Half an hour later, Jerry Billings succeeded a second time in getting the city editor of the Call on the long-distance wire.
"Hello, Mr. Watts! Say, about that engagement of young Fox, Mr. Watts," he began.
"Well, what's the matter with it?" came back the editor's voice, sharply.
"Nothing's the matter with it," said Jerry, "only it's better than I thought! It's—it's old Fox that Miss Mix is going to marry! Old A.F. himself!"
"Who said so?" snapped the other.
"Fox did."
"FOX?"
"Yes, sir. He just telephoned to me. Gave me the whole thing. Said he wanted it to be published straight."
There was a pregnant silence for a few moments, then:
"This is no jolly, Billings? It's big stuff if it's true, you know."