"No, it was a dog--Ruth Cornwallis' dog. He's funny. He always wants to shake paws with me when I come. I haven't been here in two years, but he was on hand to _shake_ all the same. I wonder why?" "Can't say, Miss Adelaide. All I know is that dogs were on hand to bark at us when we got off from the train, quite a number of them and there was one that led the band." "I wonder if it was Ruth's--he came running from that way. How did he look?" "Can't say. They looked so much alike; but I think this one had a new white collar on, as though there had been a wedding in the family." "O that's the one, Mr. Bombs. I wonder what made him bark at _you_?" "None but a dog could tell, Miss Adelaide, and they are dumb." "I wouldn't blame him if you had that dreadful smile on, Mr. Bombs." "It wouldn't do any good to blame him anyhow, Miss Adelaide. Dogs know what they are about as well as folks." "Don't you think it does any good to blame folks when they do wrong?" "Not much, not much. Sometimes it does harm--almost always to contrary people." "Well, I'm going to blame them any way every time I see them doing anything I _know_ is wrong after this and take the chances. I'll be fifteen years old tomorrow." "Better put it off until you are of age, Miss Adelaide." "No, I will not, Mr. Bombs. You needn't smile that smile--I'm going to begin tomorrow at the very hour." They walked slowly up the hill while the rest of the party dashed by them in the Schwarmer turnouts; but they did not speak to each other again until the party had gathered on the broad veranda to witness the evening's entertainment. CHAPTER XIII. ALFONSO BOMBS' PYROTECHNICS AND ADELAIDE SCHWARMER'S BLAME. Mr. Bombs had brought with him some of the most elaborate and artistic works known to the trade. He had in mind works of a much grander and more instructive nature--works that would be truly great and high and far reaching (so he said); works that would be fit for the greatest king on earth to look at; that would startle and vivify the entire world and make the family name illustrious. He had been collecting material for his works throughout his college course--historical events, especially the burning and storming of cities and such of the battles and conflicts as lent themselves readily to pyrotechnic delineation. He was busy experimenting with his material. He expected to have his first historical piece finished by this time next year, and he was happy to think he had secured so good a place for its representation. He thought the people of the town would like it--this new and higher development of pyrotechnic art; but that it did not matter much whether they liked it or not. There would be a big crowd from the city of invited guests and others, for Schwarmer would be in it heart and soul as well as purse. He had given him efficient aid in getting his pieces ready for the evening.