Page:Lynch Williams--The stolen story and other newspaper stories.djvu/56

 a week. Well catch this one red-handed. That may stop their dirty work."

The reporters were rounding up with the late stories. Everyone that came into the room, no matter how important his news, was first halted at the gate by Jones. Woods kept on writing uninterruptedly. The men only looked over at him in awe; then went up to the desk to tell their news.

"Haskill," said Stone ("go on talking," to one of the reporters), "the room is getting too full of people thinking about the same thing. If they keep on looking at Woods they'll hypnotize him into realization of everything—no matter how intense he is. Clear out the room." ("Go on talking, Lee. I can hear you." Lee went on.) "Tell Smith to start up a poker game in the back room." "Stone," whispered Haskill, as he started to go, "what's the matter with him now?"

"Needs copy-paper," said Stone. ("That's no good, Lee, don't write anything.") And grabbing a bunch of paper himself, the editor walked down and tossed