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           PassingouthewhisperedtoJ.J.O’Molloy:

           —Incipientjigs.Sadcase.

           —Ohio!theeditorcrowedinhightreblefromhisupliftedscarletface.MyOhio!

           —Aperfectcretic!theprofessorsaid.Long,shortandlong.

           O,HARPEOLIAN!

           Hetookareelofdentalflossfromhiswaistcoatpocketand,breakingoffapiece,twangeditsmartlybetweentwoandtwoofhisresonantunwashedteeth.

           —Bingbang,bangbang.

           MrBloom,seeingthecoastclear,madefortheinnerdoor.

           —Justamoment,MrCrawford,hesaid.Ijustwanttophoneaboutanad.

           Hewentin.

           —Whataboutthatleaderthisevening?professorMacHughasked,comingtotheeditorandlayingafirmhandonhisshoulder.

           —That’llbeallright,MylesCrawfordsaidmorecalmly.Neveryoufret.Hello,Jack.That’sallright.

           —Goodday,Myles,J.J.O’Molloysaid,lettingthepagesheheldsliplimplybackonthefile.IsthatCanadaswindlecaseontoday?

           Thetelephonewhirredinside.

           —Twentyeight...No,twenty...Doublefour...Yes.

           SPOTTHEWINNER

           LenehancameoutoftheinnerofficewithSport’stissues.

           —WhowantsadeadcertfortheGoldcup?heasked.SceptrewithO.Maddenup.

           Hetossedthetissuesontothetable.

           Screamsofnewsboysbarefootinthehallrushednearandthedoorwasflungopen.

           —Hush,Lenehansaid.Ihearfeetstoops.

           ProfessorMacHughstrodeacrosstheroomandseizedthecringingurchinbythecollarastheothersscamperedoutofthehallanddownthesteps.Thetissuesrustledupinthedraught,floatedsoftlyintheairbluescrawlsandunderthetablecametoearth.

           —Itwasn’tme,sir.