Gilpin observer., 1907-05-09
AN UNWELC.OME
BOMB


so desperate 1t was necessary for him
to part with the things he priced.
1t was his love of the antique that
drew him to the secondhand stores.
Furniture was his hobby and when he
came upon a desk that had been made
in another land and years ago his en-
thusiasm burst all bounds.
I'll buy IT." he shouted. in his en-.
thusiasm and failed to remember he
had forgotten to ask the price. Put
1t in a wagon and send it to the
house."
1t came the next morning and he
was there to receive it.
"a beauty, eh?" he murmured to his
wife.
"Oh, well, very nice, but"
"Oh. of course you can find flaws"
he interrupted. I'D like to see you
get enthusiastic about something"
The wife didn't share the enthusi-
asm her husband possessed for all
things that were old. He opened
drawer after drawer and seemed to
revel in the excellent workmanship
he had discovered.
What is this?" he demanded sud-
denly.
What have you found now?"
Queried the wife.
Il don't know, but look"
She did and was dismayed.
That's a bomb. Where did you
find it?"
IN this secret drawer"
u1a ha1
face. So had the color from that of
his wife.
What if we had dropped it?"
queried he.
What if you had?" queried she.
They stood and looked at one an
other for a moment. Both were
speechless.
What can 1 do with it?" he
queTied.
Never having owned a bomb,
can't say" she retorted.
"Oh, don't get sarcastic. I'll toss It
in the garbage pail"
Horrors, moi" she shrieked. III
you toss it in the garbage pail it will
go off Then where'll we be-"
Il hadn't thought of that" he said.
They were silent. He was thinking
and she was doing the same.
What can / do with it?" he muir
mu~ed, and picked the bomb from the
iioor.
Il have it. Send for a messenger
boy and send it to the chief Of police"
"Oh, how nice of you he muttered,
and there was sarcasm in the tone.
Wrap it up carefully and give to to
the boy. You wouldn't have NE tell
him what 1t is. He would fail. There
would be an explosion. I would be a
murderer in the eyes of the Law. You
must be exceedingly anxious TO realize
on that insurance policy"
"Oh, forgive me; was just joking
"Of course. But don't any more"
he answered.
They fell to thinking once more.
What shall we do?" she querled.
"Ah, | have it." he answered. I'll
board a car I'll ride downtown and
as | pass over the Wells street bridge
Iii toss it into the river"
Fine" she chorused, land III. go
with you"
"Oh, no. There might be an acct
dent. IRE might be a collision and
we'd both go up"
"Oh. but l insist upon going"
She was very firm and five minutes
later they were aboard the car.
There was no accident. But they
attracted much attention Everybody
on the car wondered rchat was in the
package the man held 50 tenderly.
They were nearing the bridge when
the man arose and walked to the rear
platform of the car.
Il go with you," she muttered.
"Oh, no."
mo scene in the car, mind YOU.
20 with you," she said. and did
The car was passing over the bridge.
His hand was raised high and the
package was in 1t.
"Oh," she shrieled, and tie hand
descended. But the bomb was not
hurled into space nor into the water
below.
Whats the trouble?" he asked
Don't throw 1t. You might hit an
iron cable. II you did it would ex.
plode and we'd all be killed"
But what can do?" he demanded
"Just carry it on" was her advice
and they sought the car.
OF course, they couldn't spend the
day in the downtown district w.,h the
bamb beneath their arms. They
thought of placing 1t in one of the
boxes marked Help Keep the City
Clean" They were afraid. however
and 1t was when the pangs of hunger
began to worry them thLt they
stopped and determined the fate OF .he
bamb and their own must be settled
definitely and at once.
What shall we do?" she asked.
I'm sure don't know, but He
halted. for he saw policeman ap
proaching. He advanced to the of