“What’s to be done, then?” cried Stickler.  “This means a big loss to the hotel business.”

“To all of us,” amended the chairman.  “My suggestion is that our special committee be empowered to wait upon the editor of the ‘Clarion’ and talk the matter over with him.”

Embodied in the form of a motion this was passed, and the chair appointed as that committee three merchants, all of whom were members of the Publication Committee of the Retail Union; and, as such, exercised the most powerful advertising control in Worthington.  Dr. Surtaine still pinned his hopes to the dollar and its editorial potency.

Unofficially and privately these men invited to go with them to the “Clarion” office Elias M. Pierce, who had not been at the meeting.  At first he angrily refused.  He wished to meet that young whelp Surtaine nowhere but in a court of law, he announced.  But after Bertram Hollenbeck, of the Emporium, the chairman of the subcommittee, had outlined his plan, Pierce took a night to think it over, and in the morning accepted the invitation with a grim smile.

Forewarned by his father, who had begged that he consider carefully and with due regard to his own future the proposals to be set before him, Hal was ready to receive the deputation in form.  Pierce’s presence surprised him.  He greeted all four men with equally punctilious politeness, however, and gave courteous attention while Hollenbeck spoke for his colleagues.  The merchant explained the purpose of the visit; set forth the importance to the city of the centennial Old Home Week, and urged the inadvisability of any sensationalism which might alarm the public.

“We have sufficient assurance that there’s nothing dangerous in the present situation,” he said.

“I haven’t,” said Hal.  “If I had, there would be nothing further to be said.  The ‘Clarion’ is not seeking to manufacture a sensation.”

“What is the ‘Clarion’ seeking to do?” asked Stensland, another of the committee.

“Discover and print the news.”

“Well, it isn’t news until it’s printed,” Hollenbeck pointed out comfortably.  “And what’s the use of printing that sort of thing, anyway?  It does a lot of people a lot of harm; but I don’t see how it can possibly do any one any good.”

“Oh, put things straight,” said Stensland.  “Here, Mr. Editor; you’ve stirred up a lot of trouble and lost a lot of advertising by it.  Now, you start an epidemic scare and kill off the biggest retail business of the year, and you won’t find an advertiser in town to stand by you.  Is that plain?”

“Plain coercion,” said Hal.

“Call it what you like,” began the apostle of frankness, when Hollenbeck cut in on him.

“No use getting excited,” he said.  “Let’s hear Mr. Surtaine’s views.  What do you think ought to be done about the Rookeries?”

In anticipation of some such question Hal had been in consultation with Dr. Elliot and the health officer that morning.