Page:Elizabeth Jordan--Tales of the city room.djvu/228

 seized her, and she acted upon it without giving herself time for a second thought.

Her timid rap on the editor's door was unheard. She pushed it open and entered the "kennel," as the box of a room was irreverently styled by the staff. The tired-looking young man sat at his desk, which was littered with papers, telegrams, and long columns of "returns." He was talking quickly to Matthews when she entered, and both men looked in surprise at the small black figure before them.

"I beg your pardon," hesitated the girl. "I am sorry to interrupt you, but I have a suggestion for a special which I thought you might like to have me work up."

The managing editor's lips twitched rather impatiently, but he answered her with the businesslike courtesy he showed to all the women who worked for him.

"Thank you, Miss Van Dyke," he said, "but we 're very busy now. If you don't mind waiting until morning I can give your suggestion more careful consideration."

"I'm afraid it's something that won't wait," the girl persisted. She flushed a little.