The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-12-12

Say he said between breaths could youse
guys tell me where could find Mister Gallagher
The men eyed Blink suspiciously. "What d'you
want with him?" asked one of them
They's a guy sick in the City hospital what
wants to see him right away" returned Blink
They sent me up here a dead run"
Another great crash and then the smoke in
the alley became binding. But Blink saw the
men run, and he fancied he saw also a grin of
satisfaction
Close on their heels Blink ran to the nearest
telephone and called the city editor of the Record.
he was not stranger to that official and he
safd dis is Blink COrrfgan. Know meg"
Yes, yes; what is it?" came hurried voice
I've got somethin' great fer yOuse and the
Record about the fire." answered Blink excitedIy.
SEND man and two plain cops to meet at de
City hospital right away. Tell em to wait fer
me If don't get dere ahead OF dem. I'll point
out dc men they got to arrest Are youse on7"
cause of fire" questioned the city editor.
Sure, an 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-
tectives. pinch 'eml" he cried as they hurried
up.
The two turned about. whats this for?"
asked one
Excitedly Blink blurted out the story 1t
caused laugh from the men, looks of incredibly
on the part of the detectives and even a 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 shouldeA
and said. NO use bluffn'. It's all I'D wild youse
He's confessed-gOt scared when he heard of de
fire."
Blink plucked at the sleeve of one of the de-
tectives and pulled him aside. "Say" he wfis-
pered, dat was bluff about him confessin''
81 know it, you scamp" the officer replied: 'ebut
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 It
was long after press time before the detectives
called upon the newspaper man to take down the
confession, which verified BI1nk's story In the
meantime the reporter bad written the main fea-
lures OF the story in anticipation, waited only for
the verifcatiOn and motive, and when they came
was off in an instant. Blink followed and laid in
a stock of papers, which promised to contain an
unusual and rapid-seIling story.
They did, and they sold more rapidly then ever
before in all Blinks 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
1t was glorious Christmas morning The sun
had risen brightly and Blink went in wbistlinp
Just as he passed into the room a messenger ar
rived and handed in an envelope and q oonv %
the Record. It was the first Opportunity RIinL-
had had to spell out the headlines and on the
front page in big, black type, supported by half a
dozen subheads and encircIed by a heavy bIue
pencil mark were the words: "a Newsbov Do
tective."
Blink cast it aside with the expression "Susb -,
opened the envelope, and passed it to his D,o+bo-
Mrs. Corrigan read:
my dear Blink: Inciosed find check for $50 IN
part payment for last nights work Rv von-
friendliness to US, the delay in securing the CON
fession and the fact that the men on the otb
papers were chasing up the manager of the Re-
gent In every corner OF New York for a -sto-, %
the cause OF the fire, the Record made the prea+-
est scoop in history. Therefore, say. the in.
closed is in part payment. Please come TO +ba
office tomorrow night prepared to 90 to work
ANDERSON, c. e.