“Then it’s no fake, if you saw Nero loose,” went on Mr. Newton. “He’s the worst lion in captivity. That ought to be a good story.”
“Why in the world didn’t you telephone it in?” asked Mr. Emberg. “You might have been beaten by some of the early editions of the yellows. Hurry up, now, make that the feature of your story.”
Somewhat chagrined over his failure to have appreciated the real news value of the lion incident, Larry began to turn out copy as fast as he could write. Mr. Emberg read it.
“You’re doing all right!” he called to Larry. “It is as good a circus story as we’ve had in a long time. Keep it up.”
Larry told of everything in connection with the escape of Nero, and then began to describe the different scenes, including the way the Garden was being made ready for the crowds. By this time the first edition had gone to press.
“Take your time, now,” said the city editor. “We’ll use the rest in the next edition.”
“I’ve got a good story about the freaks,” said Larry, and he began to tell of the mixed-up romance.
He was interrupted by a burst of laughter, in which several reporters and Mr. Emberg joined.
“It’s true! I saw ’em myself,” exclaimed Larry.
“Of course you did,” admitted Mr. Emberg. “It was gotten up for your benefit. The manager sized you up for a new reporter, and thought the old story might go with you, though he must have known that no copy reader would have passed it.”