Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-12-12
'Nezf IzsIewhe exG5E;rea Wzys
oH0zZ/S Sec oAf Izs1 Neeh2" .


the gallery entrance to well down Fourteenth
street when Blink arrived
Step by step he moved along the line, pass'hs
the brilliantly lighted stores from which shone
an unenling array Of Christmas things At last
glitterng display Of surgical instruments uaA
zled him his eyes rested on two long pieces OF
polished wood crossed as background to the
shining metal pieces. and he stopped. Woe
eyed and Open-nOuthed.
In a moment Blink was out Of the line In an
'other hour he home. standing before ms
mother and holding pair Of crutches up to her
astonished gaze with but fifteen cents left In his
pockets
Hatingly Blink told his story to his mother
and asked her to wait until next week for her
Christmas present at which Mr.. Corrigan foidea
the boy in her arms until he suddenly stralsnt-
enefl up, excited.
"Say, look dere!" he exclaimed. pointing
breathlessly to bright glare in the western sky.
Gee: Will yez look at It, Deres whoppin' big
fire somewheres."
It was 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 euch step the crowd grew denser. the ex-
element greater. Occasionally Few people
came hurryng 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 theater; an explosion that seemed
to start fire all over 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.
"couidn't You Stop TT"
Presently the voices Of two men caused Blink
to draw farther in. They stopped near by and
.My Cod. Gallagher! There's people been
killed. Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop it?" \
GLOW could stop it," came the growing reply.
81 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 got 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 second. turned 'em on. and when
the gasolene spray hit them red-hot limestones
in the lamp-My God never seen anything like
II. Both tanks burst together. and-you know
the rest.
The two men were silent for moment. then.
aWhere's the manager, Jim?"
II don't know" was the reply Blink Heard.
ave 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. and
an increased cracking Of the flames held the
men speechless for a moment while Blink crawled
to the edge Of the areaway. TheL:
allow about Collins1 He might blow. Let's 60
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 hosplts:. don't know
where he is"
.You don'tl" came the astounded voice. 'Then
we will have to beat II. This Is no place for me
and you" 4 s s45 s
The story had become very apparent to Blink,
and before the men started he. had picked his
@ way down the smokenlled alley, turned back. run
81 ming purposey stumbled against them, and
* stood painting for breath. ,.