The managing editor turned to Ralph.
“Run to the composing room,” he cried. “Tell them to stand by for an extra. The storage tanks on the Midwest Oil Company property west of town have caught fire and are exploding.”
Ralph waited to hear no more, but ran to the composing room where he gave the managing editor’s message to the foreman. Then he hurried back to the editorial office.
Tim was scribbling a bulletin for the extra with one hand while he listened to the first report of the explosion.
Five or six men were missing. They might have been caught in the first blast or perhaps they had escaped and were too excited to report their safety.
The managing editor took the story as fast as Tim could write it, wrote a new banner line for the front page, and rushed the copy to the composing room.
“Who’s talking?” he asked.
“One of the mechanics from the airport,” said Tim. “The storage tanks are only a mile and a half from the field and he saw the first one let go. A man from the oil company is at the field now and they are getting the story from him.”
“Is the Good News in condition to fly?” asked the managing editor.
“Just got word a few minutes ago she was ready to test,” replied Tim.