“Impossible,” answered Madden.
“I’m sorry to hear you say that, Mr. Madden,” Bob Eden remarked. “Holley here has been very kind to me, and I was hoping with all my heart you would overlook your rule this once.”
Madden leaned back, and blew a ring of smoke toward the paneled ceiling. “Well,” he said, and his voice was somehow gentler, “you’ve taken a lot of trouble for me, Mr. Eden, and I’d like to oblige you.” He fumed to Holley. “Look here—nothing much, you know. Just a few words about business prospects for the coming year.”
“That would be extremely kind of you, Mr. Madden.”
“Oh, it’s all right. I’m away out here, and I feel a bit differently about the newspapers than I do at home. I’ll dictate something to Thorn—suppose you run out here tomorrow about noon.”
“I certainly will,” sai
