Author: Maurice Level

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13: 9781230248882

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... Ill THE LAST MORNING OF ONESIMUS COCHE, REPORTER T7OR more than five minutes the sub-editor of the World shouted and swore and stamped his feet. "Hullo, hullo--Damn it! Answer, won't you? Oh, the idiots, they've cut us off! Hullo, hullo!" He put back the receiver and began to ring up the Exchange furiously. "Hullo! I say! You cut me off." "No, sir. They must have rung off at the other end." "Then it was a mistake. Put me on again, please." After a minute a different voice asked: "Hullo, hullo! What do you want?" "Did you telephone a moment ago?" "We did telephone, sir, but I don't know whether it was to you...." "Would you mind telling me whom I am speaking to?" "Cafe Paul, Place du Trocadero." "Right. Please tell the gentleman that I want to speak to him again." "Sorry, sir, the gentleman has just gone." "Send some one after him. Run!" "Impossible, sir. We're just closing up, and the gentleman must be quite far by now." "Could you tell me what he was like? Do you know him? Is he one of your customers?" "No, sir; it's the first time he's been here. As for what he's like, sir: he looks about thirty; dark, with a short moustache.... I think he was in evening dress... but I didn't notice." "Thank you; I'm sorry to have troubled you." "Not at all. Good evening, sir." "Good evening." The sub-editor was perplexed. Had he better publish the news, or should he wait till next day? If the thing was true, it would be most annoying to let another paper forestall his. But supposing it were not true?... This important matter must be settled at once. He thought deeply, then gave a slight shrug, took out some lines detailing the insults that members of opposing parties had publicly hurled at one another in the Croatian Diet, and inserted the following: ...