Tom and Margaret did as Helen directed. They found her hands clammy with perspiration.
“I think I’ll sit down and write the story and telegraph it,” said Helen.
“You’ll do nothing of the kind,” insisted Tom. “Here, I’ll put the call through and you just repeat what Rand told you. They’ll write the story at the Cranston bureau.”
Helen nodded in agreement and Tom bolted into the telephone booth, got the long distance operator at Rolfe and put in a collect call for the Cranston bureau of the Associated Press.
Two minutes later Tom announced that the A.P. was on the line. Helen entered the booth and took the receiver. Tom pulled the door shut and Helen was closeted with her big story in the tiny room, the mouthpiece before her connecting her with the bureau where they were waiting for the story.
“Is Mr. McClintock in the office?” she asked.
“He’s busy,” replied the voice. “I’ll take the message.”
“Tell Mr. McClintock that Helen Blair is calling about the Rand story,” she insisted.
She heard the connection switch and the chief of the Cranston bureau snapped a question at her.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Rand give you the usual denial?”