“This is—you—you are going out of your way to be offensive,” accused the scandalized visitor.
“Not going out of my way at all. I’m sitting tight. You might have noticed that yourself.”
“Mr. Clark—that is to say, the Public Utilities Corporation has been a good friend to The Guardian.”
“It’s been reciprocated in the past,” returned Jeremy dryly.
“In the past? Am I to understand that the attitude of The Guardian toward the Corporation has changed?”
“If Mr. Wymett was accustomed to run around whenever Mr. Clark chose to push a button, it has. Them good old days,” said Jeremy enjoyably, “is gone forever.”
“Mr. Wymett returned courtesy for courtesies.”
“So shall I. When I receive the courtesies.”
“The advertising patronage—”
“Don’t talk to me about advertising,” broke in the editor. “The few dollars that your concern pays into our cash drawer don’t entitle Mr. Clark to regard this paper as his errand boy.”