"I've been at it nearly
fifty years--ever since I was a boy of eighteen and I've been in charge
there almost a quarter of a century. I think I've earned a few years of
leisure to work for my own amusement. I'm pretty sure they'll want you to
take my place. Would you like it?"
"I'm not fit for it," Howard said, and he meant it. "I'm only an
apprentice. I'm always making blunders--but I needn't tell you about that."
"You can't say that you are not fit until you have tried. Besides, the
question is not, are _you_ fit? but, is there any one more fit than
you? I confess I don't see any one so well equipped, so certain to give the
paper all of the best that there is in him."
"Of course I'd like to try. I can only fail."
"Oh, you won't fail. But you may quarrel with Stokely and
Coulter--especially Coulter. In fact, I'm sure you'll quarrel with them.
But if you make yourself valuable enough, you'll probably win out.
Only----"
Malcolm hesitated, then went on:
"I stopped giving advice years ago. But I'll venture a suggestion. Whenever
your principles run counter to the policy of the paper, it would be wise to
think the matter over carefully before making an issue. Usually there is
truth on both sides, much that can be said fairly and honestly for either
side.
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