"Not yet," said Stubbs. "But I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you my news one hour from now. That will assure The Gazette of a beat."
He remained deaf to all urging, and directly the other correspondents gave it up as a bad job.
Jennings, watch in hand, an hour later said.
"Come, Stubbs, time’s up. What’s your news?"
"Well," said Stubbs quietly and with an air of great importance, "the armistice has been signed."
"What?" yelled Jennings. "You’re crazy, man! There has been no conference yet."
"Nevertheless, it’s true," said Stubbs. "I have my information from unimpeachable sources."
"Who told you?" demanded Timothy, of The Mail.
"You’ve been in the game long enough to know a newspaperman doesn’t divulge the source of information, Timothy," said Stubbs. "Nevertheless, I can say that it came from a very high source."
"Well," said Jennings, "I don’t believe it. I’m not going to flash my paper on any such information. I’m standing pat."
"And here," "and here," chimed in the others.
"Suit yourselves," said Stubbs with a shrug. "You’ll probably get the word in the morning."
In spite of the fact that the other correspondents declined to take Stubbs’ words as gospel, it was an uneasy group of men Stubbs left behind him.
All night long they tried in vain to confirm the signing of the armistice. It could not be done.
Stubbs came downstairs again at 7 o’clock. Once more he was surrounded by the correspondents.
"Boys," he said, "I shall call my source of information now. If I get the details, I will tell you where you can verify them."
He entered a telephone booth, where he remained for perhaps ten minutes. When he emerged again, his face was drawn and he walked with the air of a man who has lost his last friend.
"Well," demanded Jennings, "what have you to tell us?"
"Boys," said Stubbs slowly, "my days in the newspaper business are ended. I have just committed the cardinal sin. I have sent false information to my paper, though in good faith. The armistice has not been signed. Admiral W— has just informed me his information was premature. What his message should have said is that the conference is in session. My resignation shall be cabled to The Gazette together with my retraction."
"By Jove! that is tough," commented Timothy. "Yet, with such information I should have done the same. Well, our jobs are saved, but I’ll bet Stubbs’ resignation will be unnecessary. He’s fired right now, though he doesn’t know it."