“He’ll knife Laird.”
“It’s true Laird hasn’t treated us very well, in the matter of backing our policies,” admitted Banneker thoughtfully. “The Combined Street Railway franchise, for instance.”
“He was right in that and you were wrong, Ban. He had to follow the comptroller there.”
“Is that where our split with Enderby is going to come? Over the election?”
“Yes. Enderby is the brains and character back of the Laird administration. He represents the clean government crowd, with its financial power.”
Banneker stirred fretfully in his chair. “Damn it!” he growled. “I wish we could run this paper as a newspaper and not as a chestnut rake.”
“How sweet and simple life would be!” mocked the veteran. “Still, you know, if you’re going to use The Patriot as a blunderbuss to point at the heads of your own enemies, you can’t blame the owner if he—”
“You think Marrineal knows?” interposed Banneker sharply.
“About The Searchlight matter? You can bet on one thing, Ban. Everything that Ely Ives knows, Tertius Marrineal knows. So far as Ives thinks it advisable for him to know, that is. Over and above which Tertius is no fool, himself. You may have noticed that.”
“It’s bothered me from time to time,” admitted the other dryly.