Billy was standing at the stove, a frightened boy, but he gripped the poker in his hand.
"Billy," said Joe, quietly, "run down and tell Rann to keep 'em out of the press-room."
Billy edged to the door, opened it, and fled.
Joe was quite alone. He sat down at his desk and took up the telephone.
"Hello, Central!" his voice was monotonous in its lowness and tenseness.
"Hello!"
"Give me police headquarters—quick!"
Central seemed startled.
"Police—? Yes, right away! Hold on!—Here they are!"
"Hello! Police headquarters!" came a man's voice.