But McGuire Ellis went red. "It's easy enough for you to sit there and be righteous," he said. "But get this straight. If the young Boss plays straight and tells 'em all to go to hell, it'll be a close call of life or death for the paper."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Easy going. Advertising'll roll in on us. Money'll come so fast we can't dodge it. Are you so blame sure what you'd do in those conditions?"
"Mac," said the brusque physician, for the first time using the familiar name: "between man and man, now: what about the boy?"
From the ancient loyalty of his race sprang McGuire Ellis's swift word, "My hand in the fire for any that loves him."
"But—stanch, do you think?" persisted the other.
"I hope it."
"Well, I wish it was you owned the 'Clarion.'"
"Do you, now? I don't. How do I know what I'd do?"
"Human lives, Mac: human lives, on this issue."