By this time the Tribune had become the pride of all Millville, yet the villagers could not quite overcome their awe and wonder at it.  Also the newspaper was the pride of the three girl journalists, who under the tutelage of Miss Briggs were learning to understand the complicated system of a daily journal.  Their amateurish efforts were gradually giving way to more dignified and readable articles; Beth could write an editorial that interested even Uncle John, her severest critic; Louise showed exceptional talent for picking up local happenings and making news notes of them, while Patsy grabbed everything that came to her net—­locals, editorials, telegraphic and telephone reports from all parts of the world—­and skillfully sorted, edited and arranged them for the various departments of the paper.  It was mighty interesting to them all, and they were so eager each morning to get to work that they could scarcely devote the proper time to old Nora’s famous breakfasts.

“We made a mistake.  Uncle,” said Patsy to Mr. Merrick, “in starting the Tribune in the wrong place.  In a few weeks we must leave it and go back to the city, whereas, had we established our paper in New York—­”

“Then it never would have been heard of,” interrupted practical Beth.  “In New York, Patsy dear, we would become the laughing stock of the town.  I shudder when I think what a countrified paper we turned out that first issue.”

“But we are fast becoming educated,” declared Patsy.  “I’m not ashamed of the Tribune now, even in comparison with the best New York dailies.”

Beth laughed, but Uncle John said judicially: 

“For Millville, it’s certainly a marvel.  I get the world news more concisely and more pleasantly from its four pages than when I wade through twenty or thirty of the big pages of a metropolitan newspaper.  You are doing famously, my dears.  I congratulate you.”

“But we are running behind dreadfully,” suggested Arthur, the bookkeeper, “even since Thursday Smith enabled us to cut down expenses so greatly.  The money that comes in never equals what we pay out.  How long can you keep this up, girls?”

They made no reply, nor did Uncle John discuss the financial condition of the newspaper.  He was himself paying some heavy expenses that did not appear on the books, such as the Associated Press franchise, the telegraph bills and the electric power; but he was quite delighted to take care of these items and regretted he had not assumed more of the paper’s obligations.  He knew the expenses were eating big holes in the incomes of his three nieces, yet they never complained nor allowed their enthusiasm to flag.