"Excuse me," he remarked briskly; "but you understand there's a whale of a story in all this, and it's up to me to get it? You can't blow up a meteor and knock the solar system topsyturvy and get away without even being interviewed, you know. Sorry—but it isn't done. What do you suppose they would do to me? And then there's Mrs. Hooker, you see! If it hadn't been for Mrs. Tassifer—"
Rhoda suddenly spoke up.
"What has she said?" she demanded.
"Oh, she gave us the romance stuff," he answered. "Look here, now: It's ten o'clock, and I've got to 'phone this to New York in time for the early edition. Do you mind my asking just a few questions?"
"But I haven't anything to say," expostulated Professor Hooker.
"Just listen to the man!" groaned Diggs. "Let me ask you: Is this story about landing on the moon perfectly straight?"
Rhoda pointed up through the trees to the great yellow circle of the lunar orb.
"Do you see that bright spot with the shadow on the left-hand side of it?"
"Sure," answered Diggs.
"Well," she continued, "I was standing right there less than thirty-six hours ago."