"See here, Mr. Sterne: isn't it a fact that this attack was made because my father doesn't advertise with you?"
The editor twisted uneasily in his chair. "A newspaper's got to look out for its own interests," he asserted defensively.
"Please answer my question."
"Well—yes; I suppose it is so."
"Then you're simply operating a blackmailing scheme to get the Certina advertising for the 'Clarion.'"
"The Certina advertising?" repeated Sterne in obvious surprise.
"Certina doesn't advertise locally. Most patent medicines don't. It's a sort of fashion of the trade not to," explained Ellis.
"What on earth is all this about, then?"
The two newspaper men exchanged a glance. Obviously the new boss understood little of his progenitor's extensive business interests. "Might as well know sooner as later," decided Ellis, aloud. "It's the Neverfail Company of Cincinnati that we got turned down on."
"What is the Neverfail Company?"