The personal equation appeared no more offensively than it
does in a page of typewriting in his work.
Consequently, he was dear to the heart of the Consolidated Press,
and, as a "safe" man, was sent to the beautiful harbor of Santiago--
to a spot where there were war-ships cleared for action, Cubans in
ambush, naked marines fighting for a foothold at Guantanamo, palm-
trees and coral-reefs--in order that he might look for "facts."
There was not a newspaper man left at Key West who did not writhe
with envy and anger when he heard of it. When the wire was closed for
the night, and they had gathered at Josh Kerry's, Keating was the
storm-centre of their indignation.
"What a chance!" they protested. "What a story! It's the chance of a
lifetime." They shook their heads mournfully and lashed themselves
with pictures of its possibilities.
"And just fancy its being wasted on old Keating," said the Journal
man. "Why, everything's likely to happen out there, and whatever does
happen, he'll make it read like a Congressional Record. Why, when I
heard of it I cabled the office that if the paper would send me I'd
not ask for any salary for six months.
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