The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-12-28

| HEEMSdN face to the bundle of pa
| HhBggSE1N pers under the lads arm as
| HgANz2yH the little fellow turned
| from a signboard at the
| edge of the alley.
what youse whimperin' about,
ymutt" he asked Then as Skeeter
| fingered his newspapers he added,
"Stuck?'
Z are" replied skeeter sadly, lean -
ing against the corner Of the building, -
one foot resting on top of the other.
San look dere." &C
Blink cooked his left eye In the di-
recton of Shelters nod, and with an
exclamation of boyish delight beheld
the dramatic scenes portrayed In bril-
liant c0lorS.
Blink was nicknamed for that detection of his
left eye, and readily recognizing that short I'M
complicated names were suitable for the needs
of their profession, he had applied "Skeeter" to
his diminutive younger brother with the authority
of the elder brother of fatherless family.
"Why Didn't | See Dat Last Week."
After a few minutes of hard mental labor
Blink spelled out the wording Great MikeP he
exclaimed '1Why didn't | see dat last week.
Then turning to skeeter Say Skeet Ieaye us 90
tonight, hey? IT'S de Newisboy Detective It's
| at de Regent, an we ken git In de loft fer 10
cents"
Again Shelters face was overspread with sad
ness. Il only got 'nough to buy mudder's Christ
mas present an six cents over" replied the boy.
San people amt buyin no more"
Jaw, choke it off youse amt on de job little
Bit" retorted Blink although he knew that the
demand for papers was decreasing. He glanced
at Shelters big armful and then at his own slim
pile, and softened bit. "Gwan now, make
hurry" he added. "rll give youse de foist
chance"
customer whistled and Skeeter ran off. Blink
jinged the coins in his pocket. "Tll help de poor
kid If he don't sell enough" he told himself,
"Sold tree" came Skeeter's shril voice from
the corner.
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
riages, 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 a heavy dray drawn by two run
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 bystanders helped him extri-
cate both Skeeter and one 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
Remember, JEl,' he said in a low tone audi
Bile enough to Skeeter, "them two tanks what's
marked is them what has the gasolene forced In
EN-; other twos plain. The teams all right,
amt it?'
The man nodded
.Then get 'em up to the Regent as soon as you
cam" the injured man continued. "Bill knows
the mark but be suren tell him they're for the
second performance tonight"
Blink mad Skeeter home by seven o'clock. Vi
sions of the preparations which their mother
and Skeeter> and he had made for their Christmas
feast had strengthened his peadings with the
hospital doctors. They found. badly sprained
ankle and few bruises.
Blink had cast aside all thought of the theater
after the accident, but when his mother and he
had made Skeeter comfortable In bed Skeeter
said, "Ain't y0use goin', BlinkY'
saint no good" returned Blink shifting awk-
wardly.
"AintT repeated Skeeter, his head thrust up
in emphasis "Dat's ali you knows. Why deres
roin' to be two performances tonight"
Blink's eyes opened wide In surprise. "Tw0p
be exclaimed. "Who said so?"
.De man what went to de hospital wit me-"
said Skeeter, and he told of the conversation.
.Hully Jiml' exclaimed Blink excitedly Deere
must be some class to dat show"
II fink so,' Skeeter agreed. can say, Blink,
you go, an tomorrer youse kin tell me all
lbou. It,"
Blink slapped his knee and jumped from his
hair. II never fought Of dat" he said. "rll
10 It"
long Line Of eager Aewsboys stretched Exam