Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-12-20
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the gallery entrance to well GOWN Foui'e
street when Blink arrived. -,
Step by step he moved along the line, pass'"s
the brilliantly lighted stores from which shohe
AN amending array of Christmas things. AT ,i''
n glitterlng display of surgical Instruments va"
2led him: his eyes rested on two long pieces VI
polished wood crossed as background W 'ne
shining metal pieces, and he stopped, "iue'
eyed and open-mouhed.
In a moment Blink was out of the ihe III s, ~.
other hour he was home, standing peioie "'
mother and holding pair of clutches up ~ nv,
astonished gaze with but fifteen cents ieit III MS
pockets -.
Holtlnrly' Blink told his story to his mother
and asked her TO wait until next week ior nc,
Christmas present Mt which Mr.. Corrgnn toiaeu
the boy in her arms until he suddenly straisht
ened up. excited. ..,
"say, look derei" he exclaimed, poihtihs
breathlessly to n bright glare In the western shy!
Gee VIII yez look at 1t. Deres a whoppin Dig
fire somewheres." n.,.
7, was half past ten o'clock when Blink
reached Broadway. The sidewalks were hiieu
r,,h tho usuol Christmas eve crowd, most OF
Them unheedful of the fire toward which biinK
was hurrying
with each step the crowd grew denser the ex'
ctteu,nt greater Occasionally a few people
came hurrylng in the opposite direction, ana from
those Rink heard lot OF mixed rumors But
what he did hear made him rush the faster. II
was the Regent theater; an explosion that seemed
10 start fire all over the thenter at once panic
and n score or more of people supposed TO nave
been lost
For moment Blink shuddered at what ne
fat was narrow escape for Skeeter ana MINI
self But his boylsh excitement gave little room
far sentiment, and he became all Intent upon
getting nearer.
Couldn't You Stop III"
p,osont,v the voices Of two men caused Blink
n draw farther in. They stopped near by ana
one said:
aNv God. Gallagher! There's people been
lu1od Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop it?'
"How could stop itl" came the growing reply
az Ind the ,wo marked tanks stored away In
'nrops' room, fixed SOS could turn 'em on last
thing before left after the house closed Every
thing was o. X, tell you, until the tanks we
had on the calcium lights got weak just IN the
burglary scene The stage manager got hot ana
called for them other tanks Well, there was
nothin' TO II: had TO get 'em out. I was maxim
slow work SOS the scene would be over but the
stare manager was fiery. He had them Things
connected In a second turned em on, ana wheh
the gasolene spray hit them red-hot limestones
in the lamI-My God never seen anything IKE
II. 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.
eve warned him. Well, It's done now, but wish
we could have burnt his house without
"Shut up, man. Somebody might hear
heavy prolonged rumble, followed by dull
crash Of falling walls, the shouts of fremen, ana
an increased cracking of the flames held the
men speeches. for moment while Blink crawled
to the edge of the areaway. Then:
allow about Collins? He might blow. Lets go
TO the hospital and talk to him. It'll be SAFER.
There was another pause. then the reply: i
never got the name Of the hospital. don't know
where he is"
"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, ant
stood painting for breath. %