She sprang excitedly to the telephone upon Blake’s desk. The next instant she had Billy Harper on the wire, Blake watching her, motionless in his tracks.
“Mr. Harper,” she said, “it is now half-past ten. I want you to hold the paper back till eleven-thirty.... What’s that?”
She listened for a moment, then slowly hung up the receiver. She did not at once turn round, but when she did her face was very white.
“Well?” Blake asked.
“I’m sorry,” she said, barely above a whisper. “The paper has been upon the street for ten minutes.”
They gazed at one another for several moments, both motionless, both without a word. Then thin, sharp cries penetrated the room. Blake’s lips parted.
“What is that?” he asked mechanically.
Katherine crossed and raised a window. Through it came shrill, boyish voices:
“Extry! Extry! All about the great Blake conspiracy!”