He did not say what it was, for fear some of the men might not think it proper for him to telephone the news to his paper.
“Want to go up?” asked the man in charge of the elevator.
Larry nodded. The man motioned for him to get on the movable platform which was about all the hoist was, and then gave the signal to start.
In a few moments the boy was at the surface. He made his way out of the engine room at the mouth of the upright shaft and hurried across the railroad yards in the direction he had come. On the way in he had noticed an office where there was a telephone and he made for this.
The man in charge gave permission for the boy to use the instrument, though he stared somewhat in surprise at Larry, who was covered with dirt and water.
“Fall in the river?” he asked.
“No, I came through the tunnel,” replied the boy.
Then he rang up central, was soon connected with the Leader office, and a few seconds later was telling Mr. Emberg what had happened. The city editor, who was familiar with the work, and the prospective battering down of the brick wall, could easily understand the situation from Larry’s description. A few details sufficed and then, with a hurried “Good-bye,” Mr. Emberg rang off, having told Larry to come back to the office.
“Are you a reporter?” asked the man in the railroad office, as Larry hung up the receiver.
“No, I’m only a copy boy,” was the answer. “But I’m going to be a reporter some day. I am helping one of our men to-day.”