Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-12-14
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the gallery entrance to we'll down FOurteene'
street when Blink arrived.
Step by step he moved along the line, passing
the brilliantly lighted stores from which shone
an amending array of Christmas things Al last
a glitterng display of surgical instruments ulz.
zled him; his eyes rested on two long pieces Oh
polished wood crossed as a background 10 the
shining metal pieces, and he stopped "lue'
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 a pair OF clutches up 10 ner
astonished gaze with but fifteen cents left IN his
pockets.
Haltingly, Blink told his story to his mother
and asked her to wait until next week Tor ner
Christmas present. at which Mr.. Corrigan folded
the boy in her arms until he suddenly straight
ened up excited.
"Say, look dere" he exclaimed pointing
breathlessly to a bright glare in the western sky
Gee! Will yez look at it. Dere's whoppin Dig
fire somewheres"
It was half past ten o'clock when Blink
reached Broadway The sidewalks were filed
with the usual Christmas eve crowd, most OF
them unheedfu of the fire toward which Blink
was hurrying.
With each step the crowd grew denser the ex-
citement 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 theater; an explosion that seemed
to start fire all 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 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
"couIdnt You Stop IT"
Presently the voices Of two men caused Blink
to draw farther in. They stopped near by and
one said
my God. Gallagher! There's people been
killed. Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop it?"
'How could stop it," came the growing reply.
II had the two marked tanks stored away in
props room, fixed eos 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 l had to get 'em out 1 was maxim
slow work SOS the scene would be over, but the
stage manager fiery. He had them things
connected in second, turned em on, and when
the gasOlene spray hit them red-h0t limestOnes
In the lamp-My God never seen anything like
It. Both tanks burst together, and-you know
the rest
The two men were silent TOT q moment, tnen
"Where's the manager, Jim"
Il 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 speeches. for a moment while Blink crawled
to the edge Of the areaway. Then:
allow 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: Il
never got the name Of the hospital don't know
where he is"
you don'tl" 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-flled alley. turned back rum
ning purposely stumbled against them, and
stood painting for breath.