“The only way we could find out in the office would be to have some word from those in the tube or tunnel. The only way we can get word is for someone to come back from the tube. Mr. Newton could not leave, for, if he did, after the wall had been cut through, his absence would be noted, and other reporters would rush out. Then we would not score a beat. “But if you could go along, note what takes place, and then, when the chance offers, get away unnoticed and come out of the tube to a telephone on the surface, we could get the news ahead of anyone else. Do you think you can do it?” Larry hesitated. It was a pretty big contract for a small boy, but he resolved to try it. “I’ll do it!” he said. “I knew you would,” said Mr. Emberg. “It’s almost time for you and Mr. Newton to start.” The reporter came up a few minutes later, nodded to the city editor, and said: “Well, are we going to try it?” “With Larry’s help we are,” was the answer. “Come along then,” said Mr. Newton, as though taking a trip under the Hudson River was one of the most ordinary things in this busy world. Larry put on his hat and, after a friendly nod from Mr. Emberg, left the office. The reporter and copy boy went down Broadway to the big Trinity building, adjoining the church of that name, and went to the office of the company that was building the tunnel. There they found a crowd of reporters; one from almost every newspaper in New York. The men were ushered into a finely fitted up room, and told to make themselves comfortable until the president of the company, Mr. Lackadon, was ready to escort them. “Keep a quiet tongue,” advised Mr. Newton to Larry. “None of the others know what is up.” Larry nodded. Then he listened to what the other newspaper men had to say. Few of them knew what their assignment was, except that they were to come and report something about the tunnel that had been in construction for some time. “All ready, gentlemen!” announced a voice, and the president of the concern appeared in the room. “Where are we going?” asked several reporters of evening papers. “We’d like to send up a few lines about the story.” “It’s a sort of a secret,” said the president with a smile. “If any of you want to back out, now’s your chance.” No one ever heard of a newspaper man backing out, so no one moved. “Come on,” said the president. He led the way to the big express elevators and soon the crowd of reporters were on the ground floor. They went out the rear entrance and, by way of a number of back streets, to a dock on the New York side of the Hudson River where a steamer was in waiting. “Keep close to me,” said Mr. Newton to Larry. Once aboard the craft little time was lost. It steamed to the Jersey City side of the river, and there, disembarking, the reporters and the officials of the company who accompanied them walked through the yards of a railroad until they came to a group of small buildings.