Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1918-12-14

Say" he said, between breaths, "coud youse
guys tell me where I could find Mister Gallagher"
The men eyed Blink suspiciously. "What d'you
want with him?" asked one of them
They's guy sick In the City hospital what
wants to see him right away" returned Blink.
Ihey sent me up here dead rum"
Another great crash and then the smoke in
the alley became binding But Blink saw the
men run, and he fancied he saw also grin of
satisfaction
Close on their heels Blink ran to the nearest
telephone and called the city editor of the Record
lie was not stranger to that official and he
said, dis is Blink Corrigan. Know me?"
Yes, yes; what is it?' hurried voice.
I've got somethin' great fer youse and the
record about the fire. answered Blink excitedly.
Send man and two plain cops to meet at de
City hospital right away. Tell 'em to wait fer
me II | don't get dere ahead Of dem. I'll point
out de men they got to arrest. Are youse on?
Cause of fire?" questioned the city editor.
Sure, an a sumner"
At the hospital Blink stationed himself in the
shadow Of one of the big columns at the main
entrance. Presently the two men from the thea
ter appeared. Blink's heart started to sink, but
as they turned to mount the steps the Record
man and two headquarters men turned the cor
ner.
Blink slid out from behind the pillar, ran down
the steps, and wildly waved his arms to the de-
tectves "Pfnch em !" he cried as they hurried
up.
The two men turned about "What's this for?"
asked one.
Excitedly Blink blurted out the story It
caused laugh from the men, looks of incredulity
on the part of the detectives, and even question
on the face of the reporter. But Blink instead of
losing his nerve, remembered stories of the third
degree" boldly Jerked his thumb over his shoulder
and said, mo use bluffin' It's all up wild youse
He's confessed-got scared when he heard of 0e
fire."
Blink plucked at the sleeve of one of the de.
tectives and pulled him aside. "Say" he whis-
pered, dat was a bluff about him confessin"
Il know 1t. you scamp" the officer replied; but
he Will son, don't you worry"
The mental preparation of the injured man
within the hospital by the police was slow and
tedious process through which Blink was con-
soled by numerous winks from the reporter 1t
was long after press time before the detectives
called upon the newspaper man to take down the
confession, which verified Blinks story. In the
meantime the reporter had written the main fea-
tures OF the story In anticipation, waited only for
the verincation and motive, and when they came
was off in an instant. Blink followed and laid in
stock OF papers, which promised to contain an
unusual and rapid-selling story.
They did, and they sold more rapidly then ever
before in all Bnk's professional experience Only
after the edition exhausted Blink went home
armed with the proceeds in the form of two bum
dies, one for his mother and one for Skeeter
It was a glorious Christmas morning. The sun
had risen brightly and Blink went in whistling
Just as he passed into the room messenger ar.
rived and handed in an envelope and CODY of
the Record. 1t was the first opportunity Blink
had had to spell out the headlines, and on the
front page In big, black type, supported by half
dozen subheads and encircled by a heavy blue
pencil mark were the words: "a Newsboy De-
tectve."
de wit fho