Norris drew back dramatically.
"Don't tell me," he exclaimed, "that you haven't heard about that!"
Channing laughed a short, frightened laugh, and moved nearer to the
street.
"No," he said. "No, I hadn't."
"Yes, but, good Lord! it was the story of the war. You never read
such a story! And he got it through by Panama a day ahead of all the
other stories! And nobody read them, anyway. Why, Captain Mahan said
it was 'naval history,' and the Evening Post had an editorial on it,
and said it was 'the only piece of literature the war has produced.'
We never thought Keating had it in him, did you? The Consolidated
Press people felt so good over it that they've promised, when he
comes back from Paris, they'll make him their Washington
correspondent. He's their 'star' reporter now. It just shows you that
the occasion produces the man. Come on in, and have a drink with
him."
Channing pulled his arm away, and threw a frightened look toward the
open door of the dining-room. Through the layers of tobacco-smoke he
saw Keating seated at the head of a long, crowded table, smiling,
clear-eyed, and alert.
"Oh, no, I couldn't," he said, with sudden panic.
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