The Tomahawk., 1918-12-19
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the gallery entrance to well down FourteeA''
street when Blink arrived.
Step by step he moved along the line, passing
the brilliantly lighted stores from whlch snone
an unending array of Christmas things. Al !"s'
a glittering display of surgical instruments d"z.
zled him; his eyes rested on two long pieces VI
polished wood crossed as background TO ING
shining metal pieces, and he stopped VIDE
eyed and Open-mOuthed.
= In a moment Blink was out of the line. IN an
other hour he was home. standing before MS
mother and holding pair of crutches up 10 her
astonished gaze with but fifteen cents le1t IN MS
pockets. ''' ."'.*'
Haltingly, Blink told his story to his mother
and asked her to wait until next week for her
Christmas present, at which Mr. Corrigan 1olaeu
the boy in her arms until he suddenly straight
ened up, excited.
"Say look dere! ne eAca,"'eu' p"s .,''
breathlessy to a bright glare in the western SKY.
"Gee! Will yez look at it. Deres whoppin big
fire somewheres."
It was half past ten o'clock when Blink
reached Broadway. The sidewalks were hl'ed
with the usual Christmas eve crowd most OF
them unheedful of the fire toward which Blink
was hurry1ng
With. each step the crowd grew denser. the ex-
c,tement greater. Occasionally 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
was the Regent tneNter, Ill eApiOoAOA ulut ooeA|S~
to start fire all over the theater at once panic
and score or more of people supposed to have
been lost.
For a moment Blink shuddered at what he
felt was q 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'x You Stop It7"
= Presently the voices Of two men caused Blink
N1,ox, of0 nod
INV God, Gallagher! There's people been
killed. Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop it7'
"How could stop it7" came the growing reply.
<"I had the two marked tanks stored away In
.props' room, fixed SOS could turn 'em on last
thing before left after the house closed. Every
thing was O. K, I 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. WeIl there was
nothn' to It; 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 a second turned 'em on, and when
the gasolene spray hit them red-hot limestones
in the lamp-My God! never seen anything like
II. Both tanks burst together, and-you know
the rest" ~ -
The two men were silent for a moment, then,
"Where's the manager, JfmT
81 don't know" was the reply Blink heard.
I'VE 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 dremen, and
an increased cracking Of the flames held the
men speechless for q moment while Blink crawled
to the edge Of the areaway. Then:
"How about Collins1 He might blow. Let's go
to the hospital and talk to him. Hn be safer.".
There was another pause, then the reply: II
never cot the name Of the hospital I don't know
where he is" -
You don't!" came the astounded voice. Then
we viii have to beat It. This II no place for me
and you" z-..-- 80
The story had become very apparent to Blink,
and before the men started he had picked his
way down the smoke6 6Iled alley, turned bach, run
nins. purposely stumbled against then ~aod
stood painting for brsaA -- -