Mr. Bombs received the information with an air of unconcern and Adelaide went to her father's office. She had a piece of information for him also, and something more. "O father, Ruth can't come to our dedication if you are going to have a military company with guns and swords and a Fourth of July racket band in the procession. Such things make her sick." "What nonsense, Adelaide! I guess she can stand it since the small boy is not permitted to have a hand in it." "No she can't, father. It isn't nonsense. How would you feel if I should be brought to you tomorrow all torn to pieces as her little brother was?" "O, my dear child! don't mention it!" "But I _must_ mention it and I want you to look straight into my eyes and answer me truly! Suppose I should be brought home to you this Fourth with my eyes both blown out and mamma's jewels lodged in the sockets, do you think you could ever bear the sight or sound of horrid explosive things after that--bear them without a shudder--even if they were in the hands of grown-up people?" "Such a thing never could happen, Addie." "It did happen to Ruth's little brother. The jewels were his mother's wedding sapphires." "O Addie! Addie!" "Answer me truly, father." "No, dear child, I never could." "Ruth can't either. She has more reason than you could have. She's like poor Mary, the gardener's wife. Her husband and parents know it wouldn't be safe for her to come if there's going to be guns or things of that sort. She wants to come so much that Ralph was going to speak to you and see if they couldn't be left out; but I told him I was the one to speak, because the Library was going to be named for me." "Well, there is something in that, Adelaide, most assuredly there is; but it's rather short notice. The military company were coming on the morning train." "Telegraph. You'd do it if stocks were in jeopardy--you know you would--you are such a hustler." "Of course, of course! Here it goes then. I can't ruin my reputation as a hustler," said Schwarmer, stepping to the 'phone and calling up the regiment. "Don't come to the dedication of The Adelaide Library." "Now, there's one hustle for you, what next?" laughed Schwarmer. Adelaide laughed too and clapped her hands. "O! isn't it jolly, father! The soldiers can stay at home for once and dear, sweet, little Mrs. Ruth can come." "What next, Addie? I've got on my hustling cap. Call off." "The Independence Day racket band and the rockets must be left out of the procession, father." "O! now! that strikes nearer home, Addie! But I can do it. I can hustle things near by, most assuredly I can, if I once set out with my hustling suit all on. Bombs will have to confine his fire to Yorktown if I say so, won't he?" "Yes, and you'll say so, won't you, father?"