Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

A staff member named Piston discovered a bomb sitting on a pile of papers. The police came and evacuated the entire area around the building. Afterward, Willie found Baggy at the courthouse in the Bar Room, where he frequently drank with the town's lawyers. Baggy said that the Padgitts had planted the bomb to intimidate the newspaper and the town. He was surprised the bomb didn't go off, he said, and took it as a sign they were losing their touch. Later, Willie questioned the Sheriff on how he planned to investigate. The Sheriff told him to back off. That night Wiley Meek, the photographer, was beaten almost to death. This frightened Willie, but he decided to keep going. He bought a gun for himself and continued reporting the story.

Part 1, Chapter 7 Analysis

The suspense and action are increased in this...