Part 16 (2/2)

”Looks like a fire, doesn't it, Billy?”

”It sure does It would call out the fire department if there was one here”

”And the best of it is, that posting will be up there when the show co advertise Shows But I suppose Mr Snoould say it wasn't much of a job”

CHAPTER IX

TEDDY GETS INTO TROUBLE

”Get those paste cans outside! Step lively there!”

”Say, you talk to me as if I were one of the hired help,”

objected Teddy, his face flushi+ng

”Well, that is exactly what you are You'll soon learn that you are hired help if you remain on this car I'll take all the freshness out of you The flour is in the cellar”

”In the cellar?”

”That's what I said Go down and get it out You will require about a sack and a half for each can That will be about right for a can of paste Henry will show you how much bluestone to put in But be careful of that boiler I don't want the car blown up”

The er strode away to his office, while Teddy, red and perspiring, went about his work He was er known him better, would have impressed Mr Snowden as a suspicious circuled trunks, Teddy Tucker was now clad in a pair of blue jeans, held up by pieces of string reaching up over his shoulders His was now a far different figure fro Shows

After du which Teddy took his time, he attached a hose pipe to the boiler, under the direction of Henry Next he filled the cans ater and was then ready to turn on the steam to boil the paste

Teddy was about to do this when Mr Snowden appeared on the scene He looked over the cans critically, but observing nothing that he could find fault with, he got a stick and began poking in the botto he had discovered that more flour had been used than was necessary

All at once Teddy, as now inside the car, turned a full head of stea one hundred and forty pounds of stea happened

The full force of the steam shot into the botto The contents of that can leaped up into the air, water, flour, bluestone and all, and for the next few seconds Manager Snoas the central figure in the little drama It rained uncooked paste for nearly half a minute

Such of it as had not smitten him squarely in the face went up in the air and then ca on his head

The force of the , sputtering, blinded for the ot into his eyes, he ed in the dust by the side of the car

Teddy shut off the steam, went out on the platform and sat down

”What happened?” he demanded innocently Perhaps he did not know and perhaps he did

Mr Snowden did not answer, for the very good reason that he could not His clothes were ruined

”It looks like a storm,” muttered the lad In this he was notup he hurried into the car, and, drawing a pail of water from the tap, ran out with it

Mr Snowden had just scraood,” said Teddy, dashi+ng the pail of water over the ot pasted up last night”