The Washington herald., 1914-07-04
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE PINK BOMB.
by cLARIssA MACKIE.
tCopyight l9iLl

-
shifted the smoke-laden air with pleas
antly vivid recollections of his boyhood
The very smell OF powder Is tantaliz-
ing" he muttered. IF was a kid again
I'd be shooting of crackers and cannons
and-well. wouldn't be eating my heart
for any girl"
Across the wide lawn there was a
glimpse Of Amy Deering's white frock as
she sought the comparative seclusion of
the little pine grove. Amy was timid
concerning frecrackers and her small
nephew was recklessly tossing the sput-
tering red crackers dangerously near her
seat under the trees
Teddy came woefuIly up to Bob's ham,
mock. In one chubby hand was a bit of
glowing punk; in the other he carried
box Of frecrackers.
What's the matter. kid?'' asked Bob
kindly.
II want some one to shoot OF with
me-" quavered Teddy. ''Muyver's got a
headache. daddy's gone over to Wood
side, and Aunt Amy's a 'fraid cat-'fraid
Of firecrackers" he added contemptu-
ously.
We'll. you stay here and I'll help you
shoot them or" said Bob cheerfuIly.
There's no fun in spending Fourth of
July alone" He swung his feet to the
ground and made room for the delighted
little fellows first he advised with a
thought for Mrs Banks aching head.
She acts mad at me-" grumbled Teddy
as he blew on the punk stick.
Whom do you mean?"
Aunt Amy. think she's mad at me.
She don't love me any more"
she don't love me, either" remarked
Bob gloomily.
We'll, you amt her little nephew, like
I am"
II don't want to ber'
Nor her little brother. either" went
on Teddy.
"Glad Of it," calculated Bob savagely.
The last thing I'd want TO be is-Aunt
Amy's brother. Ye gods,''
Il expect IT'S because she's such a
'fraId cat observed Teddy. after he had
listened to the infantile popping of some
small firecrsckers. IF I was a big girl
cat that I'd cry"
rs she crying?" demanded Bob sharply.
Teddy nodded vigorously. She showed
me away" he said mournfully. Il
thought / was her dear lamb,'
Bob threw a brotherly arm around the
small boys shoulder You can be MY
lamb. Teddy" he consoled him.
Teddy was comforted and began to
cherish resentment toward his beloved
aunt
She needn't be so cross" he muttered.
Just because she's araId OF crackers.
I'd like to know what she'd think II 1
blew her up with a big bomb?"
she probably wouldn't be in a position
to do much thinking" commented Bob
dryly.
I've a great mind to sneak up behind
her and set OF some cannon crackers"
remarked Teddy. growing bolder. What
do you think, Bob? Wouldn't she be
scared?'
hastily. Let's make a pink bomb, eh?'
What's a pink bomb?''
You wait and see-bring me that bunch
of pink tissue paper from the box over
there" While Teddy trotted on on his
errand Bob scribbled a few lines on a
page of his notebook and tore out the
leaf. Then he crumpled up some old let
ters and put them within the pink tissue
paper ball he deftly made. The bomb
was tied around the top with a bit Of
twine and a deadly looking fuse pro-
When II was finished, Bob gave his |
careful directions.
Go into the pine grove, Teddy, and |
drop this on the ground behind Aunt |
Amy. Touch your punk to the fuse and |
then tell her that there's something in
side OF II for her-from me-tell her IL she !
don't want to read II. she can let the |
bomb burn 1t up-if she does, want to see |
II. why put the fire out-that's aIl-see?' |
No." said Teddy blankly. There's
not much noise about that bomb, is !
there?''
You'd think so If you could hear my
heart"'
TN do It for you. Bob, because love |
you," said Teddy going of with the pink |
bomb; but think II sounds rather
silly"
Bob sank back in the hammock.
silly he groaned. Its the crown
ing act of an asnine career"'
Perhaps Bob Loring was rather severe
IN himself; but he was hopelessly in love
with Amy. and lately the girl had grown
70 cold and distant that only a per
sistent lover would have faced her aloof-
less and accepted the Banks invitation
or the Fourth OF July. Bob was con-
tnuaIly planning for an opportunity to
ell Amy about his love and invariably /
The evaded his manifest declaration.
Today was a fair sample. Here was
ne glooming alone in the hammock; III
here in the pine grove was Amy-Teddy
lad said she was in tears. Was there
mother lover7 Bob's heart jumped un-
pleasantly at the very idea Of rival.