Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-12-20

the gallery entrance to well down Fourteenth
street when Blink arrived
Step by step he moved along the line, passing
the brilliantly lighted stores from which shone
an intending array of Christmas things. At last
a gtterlng display of surgical instruments daz-
zled him; his eyes rested on two long pieces OF
polished wood crossed as a background to the
shining metal pieces and ne stopped, wide
eyed and open-mouthed.
In "a moment Blink was out Of the line. In an
other hour he was home, standing before his
mother and holding pair Of clutches up to her
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 for her
Christmas present, at which Mr.. COrrigan folded
the boy In her arms until he suddenly straight
ened up. excited.
"Say, look derel' he exclaimed, pointing
breathlessly to bright glare In the western sky.
.'Geei VIII yez look at IT.. Dere's whoppin' big
fire somewheres.".
It wns half past ten o'clock when Blink
reached Broadway. The sidewalks were filled
with the usual Christmas eve crowd, most Of
them unheedful Of the fire toward which Blink
was hurrying.
with each step the crowd grew denser. the ex-
element greater. Occasionally few people
came hurrying In the opposite direction and from
these Blink heard lot Of mixed rumOrs. But
what he did hear made him rush the faster. It
was the Regent theNter; an explosion that seemed
to start fire all the theater at once, panic,
and or more of people supposed to have
been lost
For 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:
INV Cod Gallagher There's people been
killed Wasn't there no way7 Couldn't you
stop it2'
allow could stop it," came the growing reply.
II 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, | tell You, until the tanks we
had on the calcium lights get weak Just in the
burglary scene. The stage manager got hot and
called for them other tanks. Well, there was
nothin' to 1t; had to get EN- out. / was maxim
slow work SOS the scene would be over. but the
stage manager was fiery He had them things
connected in n second, turned 'em on, and when
the gasolene spray hit them redhot 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 for moment. then,
.Where's the manager, JmY
81 don't know wns the reply Blink heard.
I'VE warned him. Well it's done now, but wish
we could haYe burnt his house without
tShut up man. Somebody might hear"
A heavy prolonged rumble, followed by duh
crash of falling wallis the shouts of ilremen. and
an increased cracking of the flames held the
men speeches. for moment while Blink crawed
to the edge OF the areaway. Then:
allow about Collins2 He might blow. Let's go
to the hospital and talk to him. It'll be safer"
There was another pause, then the reply: 81
never got the name of the hospital don't know
where he is"
"You don'ti" came the astounded voice "Then
we viii have to beat It. This is no place for me
and YOU
The story had become very apparent to Blink
ana before the men started he had picked his
way down the smoke-flled alley turned back, run.
Ming purposeiy stumbled against them, and
stood painting for breath.