Under Orders: The story of a young reporter

The novel follows a young college athlete who, after his family suffers financial ruin and his father loses his sight, leaves college and takes up newspaper work. He learns the routines and rivalries of city reporting, covers labor unrest and violent confrontations, becomes entangled in a criminal accusation, and faces arrest and trial. Through perseverance, careful evidence-gathering, and assistance from friends and a devoted sister, he clears his name, is reinstated, and matures professionally and morally. The narrative examines journalism's demands, the tensions between public order and labor strife, and a coming-of-age tested by hardship and duty.