The first thing I knew of it was when I got this
copy; and the paper had already gone to press."
"What do you suppose was the reason for it?" asked Montague, in
wonder.
"Reason?" echoed Bates. "The reason is Hodges; he's a crook. 'If we
publish that story,' he said,'the directors of the bank will never
meet, and we'll bear the onus of having wrecked the Gotham Trust
Company.' But that's all a bluff, and he knew it; we could prove
that that conference took place, if it ever came to a fight."
"You were quite safe, it seems to me," said Montague.
"Safe?" echoed Bates. "We had the greatest scoop that a newspaper
ever had in this country--if only the Express were a newspaper. But
Hodges isn't publishing the news, you see; he's serving his masters,
whoever they are. I knew that it meant trouble when he bought into
the Express. He used to be managing editor of the Gazette, you know;
and he made his fortune selling the policy of that paper--its
financial news is edited to this very hour in the offices of Wyman's
bankers, and I can prove it to anybody who wants me to.
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