Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-70.djvu/384

376 The city editor took the assignment schedule from his assistant and glanced over it

"I see you have Brooke down for the Enfield embezzlement case," he remarked. "That's the star story of the day, if it pans out. Hadn't you better give it to some more reliable man?"

"Brooke's the best reporter we have, Mr. Curtis," replied the assistant, "if he's only sober."

"Is he ever sober?" retorted the city editor. "Look here, Wilton, I know Brooke's a friend of yours, and I appreciate all you've done for him. If you hadn't shielded and helped him along he'd have been fired long ago. But I've stood his drunkenness as long as I can. He's made us lose half a dozen good stories, and he's utterly untrustworthy. The man's been on a spree for four days, and I've decided to discharge him as soon as he comes back."

"He'll be back this morning, Mr. Curtis," interposed the assistant city editor. "I stopped at his rooms on my way down-town. He's sobering up, and he's thoroughly ashamed of himself. Would you mind giving him one more chance? Remember, he's one of the cleverest men in the business—when he's himself."

The city editor's face relaxed at the other's earnest manner.

"Well," he agreed after a pause, "if he shows up this morning and covers this assignment decently, I'll give him another show. But There he is now."

Curtis broke off as a man entered the room and slouched across to the city editor's desk.

The new-comer's eyes were red and swollen, his breath was reminiscent, and his face had a pasty, unhealthy look.

His voice alone, when he addressed Curtis, showed him to be a man of breeding.

"I wish to report for work, sir," he said.

The city editor's eye took in all the details of Brooke's appearance.

"Are you fit for work, Mr. Brooke?" he asked.

The reporter flushed, but bowed without speaking.

"You've been ill, I suppose," said Curtis sarcastically.

"No, sir," responded Brooke simply; "I've been drunk for three days. There is no use in lying about it."

Curtis turned aside to hide a smile. He loved his staff, and was one of those extremely rare beings, a justly popular city editor. He was pleased with Brooke's answer, having been prepared for a whining tale of sickness.

"Mr. Brooke," he said more pleasantly, "do you know I intended to discharge you this morning?"

Brooke tried to look surprised.

"But," Curtis went on, "I've decided to give you another chance.