"I see," said the city editor, nodding. "And why do you think you have the germ of journalism within you? Many aspirants become failures in this field, first of all." "Then give me credit for the grace of originality," answered Bassett. "I have tried almost everything else first. But of course I can write English. I wrote with a certain facility for the college press. I heard of a vacancy here. Mr. Mudge sent me to you, Mr. Cameron. If you can--" "Oh! I will give you a trial," Mr. Cameron answered quickly. "Let me see, Mr. Bassett; you are a married man, are you not? Sit down." For some reason the applicant flushed slowly as he took the creaky chair at the end of the editor's desk. "I have that honour," he said briefly. "Excuse me one moment," said Carolyn May's father as his telephone rang and he put the receiver to his ear. The little girl drew nearer. Mr. Joe Bassett caught her eye and Carolyn smiled and flushed. "Who are you, little girl?" the young man asked. Carolyn May told him. She was usually quite frank with new acquaintances, though never bold. She approved of Mr. Joe Bassett, and began to chatter to him very companionably. Perhaps Mr. Cameron neglected to give the young man his immediate attention purposely for a few moments that he might watch Carolyn May's way with him. The little girl's father often said that he was willing to rely on Carolyn May's intuition. The city editor looked up from his assignment book at length. "Here!" he said. "I take it you know the city well?" "Quite," said Bassett, giving his attention at once to Mr. Cameron. "Here's a matter that should make half a column of human interest stuff. It is exclusive, too. The City News people evidently got nothing of it." Briefly he related Carolyn May's adventure with the pale lady the previous afternoon. "Here is the twenty dollar bill. Find the woman and give it to her. Get her story. I have a hunch it will be worth telling. Little chance, of course, of linking up the people who smashed her baby carriage with the tale. Unless the traffic officer noted the automobile license number, and that's not likely. "But," added Mr. Cameron, smiling, "I'll give you a side-partner to help you. How would you like to go up to the park with Mr. Bassett, and see if you can find your pale lady, Carolyn May?" "Oh! My! Yes!" ejaculated the little girl, her eyes shining. "I'll telephone mamma and she will postpone her shopping trip, I know. Business before pleasure always," and Mr. Cameron smiled. "How about it, Bassett? Will you take care of her to the upper end of the park? Carolyn knows her way home from there." "At your orders, Mr. Cameron," said the young man, folding the banknote and slipping it into a phantom-thin wallet as he rose to go. "Humph!" The editor scanned the young man's wardrobe again. "By the way, stop at the cashier's window for an advance on expense account," and he scribbled something on an order form and handed it to the new reporter.