Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-12-19
NrezfM He/"he exclaimed. Wzy
olu1E/See oAk last Ne4h?"

NV
the gallery entrance to well down foarteeA'A
street when Blink arrived.
Step by step he moved along the lhe' p",sne
the brilliantly lighted stores from when sh"ne
nm unending array of Christmas things. Al n'
q %glittering display of surgical Instruments u"I
zled him; his eyes rested on two long p'ee'' ~
nol,shed wood crossed as a background 10 te
shining metal pieces. and he stopped "Aue
eyed and opeE-mouthed.
In n moment Blink was out of the llhe' III ~
other hour he was home. standing pelore ~
mother and holding a pair Of crutches up 10 ner
ostonished gaze, viii but fifteen cents lett III HIS
pockets. .ua,o.
Holtinc,y. Blink told his story to MS mother
md asked her to wait until next week 10Y ~,
Christmas present, at whic, Mr.. Corrisan folaeo
the boy in her arms until he suddenly stfa'sN''
ened up, excited. u,o
"sav' look dere," he exclaimed. pointing
hreathlessly to a bright glare IN the western shy
Gee, VIII yez look at 1t. Dere's a whopplh Dig
fire somewheres." ,.,-
II was half past ten o'clock when bllhk
reached Broadway. The sidewalks were n'e"
With the usual Christmas eve crowd, most VI
them unheedful of the fire toward when l'lhh
was %hurryins.
With each step the crowd grew denser' the eA'
citemtnt greater. Occasionally Il ie" psop.
came hurrylns in the opposite direction, ana iron,
these BIlnk uCAlu " III -
what he did hear made him rush the faster. ~
was tho Regent theater; an explosion that seemed
+o stort II fire ull over the theater Mt once. n panic
and n score or more Of people supposed TO nave
been lost
r,r q moment Blink shuddered at what ne
fo,t was a narrow escape for Skeeter ana NM
self But his boyish excitement gave little room
eor sentiment, and he became all intent upon
getting nearer.
"cou,dn't You Stop II"
Presently the voices Of two men caused 'l'hh
n draw farther in. They stopped near os anu
one said: ,oor
,.,,,,i Wasn't there no way? Couldn't you
stop it" - .o.,,, ror,r
g, hna Tho two marked tanks stored away IN
.nrons, room. fixed sos l could turn EN- on las'
,h,nr before l left after the house closed Every
thing was O. X. I tell you, until the ranks wv
had On the calcium lights got weak just IN te
burglary scene. The stage manager got NOT nho
rallied for them other tanks. Wen. there wa
nothln' to 1t; I had to get EN- out ! was nun. ~.
.,o,v wor, SOS the scene would be over, nut tN'
...,,o manager was fiery. He had them things
nonnncted in n second, turned 'em on, ana whel
No yoso,ene spray hit them rcd.hot Hmestohe'
in the lamp--My God! I never seen anything 'N
- Roth tanks burst together, and--you know
the rest" - Ana.
mia two men were silent for n moment. then
"Where's the manager, JimT
!. ~ don't know" was the reply Blink hearu
"wo warmed him. Well, it's done now, but ! wis
~ could have burnt his house without"
"shut ND, man. Somebody might hear"
A heavy prolonged rumble. followed BY a du
crash Of falling walls, the shouts Of hreinet. nm
On Increased cracking Of the flames held IN
mon speechless for a momen while Blink crawle
~ The edge Of the areaway. Then:
. allow about Collins? He might blow. Let's 8
to tho hospital and talk TO him IH DC saief.
. There was another pause, then the reply: :
never got tho name Of the hospital. don't Sno'
. where he IL" .n..
"You don't" came the astounded voice. 'The
we viii hive to beat It.. This il no place for m
md you" ~ -.
The story had become very apparent to BIN
: md before the men started he had picked n
\ woy down the smokeflled alley. turned back. rul
ming, purposely stumbled against them, o.
stood painting for breath.