The news editor had only finished giving evidence; on the whole immaterial testimony; for suspicions do not pass with juries and coroners. "How was it you attended the examination of this mine?" was the last question asked him. Considering the Smelter City lots, for which the news editor had yet to pay and the "kiddies" which he had to support, it would have been an easy matter for him 'to slink' that question. "A newspaper man's pursuit of a good story" would have been answer enough to satisfy any coroner; but the news editor did not give that answer. He took off his glasses and polished the lenses with his handkerchief. Then, he put them back on his nose and looked straight at the gentleman presiding. "May I answer that question in my own way, taking plenty of time?" he asked. "I take it this inquest is being held to get at the real truth." The coroner said, "Go ahead!" The attorney for the Smelter City Coking Company sat up and whispered something to Brydges. The handy man turned lazily round. "Yes," he said, "one of our staff." The news editor cleared his throat, and a little sharp intersection of lines bridged above his nose. "For some little time, it has been known in the Valley that a quiet contest has been going on." The attorney for the Smelter City Coking Company jumped to his feet. "The witness should keep to a strict recital of fact, not rumors," he interjected; and the downy-lipped representative of the Federal Government said nothing about the privileges of a witness, or the impropriety of a special pleader opening his mouth at an inquest. "Confine yourself to facts," ordered the coroner heavily. Wayland and Eleanor suddenly leaned forward. The news editor rubbed his glasses and resumed in a low clear tense voice. How many of the listeners had the faintest idea of what the recital cost him? "I take it the object of this inquest is to ascertain facts. If I am to relate facts, I must repeat that for some little time it has been known in the Valley that a quiet contest has been going on between the people and certain interests which I do not need to name. It was well known in our office that the miners on Coal Hill had openly boasted no Washington man was going to get away with any facts about mining operations. O'Finnigan of Shanty Town had boasted he had been brought down from the Ridge for 'a surprise party' as he called it. For some little time, as news editor I had been dissatisfied with the reports of this whole struggle: they struck me as exceedingly biased and untruthful; in fact what the reporters call 'doped news'; 'news doped by outsiders for special reasons of their own.'" Bat's boot came down with a clump on the floor. The attorney was up again, glaring at the coroner. The news editor cleared his throat. "So I determined to go and see this thing for myself--" "With the result," roared the attorney, "that you saw every facility afforded for the most thorough examination of the mine."