Well, King said: 'Boys, boys,
this isn't getting out a paper.' Every one went back to his work and--and
that was all."
They went on to the room behind the newsroom. As Howard opened its heavy
door a sound, almost a roar, of clicking instruments and typewriters burst
out. Here again were scores of desks with men seated at them, every man
with a typewriter and a telegraph instrument before him.
"These are our direct wires," Howard explained. "Our correspondents in all
the big cities, east, west, north and south and in London, are at the other
end of these wires. Let me show you."
Howard spoke to the operator nearest them. "Whom have you got?"
"I'm taking three thousand words from Kansas City," he replied. "Washington
is on the next wire."
"Ask Mr. Simpson how the President is to-night," Howard said to the
Washington operator.
His instrument clicked a few times and was silent. Almost immediately the
receiver began to click and, as the operator dashed the message off on his
typewriter the two women read over his shoulder: "Just came from White
House. He is no better, probably a little worse because weaker. Simpson."
"And can you hear just as quickly from London?" Marian asked.
"Almost. I'll try. There is always a little delay in transmission from the
land systems to the cable system; and messages have to be telephoned
between our office in Trafalgar Square and the cable office down in the
city.
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