<h2 id="c9"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER IX</span> <br/><span class="h2line2"><i>FLASH ACCEPTS AN OFFER</i></span></h2>
<p>Flash stepped forward into George Doyle’s view.
The soundman saw him and lapsed into confused
silence.</p>
<p>“Sorry. I couldn’t help hearing,” Flash apologized.
“I don’t mind saying I’m curious about this proposition
which wouldn’t interest me.”</p>
<p>“You’re not Flash Evans?” inquired the stranger
before Doyle could find his voice.</p>
<p>“Yes, sir, I am.”</p>
<p>“Flash, this is our district manager, Mr. Clewes,”
Doyle said unwillingly. “We were just speaking of
your fine work at Indianapolis.”</p>
<p>“Yes,” nodded Mr. Clewes, “as I mentioned in my
telegram, those pictures were the best we’ve had in
months! The sound effects were fairly good, too.”</p>
<p>Flash glanced at Doyle who shifted uncomfortably
from one foot to another.</p>
<p>“Thank you, sir,” he said politely to the district
manager. “I didn’t happen to see your wire.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</div>
<p>Mr. Clewes gazed questioningly at the sound technician.</p>
<p>“I repeated the contents to him,” Doyle said defensively.</p>
<p>Ignoring the technician, Mr. Clewes turned to
Flash again.</p>
<p>“Howard Brandiss, who heads our company, was
much impressed by your work. When he saw the
crash films run through he said to me: ‘Fly down to
Columbia and sign that photographer on the dotted
line before some other company gets him.’ But
Doyle here tells me you wouldn’t be interested in any
proposition we might offer.”</p>
<p>“Flash already is employed by the <i>Brandale
Ledger</i>,” Doyle broke in hurriedly. “He’s on his
vacation now. I understood him to say he wouldn’t
consider working for a newsreel concern.”</p>
<p>“I’m afraid your hearing was almost too acute,”
Flash said pleasantly. “Either that or I gave the
wrong impression.”</p>
<p>“Then you are interested?” Mr. Clewes asked
quickly.</p>
<p>“Not in a permanent job. I might consider filling
in a month for Joe Wells. That is, if Mr. Riley has
no objection.”</p>
<p>“And who is Mr. Riley?”</p>
<p>“My editor on the <i>Brandale Ledger</i>.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</div>
<p>“I am sure we can arrange everything to his satisfaction,”
said Mr. Clewes. “And I respect you for
being loyal to your employer. If you are unwilling
to leave the <i>Ledger</i>, we should not try to convince you
otherwise. Nevertheless, after a month of newsreel
work, you may decide you prefer it to your newspaper
position.”</p>
<p>“That’s quite possible, sir.”</p>
<p>Dismissing Doyle with a curt nod, Mr. Clewes
drew Flash aside. For a half hour they talked together,
discussing salary and matters of general
routine. The district manager then insisted upon
placing a long distance telephone call to Riley of the
<i>Brandale Ledger</i>.</p>
<p>He stepped from the booth, smiling broadly.</p>
<p>“Everything has been arranged. Mr. Riley says
you may work for us, providing we don’t try to steal
you away from him at the end of the month.”</p>
<p>“I aim to go back to Brandale when my vacation
is over,” Flash insisted. “My home is there.”</p>
<p>Mr. Clewes gazed about the lobby in search of
Doyle. The technician had slumped down in a chair
in front of the fireplace. He came over as the district
manager motioned to him.</p>
<p>“Doyle, meet your new partner. You two will continue
to work together.”</p>
<p>The technician’s face twisted into a strained smile.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</div>
<p>“Glad Mr. Clewes was able to persuade you when
I couldn’t,” he said to Flash. “We’ll get along fine.”</p>
<p>The district manager glanced at his watch. “I
have fifteen minutes to catch my plane,” he declared
hurriedly.</p>
<p>“How about our next assignment?” asked Doyle.</p>
<p>“I was coming to that. No news of special importance
is breaking in this section of the country right
now. Your instructions are to start East again. Stop
off at Melveredge Field and try to get shots of the
new bombing plane which is being tested there.”</p>
<p>“Try is right,” grumbled Doyle. “That place is
so surrounded by barbed-wire red tape a newsreel
man couldn’t cut his way through in a month. How
about permits?”</p>
<p>“<i>News-Vue</i> will endeavor to make the necessary arrangements.
Even if you can’t obtain pictures of the
bomber, you should be able to get routine maneuvers.
Do the best you can. Further orders will be forwarded
to you at the Clarinda Hotel.”</p>
<p>Mr. Clewes shook hands with both Flash and
Doyle, and hastened to his taxi. In silence, the two
newsreel men went to their room. They began to
pack.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</div>
<p>“This is a poor assignment,” Doyle complained,
jamming shirts into his bag. “We’ll waste a lot of
time at Melveredge Field, fail to get the pictures, and
then be reprimanded for our pains.”</p>
<p>“Mr. Clewes must think we have a chance or he
wouldn’t send us.”</p>
<p>“Us,” said Doyle with biting sarcasm. “A lot of
good you’re going to do me!”</p>
<p>The words were spoken before he thought. Once
said, he could not retract them. But instantly he was
ashamed of the unwarranted outburst.</p>
<p>“Sorry,” he apologized curtly. “I shouldn’t have
said that. But you made me sore, trying to show me
up in front of Mr. Clewes.”</p>
<p>“In what way?”</p>
<p>“Letting on that I hadn’t shown you his telegram.
And then the way you breezed up and accepted a job
after you made me think you wouldn’t take one.”</p>
<p>“I don’t remember that we ever discussed it,”
Flash returned coldly. “But that’s neither here nor
there. I’ve taken the job. Whether we like it or not,
we’ll be working together. Why not try to get along
without friction?”</p>
<p>“Suits me. All I ask is that you do your work and
don’t expect to use me as a crutch.”</p>
<p>“We understand each other perfectly, Doyle. Now
when do we start?”</p>
<p>“Twenty minutes.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</div>
<p>“I’ll meet you at the parking lot. I want to telephone
Joe and tell him I’ve taken the job.”</p>
<p>Flash had another errand in mind, one which he
did not reveal to Doyle. Quickly he made his telephone
call from the lobby of the hotel.</p>
<p>“I’m glad you’ve changed your mind,” Joe told him
gratefully. “Can’t you come over to the hospital before
you leave town?”</p>
<p>“Afraid not. We’re starting in a few minutes.”</p>
<p>Joe Wells hesitated, and then said: “You’ll get
along fine, Flash, if you manage to stay on the good
side of Doyle. He can help you a lot. But I’ll give
you a tip. If he takes a dislike to a fellow, he knows
all the ways of making it plenty tough.”</p>
<p>“Everything will be fine, Joe. I’ll manage. And
your job will be waiting whenever you want it back.”</p>
<p>He hung up, smiling ruefully at his friend’s belated
warning. Already he had incurred George Doyle’s
dislike. But he was not afraid of what the technician
might attempt to do. He would be ready and waiting.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</div>
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