Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-12-12
Couldn't YoUSk2ox:?"


"coz1daAx youst2oM?"
E|1L1NK CoRR1GAN looked
9dtSMAAN from Shelters hournful
HS3SASgN face to the bundle of pa
Es1yWSsAN pers under the lads arm
EGHNN the little fellow turned
from signboard at the
edge of the ailey
"What youse whimperin' about
y'mutt2' he asked. Then as Skeeter
fingered his newspapers he added,
"Stuck?"
II are" replied skeeter sadly. lean. $50
ing against the corner of the building. "a
one foot resting on top of the other.
can look dere" g
Blink cooked his left eye in the d.
rection of Skeeter's nod and with an
exclamation of boyish delight beheld
the dramatic scenes portrayed In brill
liant cOlors.
Blink nicknamed for that detection of his
left eye and readily recognizing that Short
complicated names were suitable for the needs
Of their profession. he had applied "Skeeter" to
his dlminutve younger brother with the authority
of the elder brother of fatherless family.
why Didn't See Dat Last Week."
After few minutes of hard mental labor
Blink spelled out the wording. "Great Aike!" he
exclaimed. "Why didn't l see dat last week?"
Then turning to Skeeter "Say, Skcet. leave us so
tonight, hey? It's de Newsboy Detective It's
at de Regent, an we ken git in de loft fer Is
CENTS"
Again Skeeter's face was overspread with sad
ness. Il only got 'nough to buy mudder's Christ
mas present, an six cents over, replied the boy.
IAN people amt buyin' more"
cav. choke it off; youse ain't on de job little
Bit" retorted Blink, although he knew that the
demand for papers was decreasing. He glanced
Mt Shelters big armful and then ut his own slim
pile, and softened a bit. "G'wan now. make
hurry" he added. "I1l give youse de foist
chance"
customer whtstled and skeeter ran of. Blink
jingled the coins in his pocket. "I'n help de poor
kid If he don't sell enough" he told himself
"Sold tree" came Skeeter's shrill voice from
the .s
Blink beckoned to him with wildly waving
arms. "Hey. youse. pipe yer lights over dere!" he
shouted, pointing across the street. "G'wan.
beat it."
DOdging in and out among the wagons and car
rages, Skeeter started across the street on
run. The street was crowded with traffic at that
point, there was great confusion of noises, and
the little fellow did not hear the warning shouts
that preceded heavy dray drawn by two rum
away horses. Suddenly it crashed full into an
empty carriage, and beneath the torn canvas the
splintered wood and glass and the twisted iron
lay Skeeter, stunned.
Blink. too, was stunned by the suddenness OF
the accident. Then bystaDders helped him extrl-
cate both Skeeter and Of the men of the
team. Skeeter revived quickly, but the man was
severely injured and while he and Skeeter lay
waiting for the ambulance he held brief, hur-
ried talk with his partner.
'llemcmber, Jm," he said in low tone audi
| bic enough to Skeeter, "them two tanks what's
marked is them what has the gasoene forced In
'em; other two's plain. The teams all right
amt it?"
The man nodded. "sE
"Then get 'em up to the Regent as soon as You
| can" the injured man continued. "Bill knows
the mark but be sure'n tell him they're for the
| second performance tonight"
Blink had Skeeter home by seven O'Clock. VI
sions Of the preparations which their mother
and Skeeter and he had made for their Christmas
Il feast had strengthened his pleadings with the
hospital DOCTORS They found a badly sprained
ankle and few bruises.
Il Blink had cast aside all thought of the theater
II after the accident, but when his mother and he
il had made Skeeter comfortable In bed Skeeter
said, "Ain't youse gOin, BlinkY
saint no good" returned Blink. shifting awk.
waraly.
.Ain't?" repeated Skeeter. his head thrust up
} IN emphasis. Oats all you knows. Why, dere's
roin' to be two performances tonight" 49,
Blink's eyes opened wide in surprise. 1.-TWO Z"
/ he exclaimed. ''Who said so7"
"De man what went to de hospital wit me, !"
said Skeeter, and he told Of the conversation.
"Hully Jm!" exclaimed Blink excitedly. Deere
, must be some class to dat chow"
Il IT tink So" Skeeter agreed. AN say. Blink
| Won 70, an tomorrer youse kin tell me al
! about 1t"
4 chair. Il never fought q dat" he said "rl
10 it, Ns Il. 9ss 1s.E
u long line Of eager nswsboys stretched from Iron