The Red Cloud chief., 1918-12-19
Couldn't YoSh9oM.@"

yEfN<5D face to tia bundle of pa
VJyWSll pers under the lads arm
t-7HyN the little fellow turned
from II sgnboard at the
edge of the alley.
what youse whimperin' about,
ymutt?" he asked. Then us Skee;er
fingered his newspapers he added,
"Stuck?"
Il are" replied stceter sadly, lean. -
Ing against the corner of the building, "a
one foot resting on top of the other.
AN look dere." g.
Blink cooked his left eye In the d.
recton of Skeetcrs nod and with an
exclamation of boyish delight behcld
the dramatic scenes portrayed In bril-
liant cOlOrs
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 I See Dat Last Week?"
After few minutes of hard mental labor
Blink spelled out the wording. "Great Nike he
exclaimed 'Why didn't l dat last weekT
Then turning to Skeeter "Say, Skeet. leave us 20
tonight. hey? It's de Newsboy Detective It's
ut de Regent an ken git in de loft fer 10
cents"
Again Skeeters face was overspread with sad
ness. 81 only got 'nough to buy mudder's Christ.
mas present an six cents ever" replied the boy.
"An people amt buyin' no more"
saw, choke II off youse amt on de job little
bit" retorted Blink, although he knew that the
demand for papers was decreasing. lie glanced
at Skeeers big armfu and then nj his own slim
pile, and softencd' bit. "G'wan now. make
hurry" he added. "Tll give youse de foist
chance"
customer whlstcd and Skeeter ran off. Blink
tlngled the coins in his pocket. "l help de poor
kid If he don't sell enough" he told himself,
.c, thrill
the corner.
Blink beckoned TO him with wildly waving
arms. Hey youse, pipe yer lights over dere!' he
shouted, pointing across the street 'Gwan,
beat it.
Dodging In and out among the wagons and car
rages, Skeeter started across the street a
run. The street crowded with traffic mt that
point there was u great confusion of noises. and
the little fellow did not hear the warning shouts
that preceded heavy dray drawn by two run
ASeSwuy horses. Suddenly II crashed full into an
empty carriage and beneath the torn canvas, the
splntered wood and glass and the twisted iron
lay Skeeter. stunned.
Blink, too was stunned by the suddenness OF
the accident. Then bystapders helped him extrl-
cate both Skeeter and OF the men of the
team. Skeeter revived quickly. but the man
severely injured, and while he and Skecter lay
waiting for the ambulance he held q brief, hur-
red talk with his partner.
"Remember jim" he said in low tone, audi
Bile 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 itT'
The man nodded.
"Then get 'em Up to the Regent as you
can" the injured man continued. '"B 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.
slons of the preparations which their mother
and Skeeter and he had made Cor their Christmas
feast had strengthened his pleadings with the
hospital doctors. They found n badly sprained
ankle and few bruises
Blink had cast aside all thought of the theater
inter the accident, but when his mother and he
had made Skeeter comfortable in bed, Skeeter
said "Aint youse goin', Blink"
Saint no good" returned Blink, shifting awk-
wardly
"Ain'tT repeated skeeter, his head thrust up
I'm emphasis. Oats oil you knows Why, dere's
ipoin, TO be two performances tonight"
Blinks eyes opened wide in surprise. Two"
Ne exclaimed. "Who said soT'
"De man what went to de hospital wit me-"
sa,d Skeeter and he told of the conversation.
"Hully Jimw exclaimed Blink excltedy. "Dere
must be some class to dat show"
W fink So" Skeeter agreed. "An' say Blink,
you go, an tomorrer youse kin tell me all
about It,"
Blink slapped his knee and Jumped from his
chair ~ never fought of dat" he said. "Pll
do It."
,o,o ,,ro NJ eager newsboys stretched from