Page:Lynch Williams--The stolen story and other newspaper stories.djvu/174

 fellow's misunderstanding.' But up jumps that Earth man, Munson—you know Munson—and shouts, 'Misunderstanding? Hell! it was misrepresentation, malicious misrepresentation, the worst trick ever perpetrated in Park Row'—something of that sort, and was starting out to telephone down to 'The Earth' about it. But just then the boy here jumps up, 'Hold on there, Munson—wait a minute, you fellows (his voice got awfully shrill), the next question, sir! Have him read the next question—the very next question.' The Secretary of State waves his hand for silence and smiles a little. He had a piece of paper in his hand all the time, but I didn't know what it was then. 'Gentlemen,' he said, 'that seems reasonable; let us finish the interview. Young will read the next question, and, gentlemen, we are all likely to make mistakes; but my stenographer was never known to do so; I agree to stand by'"

"Go on! go on!" Reed interrupted. "Give us the facts."

"Well, Young cleared his throat, and everybody quieted down. 'Question,' he