Well, this whaleback now." He rang up the Chamber of Commerce, and found out that the "City of Everett," which was the whaleback's name, was at the Mission Street wharf.

This made it possible for him to write the article in two ways.
He either could fake his copy from a clipping on the subject which the exchange editor had laid on his desk, or he could go down in person to the wharf, interview the captain, and inspect the craft for himself.
The former was the short and easy method.

The latter was more troublesome, but would result in a far more interesting article.
Condy debated the subject a few minutes, then decided to go down to the wharf.

San Francisco's water-front was always interesting, and he might get hold of a photograph of the whaleback.

All at once the "idea" of the article struck him, the certain underlying notion that would give importance and weight to the mere details and descriptions.
Condy's enthusiasm flared up in an instant.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed; "by Jove!" He clapped on his hat wrong side foremost, crammed a sheaf of copy-paper into his pocket, and was on the street again in another moment.