“Well, I’m mighty glad you beat him,” said the operator. “This story will set New York by the ears, and your paper will be the only one to get it. All the wires are down but mine, and it will take me nearly all the morning to get this stuff off. That will make it too late for any of the Scorcher’s copy to get to the office in time for to-day. You’ll score a big beat all right.”
And so Larry did. He did not learn of it until some days later, however, as they did not hear from the Leader office until that time, because of the difficulty in getting messages and mail through.
That night, in their room at the hotel, Larry told Mr. Newton the story of the race.
“You’re too modest,” the reporter declared. “I heard all about it from my friend of the Porpoise. If this don’t result in something nice for you when we get back I’ll miss my guess. By the way, there’s a letter for you.”
“I hope it’s from mother,” exclaimed Larry. “She hasn’t written in two days.”
It was a letter from home, and contained good news, for it said that Lucy was doing finely, and the doctor expected she would soon be well and able to walk.
“Hurrah!” cried Larry. “This is better than getting a beat!”
“They’re both good,” said Mr. Newton, smiling.