Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1918-12-14
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the gallery entrance to well down Fourteeh.n
street when Blink arrived.
Step by step he moved along the line, passing
the brilliantly lighted stores from which shone
an unending array of Christmas things. AT last
a glittering display Of surgical instruments daz.
zled him; his eyes rested on two long pieces OF
polished wood crossed as background to the
shining metal pieces, and he stopped, wide
eyed and open-mouthed
In moment Blink was out of the line. In an
other hour he was home standing before MS
mother and holding pair Of clutches up to her
astonished gaze with but fifteen cents left in his
pockets.
Hatingly, Blink told his story to his mother
and asked her to wait until next week for her
Christmas present at which Mr.. Corrigan folded
the boy in her until he suddenly straight
ened up, excited.
breathlessly to bright glare in the western sky.
Gee Will yez look at it. Dere's whoppin big
fire somewheres."
It was half past ten o'clock when Blink
reached Broadway. The sidewalks were filled
with the usual Christmas eve crowd, most of
them unheedful of the fire toward which Blink
was hurrying
With each step the crowd grew denser. the ex-
citement greater. Occasionally a few people
came hurrylng in the opposite direction, and from
these Blink heard lot Of mixed rumors. But
what he did hear made him rush the faster. 1t
to start fire all over the theater at once panic
and n score more Of people supposed to have
been lost.
For moment Blink shuddered at what he
felt was a narrow escape for Skeeter and him
self But his boyish excitement gave little room
for sentiment. and he became all intent upon
getting nearer.
Couldn't You Stop III"
Presently the voices Of two men caused Blink
Thar In
one said:
"My God, Gallagherl There's people been
killed. Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop t?"
"How could stop it?' came the growing reply.
1T had the two marked tanks stored away in
props room, fixed SOS I could turn em on last
thing before left after the house closed. Every
thing was O. K, tell you until the tanks we
had on the calcium lights got weak just in the
burglary scene. The stage manager got hot and
called for them other tanks Well, there was
nothin' to 1t I had to get 'em out was maxim
slow work SOS the scene would be over, but the
stage manager was fiery. He had them things
connected in second, turned em on, and when
the gasolene spray hit them red-hot limestones
In the lamp-My God! never anything like
it. Both tanks burst together, and-you know
the rest"
The two men were silent for moment, then,
where's the manager, Jim?"
81 don't know" was the reply Blink heard.
1--WE warned him. Well, it's done now, but wish
we could have burnt his house without"
"Shut up man. Somebody might hear"
A heavy prolonged rumble, followed by dull
crash of falling walls the shouts of firemen, and
an Increased cracking Of the flames held the
men speechless for moment while Blink crawled
to the edge of the areaway. Then:
"How about Collins? He might blow. Let's go
to the hospital and talk to him. It'll be safer"
There was another pause, then the reply: II
never got the name Of the hospital don't know
where he Isl
"You don't !" came the astounded voice. 'Then
we will have to beat It This is no place for me
and YOU
The story had become very apparent to Blink,
and before the men started he had picked his
way down the smoke-fled alley, turned back run
Ming purposely stumbled against them, and
stood painting for breath