"What an old bear he is!" he whispered to Tom. "He
didn't treat me half decently when I was over here about the
watch."
"If only we had a little time I would fix him," whispered Tom in
return. He had sobered down for several days now and was dying to
play a trick on somebody.
They went into the station and procured tickets, and then found
the time for the train had been changed, and it would not be along
for nearly half an hour.
"Good! Just wait till I get back," said Tom.
He had noticed Ricks gathering up some waste paper around the
depot, and felt tolerably certain the old fellow was about to
build a bonfire of it. Walking over to one of the stores, he
entered, and asked the proprietor if he had any large firecrackers
on hand.
"Just two, sir," said the storekeeper, and brought them forth.
Each was six inches long and thick in proportion.
"How much?" asked the boy.
"Seeing as they are the last I have, I'll let you have them for
fifteen cents each."
"I'll give you a quarter for the two."
"Very well; here you are," and the transfer was made on the spot.
Slipping the firecrackers into his coat pocket, Tom sauntered up
to old Ricks, while Sam and Dick looked on, sure that something
was in the wind.
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