“I will,” said Larry, and he made up his mind that if any rival tried to interfere with him he would have a fight on his hands that would make him wish he had not bothered our hero.
The Aldermanic Chamber was filled with men when Larry reached it. He could hardly wiggle his way to the door, and was stopped by several policemen on guard who wanted to know what right he had to enter. But Larry had but to mention that he was from the _Leader_, and show a card with his name on, signed by Mr. Emberg, to gain admittance. Whereat Larry felt that newspapers were of much importance, as far as gaining entrance into public place was concerned.
He saw a number of men with pencils and paper in front of them seated around a big table, and rightly guessed that they must be the reporters. Then he caught a glimpse of Mr. Newton and managed to make his way to a place behind his friend’s chair.
“I’m glad you are going to chase copy to-day,” said Mr. Newton. “There’s going to be a hot time, and I need a boy I can depend on.”
Larry sat down on the steps which surrounded the platform where the committee members were to take their places. The room was noisy with talk and full of bustle and excitement. Men were coming and going, their arms filled with books and papers. Uniformed messengers were entering and leaving.
Larry looked on either side of him and saw that he was not the only boy present. There were scores of lads from other papers, each one in attendance on some reporter and waiting to carry copy. The crowd increased, and Larry was beginning to wonder how he could get in and out of the doorway, which was choked with the throng.
Just then he looked down at the end of the room near the entrance. He saw someone regarding him with a malicious grin. It was Peter Manton, the former copy boy of the _Leader_.
Larry saw Peter lean over and whisper to a boy who stood near him, and then the two gazed at Larry. In a few minutes Larry saw Peter beginning to work his way up toward him.
“I wonder if he’s going to make trouble?” thought Larry. He found out a second later.
“Wait till I git you outside!” exclaimed Peter. “I’ll fix you for having me discharged!”
Larry was about to make reply when someone shouted “Silence!” The meeting was about to start.