CHAPTER I

A Bombshell

[Illustration]


"Bless my soul! I nearly forgot," exclaimed Colonel Jinks, as he came
back into the store. "To-morrow is Sam's birthday and I promised Ma to
bring him home something for a present. Have you got anything for a boy
six years old?"

"Let me see," answered the young woman behind the counter, turning
round and looking at an upper shelf. "Why, yes; there's just the thing.
It's a box of lead soldiers. I've never seen anything like them
before"--and she reached up and pulled down a large cardboard box.
"Just see," she added as she opened it. "The officers have swords that
come off, and the guns come off the men's shoulders; and look at
the----"