Only the person
who put this bomb together didn't get the chemical mixture just
right, and it went off ahead of time; for which we have to be
duly thankful."
"Do you really think that, Tom?" cried Ned.
"I'm positive of it," was the quiet answer.
"Why--why--that would mean some one tried to set fire to the
red shed, Tom!"
"They not only tried it, but did it," responded Tom, more
coolly than seemed natural under the circumstances. "Only for the
fact that the mixture went off before it was intended to, and
found us all alert and ready--well, I don't like to think what
might have happened," and Tom cast a look about at his group of
buildings with their valuable contents.
"You mean some one purposely put that bomb in the red shed,
Tom?"
"That's exactly what I mean. Some enemy, who wanted to do me an
injury, planned this thing deliberately. He filled this steel
shell with chemicals which, of themselves, after a certain time,
would send out a hot tongue of flame through this hole," and Tom
pointed to the opening in the round steel shell.
"He knew the fire would be practically unquenchable by ordinary
means, and he counted on its soon eating its way into the carbide
and other explosives.
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