Ralph had an assignment in an outlying district of the city and he left the office at once while Tim sat down to write a column of aviation news. The chief copyreader left his desk and joined Tim. "I overheard what you were telling Ralph," he said. "Too bad that 'Mr. Seven' got away before Inspector Prentiss could see him." "Just my luck," muttered Tim. "What are you going to do next?" asked Dan. "Keep a close check at the hotel and also find out where 'Mr. Seven' rented a car. It's from one of two places and I may be able to learn where he has gone." CHAPTER SIX Another Visitor The battery of presses in the basement awoke with a roar and newsboys scurried on to the street, their shrill cries of "Extra! Extra!" echoing between the lanes of buildings. A copy boy came up from the press room with an armful of papers so fresh the ink was soft and smeary on the page. He handed one to the chief copyreader and another to Tim, then proceeded down the room leaving them at the various desks where they were eagerly scanned by reporters and copyreaders. "You turned in a great story on the pursuit and death of McDowell," said the copyreader. "Thanks, Dan," smiled Tim. "Coming from you, those words mean something." The managing editor stuck his head out of his office and, seeing Tim, beckoned to him. In one hand he held a copy of the extra. "Fine work," Carson told the flying reporter, "but I guess we have gotten in the habit of expecting good stories from you." "The answer to that is easy," grinned Tim. "I like reporting and if you really like a thing I believe you can do it well." "Any flying assignments for you today?" "Not so far." "I'm glad of that. After your gruelling flight of yesterday it will do you good to be out of the air for at least a day." Tim returned to his desk and sat down to the routine task of gleaning enough aviation news to make an interesting column. He always tried to work a day in advance on the column. It was well after mid-forenoon when he had completed the column and turned it in at the copydesk. The city editor, Ed Campbell, a comparative newcomer on the staff, looked up from his assignment book. "I've just received a wire that June O'Malley, new star of the Hollywood Follies, is coming through on the noon plane eastbound. Can you hop down to the field for an interview?" "Right away," promised Tim. "Better take a cameraman." Tim stopped at the photo department and a photographer was assigned to accompany him. Interviewing the latest sensation of the film capital was little more than routine and Tim found that the girl had little that she could or would say. The photographer got several snaps and they returned uptown where Tim managed, by hard work, to grind out half a column on the visit of June O'Malley to the airport.