Page:Lynch Williams--The stolen story and other newspaper stories.djvu/68

 Stone had snatched it up, the others eagerly bending over it with him. It was addressed to "The night editor of The Earth—Rush," and the envelope was one of the regular office envelopes with "The Day" printed in the corner. "What does this mean?" asked Mr. Manning.

"Keep Woods writing," said Stone, over his shoulder, for he had started on a run for the private office now occupied by Tommy Donovan.

It was a front room and Tommy was leaning out of the window. Stone grasped him firmly by the trousers. "What are you doing, boy?"

"Nuthin'." He was unperturbed.

"Let's see your fingers—the other hand. How did you get that ink-mark?"

"Writin'." "What. This?" showing the envelope.

The boy waited a minute, then grinned. "Yep," he said.

"What does it say inside?"

The boy looked up at Stone and then said, calmly, "It says 'Billy Woods is here with