“What is it?”
Then Larry told of how the Stoneville operator was going to open a temporary office on the hill in a tent.
“If he does that, in time for us, it will be just the thing,” said Mr. Newton. “Keep quiet concerning it. Don’t say anything about it to the other fellows.”
“Why not?”
“Because we don’t want them to know it. If they find it out they’ll go there and file stuff, and ours may be delayed. You must learn, in the newspaper business, to know everything and tell nothing, especially to the fellow on the other paper.”
“I’ll go over the first thing in the morning and find out if he’s opened his place,” said Larry.
That night was one of terror. Fortunately there was enough warning about the bursting of the dam so that most of the people were out of the way in time, and none was killed. But the property loss was tremendous. About midnight the waters ceased to rise, but they still inundated most of the town, and would for some time, since the country for quite a distance above was covered with the flood.
Early the next morning Larry got up, dressed, and went downstairs. He was surprised to find the corridor of the hotel partly filled with water.
“What’s the matter?” he asked the clerk.
“Oh, they tried to drown us out last night,” was the reply.