“To me?” Mr. Parker did not understand her meaning.
“Yes, gather your mechanical force. The plant’s yours for the night.”
“Penny, you’re the tops!” the publisher exclaimed, starting the car with a lurch. “Together we’ll get out an extra that will be an extra!”
After that Penny lost all sense of time as events transpired with rapidity and precision. As if by magic the staff of the Star appeared to take over the Times plant. The building shook off its lethargy and machinery began to turn.
Allowing Jerry to write the big story, Penny tried to be everywhere at once. She fluttered at DeWitt’s elbow as he drew a dummy of the front page.
“Let’s make it 96-point type,” she urged. “Splashy! A double column story with a break-over to page three.”
“Anything you say,” was DeWitt’s surprising answer.
In the composing room, printers were locking the forms, using pages previously made ready for the next issue of the Weekly Times. Stereotypers were testing the pneumatic steam tables. Pressmen under Old Horney’s direction oiled the double-deck rotaries and tightened bolts.
At last came the moment when the starter plate was fitted into place on the cylinder. With a half turn of a T wrench Old Horney made it secure.
“She’s ready,” he announced, flashing the signal light. “You push the button, Penny.”