Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/229

 "I want you," she added, "to let me do the Tenderloin to-night—to describe its celebration of Tammany's victory from a woman's point of view."

Matthews uttered a startled ejaculation, but neither Miss Van Dyke nor the editor heard it. The latter had turned quickly, a sudden interest in his cool gray eyes.

"That's good," he said promptly. "Do it by all means. New thing—fresh point of view. Write the best story you ever wrote in your life. You 've got a splendid chance to turn in a good piece of work."

He thought a moment, and added more slowly: "Of course you must have some one with you. I 'll send Henderson along, and you can go from place to place in a carriage. Or perhaps Matthews would like to go," he added, turning to that young man with a sudden twinkle in his eyes, which showed that he had not been so oblivious to the social conditions of the office as he had seemed.

At this opening Matthews broke out in vigorous expostulation.

"She can't go," he said excitedly. "It's