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“Not at themore copies than they are”

“You’re so like your father, Keith,?

? said hisup at him

“Just give me an opportunity to prove reat deal during e to good use”

Lady Townsend stared into the fire for soiven ain “I will give you exactly the same time to convince me that I should turn him down”

When Townsend stepped off the plane at Adelaide the followinghe noticed as he entered the arrivals hall was that the Messenger was placed above the Gazette in the newspaper rack He dropped his bags and switched the papers round, so that the Gazette was on top, then purchased a copy of both

While he stood in line waiting for a taxi, he noted that of the seventy-three people alked out of the airport, twelve were carrying the Messenger while only seven had the Gazette As the taxi drove his on the back of his ticket, with the intention of briefing Frank Bailey, the editor of the Gazette, as soon as he reached the office He spent the rest of the journey flicking through both papers, and had to ad read However, he didn’t feel that was an opinion he could express on his first day in town

Townsend was dropped outside the offices of the Gazette He left his bags in reception and took the lift to the third floor No one gave hih the rows of journalists seated at their desks, tapping away on their typewriters Without knocking on the editor’s door, he walked straight into theconference

A surprised Frank Bailey rose froreat to see you after all this time”

“And it’s good to see you,” said Townsend

“We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow” Bailey turned to face the horseshoe of journalists seated round his desk “This is Sir Graha over from his father as publisher Those of you who have been around a few years will remember when he was last here as…” Frank hesitated

“As my father’s son,” said Townsend

The cohter

“Please carry on as if I weren’t here,” said Townsend “I don’t intend to be the sort of publisher who interferes with editorial decisions” He walked over to the corner of the rooe and watched as Bailey continued to conduct theconference He hadn’t lost any of his skills, or, it seen on behalf of any underdog he felt was getting a rough deal

“Right, what’s looking like the lead story tomorrow?” he asked Three hands shot up