Penny and Louise pushed their way through the throng of refugees that had taken possession of the lower floor. Climbing the stairs to the telephone offices they asked to see the manager.
“Mr. Nordwall isn’t seeing anyone,” they were informed. “He’s very busy.”
Penny persisted. She explained that her business was urgent and concerned getting a news story through to Riverview. After a long delay she was allowed to talk to the manager, a harassed, over-worked man named Nordwall.
“Please state your case briefly,” he said wearily.
Penny explained again that she wished to get a story of the flood through to her father’s paper, and asked what hope there was.
“Not much, I’m afraid,” the man replied. “We haven’t a single toll line at present.”
“How soon do you expect to get one?”
The manager hesitated, unwilling to commit himself. “By noon we may have one wire west,” he said reluctantly.
Penny asked if she could have first chance at it. Nordwall regretfully shook his head.
“Relief work must come before news.”