Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-09-02

Little Tom wants to see his 'Nunck-
en- Chester" had been the concluding
words.
Not versed in the ways of very small
boys. Trowbridge provided himself
with a supply of crackers and fire.
works for the Observation-Disclosures
scion of he Walker family not at all
commensurate with that young gentle
mans years.
He was entirely unpreparcd for the
sight of Miss Collingwood on the
Walkers broad piazza.
"'Ere's Nuncken Chesterw came in
sweet. jubilant tones. and a little ly-
ing figure With flushed checks and
tumbled hair precipitated itself in
Trowbridge's arms.
"IIello. little man." and Chester lift.
ed him up on his shoulder. Raising
his hat with his free hand, he made
his way, thus incumbered up the steps.
the childish prattle relieving the stu
alton of acute embarrassment.
"You have a rival in Toms affcc-
tions." said Mrs. Walker to Miss Col
lingwood.
After dinner they sat on the piazza.
little Tom being allowed to sit up
later than his usual hour i'm honor Of
Chester's arrival. The two gentlemen
sat smoking and chatting where the
smoke of their cigars would lot reach
the ladies. Tom was running up and
down the path in front of the house
In all the eXuberance of his few years.
A boy appeared with a box the con-
child's interest.
"Put the box down on the steps," d.
rected Chester, giving the boy a coin.
whats got in de box??" demanded
little Tom. his face alight with inter-
est.
you'll see tomorrow" answered
Trowbridge and then continued his
conversation with the child's father.
Little Tom, finding his quest for in
formation ignored and objecting to the
delay arbitrarily imposed, promptly
climbed the steps and entered into an
investigation on his own account. He
removed the wrapping paper and with
his small. nimble fingers succeeded in
| pushing back the sliding cover, disclos-
ing to his ravished view various pack
ages of different colors and sizes.
These invited closer inspection, and he
proceeded to take them out Of the box
and deposit them on the step beside
him. Suddenly he came to something
which seemed to afford him great sat
isfaction and which he evidently
thought he recognized. for he breathed
ecstatically. big cigar" He put the
large 1irecracker to his lips and began
"mobin' like fader." In the fast gath
cring twilight little Toms motions
passed unobserved.
He glanced about him in proud CON
s~ciousness OF his manly attitude, when
his eyes were arrested by the sight of
smoke issuing from his fathers lips.
He pulled and exhaled like fader''
but without like results. A match was
all that was needed, and this coveted
article he discovered under Trow-
bridges chair. where it had been in
advertently dropped.
y moment sufiiced for the match to
find its way into the chubby fingers of
the baby boy. who scratched it and ap.
piled the flame to the fuse of the
cracker. which Immediately ignited.
There was a rush of skirts. and Cary
C~ollingwood. who had heard the
scratching of the match, dashed the
cracker out of the child's hands and
picked him UP in her arms. In he1
haste she had not noticed the direction
OF the burning cracker. which fell into
the box of explosives. There was q
cracking and suffering, and the fly.
ing sparks few to the crackers on the
step and caught the soft, fluffy skirts
of the young woman, the draft made
by her flying feet quickly tanning the
sparks into a brisk flame that leapeG
upward toward her face Finding her
self afire. she dropped the child Oh the
grass and quickly retreated. to fine
herself in Chester's arms. He began
beating out the flames with his hands
Walker coming quickly to his aid. talk
ing off his coat as he ran. The flames
were soon eNtinguished. but Miss Col
lingwood lay unconscious in Chester:
arms. Together they carried her int
the house and laid her ON the lounge
in the library. Mrs. Walker had al
ready t%elephcned for a doctor. but b,
the time he arrived the young lady hat
regained consciousness. She was car
ried to her and put to bed. Will,
Chester rcstlessly paced the piazza
impatiently awaiting the doctors re
appearance to learn the worst regard
ing the injured girl.
When he finally appeared Trowbridg
eagerly questioned him concerning tn,
extent of Miss Collingwood's injurie
and was much treasured by the doc
tors report that they were not seriou
and that she would be about in a few
days.
/ 1t was not till then that Trowbridg
showed his own hands, which had bee
) causing him acute pain, but which ii
his anxiety for Miss Colllngwood h
had scarcely needed.
ut was lucky for her that you acte'