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“Good evening, Patty. Take a chair. That brother of yours hasn’t turned up yet. The next time I give him an assignment, he’ll manage to be on hand in time to do it.”

“Oh,” cried Patty breathlessly, “please, Mr. Harmer, I have the interview here. I thought perhaps I could do it in Clifford’s place, and I went out to Mr. Reid’s and saw Mr. Reefer. He was very kind and–“

“Mr. who?” fairly shouted Mr. Harmer.

“Mr. Reefer–Mr. Andrew Reefer. He told me to tell you that this article contained all he knew or thought about the railroad bill and–“

But Mr. Harmer was no longer listening. He had snatched the neatly written sheets of Patty’s report and was skimming over them with a practised eye. Then Patty thought he must have gone crazy. He danced around the office, waving the sheets in the air, and then he dashed frantically up the stairs to the composing room.

Ten minutes later, he returned and shook the mystified Patty by the hand.

“Patty, it’s the biggest beat we’ve ever had! We’ve scooped not only the Ledger, but every other newspaper in the country. How did you do it? How did you ever beguile or bewitch Andrew Reefer into giving you an interview?”

“Why,” said Patty in utter bewilderment, “I just went out to Mr. Reid’s and asked for the gentleman who was visiting there–I’d forgotten his name–and Mr. Reefer came down and I told him my brother had been detailed to interview him on behalf of the Chronicle about the bill, and that Clifford had missed his train, and wouldn’t he let me interview him in his place and excuse my inexperience–and he did.”

“It wasn’t Andrew Reefer I told Clifford to interview,” laughed Mr. Harmer. “It was John C. Keefe. I didn’t know Reefer was in town, but even if I had I wouldn’t have thought it a particle of use to send a man to him. He has never consented to be interviewed before on any known subject, and he’s been especially close-mouthed about this bill, although men from all the big papers in the country have been after him. He is notorious on that score. Why, Patty, it’s the biggest journalistic fish that has ever been landed in this office. Andrew Reefer’s opinion on the bill will have a tremendous influence. We’ll run the interview as a leader in a special edition that is under way already. Of course, he must have been ready to give the information to the public or nothing would have induced him to open his mouth. But to think that we should be the first to get it! Patty, you’re a brick!”

Clifford came home on the seven o’clock train, and Patty was there to meet him, brimful of her story. But Clifford also had a story to tell and got his word in first.

“Now, Patty, don’t scold until you hear why I missed the train. I met Mr. Peabody of the Steel and Iron Company at Mr. Moreland’s and got into conversation with him. When he found out who I was, he was greatly interested and said Father had been one of his best friends when they were at college together. I told him about wanting to get the position in the company, and he had me go right out to the works and see about it. And, Patty, I have the place. Goodbye to the grind of newspaper items and fillers. I tried to get back to the station at Bancroft in time to catch the train but I couldn’t, and it was just as well, for Mr. Keefe was suddenly summoned home this afternoon, and when the three-thirty train from town stopped at Bancroft he was on it. I found that out and I got on, going to the next station with him and getting my interview after all. It’s here in my notebook, and I must hurry up to the office and hand it in. I suppose Mr. Harmer will be very much vexed until he finds that I have it.”

“Oh, no. Mr. Harmer is in a very good humour,” said Patty with dancing eyes. Then she told her story.

The interview with Mr. Reefer came out with glaring headlines, and the Chronicle had its hour of fame and glory. The next day Mr. Harmer sent word to Patty that he wanted to see her.

“So Clifford is leaving,” he said abruptly when she entered the office. “Well, do you want his place?”

“Mr. Harmer, are you joking?” demanded Patty in amazement.

“Not I. That stuff you handed in was splendidly written–I didn’t have to use the pencil more than once or twice. You have the proper journalist instinct all right. We need a lady on the staff anyhow, and if you’ll take the place it’s yours for saying so, and the permanency next month.”

“I’ll take it,” said Patty promptly and joyfully.

“Good. Go down to the Symphony Club rehearsal this afternoon and report it. You’ve just ten minutes to get there,” and Patty joyfully and promptly departed.