Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-12-20

guys tell me Where could ma Mister Gallagner!
The men eyed Blink suspicousy. "What dyou
want with him?" asked one Of them.
"Theys n guy sick In the City hospital what
wants to see him right away" returned Blink.
"Ihey sent me up here on 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 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
said "Dls Is Blink Corrlgan Know me?"
Yes. yes; what Is itT' came n hurried voice.
I've got somethln' great fer youse and the
Record about the fire." answered Blink excltedly
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 de men they got to arrest. Are yonse on?'
Cause of freT 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. Blnk'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-
tectlves "Pinch emf" he CRIED as they hurried
up.
The two men turned about whats this forY
asked one.
ExcltedIy Blink blurted out the story 1t
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
hold IL, rla1 lie hts chnn1l
and said mo use bluffin. It's all up wild youse.
He's confessed-got scared when he heard of Ne
fire."
Blink plucked ut the sleeve Of one Of the de-
tectves and pulled him aside. "Say," he whls
pered. "dat was bluff about him confessin'."
II 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
s0led by numerous wlnks from the reporter. II
was long after press time before the detectives
called upon the newspaper man to take down the
confession which verified Blink's story. In the
meantime the reporter had written the main fea
lures of the story In anticipation waited only fol
the verifcation and motive, and when they came
was off In an instant. Blink followed and laid II
a stock Of papers. which promised to contain az
unusual and rapid-selling story.
They did. and they sold more rapidly then eve'
before In all Blink's professional experience. onl!
after the edition was exhausted Blink went home
armed with the proceeds In the form of two bun
dies one for his mother and one for Skeeter.
IT was a glorious Christmas morning The SUI
had risen brightly and Blink went in whistng
Just as he passed into the room messenger M
rived and handed In an envelope and copy 0
the Record. 1t was the first opportunity Bnl
had had to spell out the headlines, and on tn
front page in big black type, supported by half
dozen subheads and encrced by heavy blu
pencil mark were the words: "A Newsboy Dc
tective."
Blink cast 1t aside with the expression, "Slush
opened the envelope, and passed 1t to his mother
Mrs. Corrigan read:
"My dear Blink: Inclosed find check for $50 4
part payment for last nights work. BY you
friendiness to us, the delay In securing the cor
fession, and the fact that the men on the othe
papers were chasing up the manager OF the r,
gent In every corner of New York for story O
the cause of the fire. the Record made the grea
est scoop in history. Therefore, say, the Ii
closed is in part payment. Please come to tn
office tomorrow night prepared to go to work.
"a A NyF, -