you know why I’m here?” he asked.
“I’m afraid not,” replied Mrs. Blair.
“It’s about the Herald and the circulation tactics of these young whipper-snappers of yours. I hear they’re trying to take the county printing away from me and become one of the official papers of the county.”
“Who informed you of that?” asked Helen, who had taken an instant dislike to the pudgy visitor whose flabby cheeks were covered with a heavy stubble of whiskers.
“Folks have been talking,” he replied.
“When you want information like that you’d better come to those concerned,” retorted the energetic young editor of the Herald.