"But why?"
"E.M. Pierce's orders. He and his crowd."
"Even the 'Clarion,' which is supposed to have labor sympathies?"
"The 'Clarion'!" There was a profundity of contempt in Veltman's voice; and a deeper bitterness when he snapped his teeth upon a word which sounded to Hal suspiciously like the Biblical characterization of an undesirable citizeness of Babylon.
"In any case, they won't give the 'Clarion' any more orders."
"Oh, yes, they will," said Veltman stolidly.
"Then they'll learn something distinctly to their disadvantage."
The splendid, animal-like eyes of the compositor gleamed suddenly. "Do you mean you're going to run the paper honestly?"
Hal almost recoiled before the impassioned and incredulous surprise in the question.
"What is 'honestly'?"