The Red Cloud chief., 1918-12-19

say, ne Snld. between breathS, could yOuSe
guys tell me where could find Mister Gnlagher?'
The men eyed Blink suspicously what d'you
want with him| asked one of them
lheys guy sick In the City hospital what
wants to see him right away" returned Blink.
lhey sent me up here on dead rum"
Another great crash and then the smoke in
the alley became binding But Blink saw the
men run, and he fancied he saw also n grin Of
satisfaction
close on their heels Blink ran to the nearest
.e'ephohe ana called the city editor of the Record
ne was not stranger to that official. and he
said, dis is Blink Corrlgan Know me?
Yes, yes; what is it2' came n hurried voice.
rive got sometln' great fer yo,se and the
record about the fire." answered Blink excitedly
Send man and two plain cops to meet at de
CITY hospital right away. Tell 'em to wait fer
me II l don't get dere ahead OF dem. I'll point
out de men they got to arrest. Are youse on?"
Cause of fre?' questioned the city editor.
sure, an sumner"
At the hospital Blink stationed himself in the
shadow Of one of the big columns at the main
entrance. Presently the two men from the thea
ter appeared. Bnk's heart started to sink but
as they turned TO mount the steps the Record
man and two headquarters men turned the cor
ner.
Blink slid out from behind the pillar ran down
the steps, and wildly waved his arms to the de-
tectives. pinch 'em" he cried as they hurried
up.
The two men turned about. whats this for?'
asked one
Exctedly Blink blurted out the story. II
caused laugh from the men, looks of increduIty
on the part of the detectives and even a question
on the face OF the reporter But Blink, instead of
losing his nerve remembered stories of the third
degree, boldly jerked his thumb over hts shoulder
and said, mo use blufhn'. It's all up wild youse
He's confessed-got scared when he heard of iNe
fire."
Blink plucked at the sleeve of one of the de-
tectives and pulled him aside. "Say" he whis-
pered, dat was bluff about him confessin'"
II know It, YOU scamp" the officer replied; "but
he Will son, don't you worry"
The mental preparation OF the injured man
within the hospital by the police was a slow and
tedious process through which Blink was con.
foled by numerous winks from the reporter II
was long after press time before the detectives
called upon the newspaper man to take down the
confession, which verified Blink's story In the
meantime the reporter had written the main fca-
lures OF the story In anticipation waited onlv FOR
the verliication and motive and when they came
was OF In an instant. Blink followed and laid I'm
n stock of papers, which promised TO contain an
unusual and rapid.selling story.
They did, and they sold more rapidly then ever
before In all Bllnk's professional experience Only
after the edition was exhausted Blink went home
armed with the proceeds In the form OF two hun.
dies one for his mother and one for Skeeter.
II was glorious Christmas morning. The SIM
had risen brightly and Blink went in whstlIng.
just as he passed into the room messenger ar.
rived and handed In an envelope and COPY OF
the record. 1t was the first opportunity Blink
had had to spell out the headlines, and on the
front page In big, black type, supported by half a
dozen subheads and encircled by heavy bIue
pencil mark were the words: "a Newsboy De-
tectve."
Blink cast 1t aside with the expression "Sush ~
opened the envelope, and passed II TO his mother
Mrs. Corrigan read
my dear Blink: Enclosed find check for $50 IN
part payment for last nights work BY your
friendliness TO us. the delay In securing the con-
fession, and the fact that the men on the other
papers were chasing up the manager OF the Re.
gent In every corner Of New York for a story ON
the cause or the fre' the Record made the great.
est scoop In history. Therefore, | say the In.
closed Is In part payment Please come To the
office tomorrow night prepared TO go to work
ANDERSON, C. e.