The Tomahawk., 1918-12-19

"Say" he said, between breaths, "could youse
guys tell me where I could find Mister Gallagher"
The men eyed Blink suspiciously. "What d'you
want with hm?" asked one OF Them
"They's a guy sick in the City hospital what
wants to see him right away" returned Blink.
'They sent me up here a dead rum"
Another great crash and then the smoke In
the alley became binding But Blink the
men run, and he fancied he saw also a grin Of
satisfaction.
Close on their heels Blink ran to the nearest
telephone and called the city editor of the Record.
He not a stranger to that official, and he
said, "Dis is Blink Corrigan Know me?'
Eyes, yes; what is it?" came hurried voice.
"I've got somethin' great fer youse and the
Record about the fire." answered Blink excitedy.
"Send a man and two plain cops to meet at de
City hospital right away. Tell 'em to wait fer
me If don't get dere ahead Of dem. I'll point
out de men they got to arrest. Are youse on?'
Cause of fire" questioned the city editor;
Sure an a stunner.'
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 Blink'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.
Excitedly Blink blurted Out the story. It
caused laugh from the men, looks of incredulity
the part Of the detectives, and even question
the face OF the reporter. But Blink, instead of
losing his nerve, remembered stories of the third
degree" boldly jerked his thumb over his shoulder
and said, mo use bluffin' It's all up wild youse
, He's cOnfessed-got scared when he heard of tse
fire."
Blink pucked ut the sleeve of one of the de-
tectives and pulled him aside. "Say" he wtis-
pered, dat was a 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 slow and
tedious process through which Blink was con-
sOed by numerous winks from the reporter. It
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 fea-
lures of the story in anticipation waited only for
the verifcation and motive, and when they came
was of in an Instant Blink followed and laid in
a stock Of papers, which promised to contain an
unusual and rapid-seng story.
They did, and they sold more rapidly then ever
before In all Blink's professional experience. Only
after the edition was exhausted Blink went home
armed with the proceeds in the form Of two bun
dies, one for his mother and one for Skeeter.
It was a glorious Christmas morning. The sun
had risen brightly and Blink went In whistling.
Just he passed into the room q messenger ar.
rived and handed in an envelope and q copy Of
the Record. It was the first opportunity Blink
had had to spell out the headlines, and on the
front page in big black type supported BY half
dozen subheads and encircled by a heavy blue
pencil mafk were the words: "A Newsboy De-
tective."
Blink cast it aside with the expression, "slush I"
opened the envelope, and passed 1t to his mother.
Il Mrs. Corrigan read:
my dear Blink: Inclosed find check for $50 IN
part payment for last nights work. By your
friendnness to u.s. 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 of the fire, the Record made the great
est scoop In history. Therefore, I say, the in
clesed 10 In par: payment. Please come to ths
ONCE tomorrow eight prepared to 90 to work.
"ANOEUS0N C. e.