Messrs. Asher, Waterman, and the Rev. Philpotts proved to have been due to a grea

a long-nursed resentment. Five brows were corrugated with wrathful lines. Such, however, was the simple majesty of Psmith's demeanour that for a moment there was dead silence. Not a word was spoken as he paced, wrapped in though

ooked up and started. H

bserved!" h

stantly, the five visitors bu

cting editor o

ave a word w

dsor, I

don

a few moments

ntleman who said "Pardon me!" necessari

and fixed him with a benevole

sir, may I ask?" inq

paused fo

id Psmith with

who ar

m Ps

was a

is Mr.

t forty cents' worth of lunch

ill he

much anon I fea

s looked at

an who had said "Pardon me!" "I came for t

in the rest. "Sam

owed cou

is my gain. Is there any

editorial staf

"Sometimes the cry goes round, 'Can Psmith get through it all? Will his st

his means?" said a small round gentlem

it shall be done, Comrade--I hav

m here on behalf of my wife, w

said Psmith, "but I should

ished it, and replaced it in his eye. He felt that he must run no risk of not seeing clearly the

to Psmith, "has received this extraordinary communication from a man sig

reading t

onably clear t

rk has given every satisfaction to Mr. Wilberfloss. And now, without the slightest warning, c

at was what they all wanted to know: Who

an with pale blue eyes and a melancholy face. "I have contributed 'Moment

said Psmith. "I may be wrong, but yours seems to

s frosty face thawe

lly wishes to hurry on its decease. It is these strange contradictions, these clashin

lurked almost unseen behind a stout person in a se

xcept when I had the mumps, for four years, and I've reason to know that my page was as widely read and appreciated as any i

's tragedies,"

want to know. And that's what these

ssing--?" s

enderson Asher. I writ

nd might wear when confronted with some great national monument. That he should be privileged

said reverently, "ma

ed his hand with

smith, shaking it, "have frequent

eated

s, as you will readily admit when you have heard all, are pecul

ow!" exclaime

ned this journal, Mr. Wilberfloss, by his doctor's orders, started out on a holiday, leaving no address. No letters were to be forwarded. He was to enjoy complete rest. Where is he now? Who shall say? Possibly legging it down some rugged slo

the audience. Finally the Rev. Edwin

Mr. White?

was well

Benjamin White?"

shook h

. I cannot

's consterna

r. Asher, "that this fellow Windsor's

th b

ss to sway him. Suggestions from myself as to the conduct of the paper would infuriate him. He believes that radical changes are necessary in the programme of _Cosy Moments_, and he means to put them through if it snow

such a thing," said M

th s

my guiding rule in life. It is unusual for the substitute-editor of a weekly paper to do a Captain Kidd act and take entire command of the journal on his own account; but is it impossible?

o be done?" cr

when Comrade Wilberfloss, having dodged the bears and eluded the wild cat, returns to his post at the helm of thi

wee

t. You may rely on me to keep a watchful eye upon your interests. When your thoughts tend to take a

like to see this W. Wi

shook h

e you to question the wisdom of his plans, there is no knowing what might not happen. He would be the first to regret any violent action, whe

no, he thought

can wait,

ed, rising, "I wonder if a bit of lunch somewhere might not be a good thing? We have had an interesti

d bonhomie of a seigneur of the old school, was ordering the wine; while B. Henderson Asher, brimming over with good-humou