"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't leave such dangerous
things around where there are explosives, Tom."

"I didn't, Ned. I wouldn't have had this within a hundred miles
of my shed, if I could have had my way. It's a fire bomb, and it
was set to go off at a certain time. Only I think something went
wrong, and the bomb started a fire ahead of time.

"If it had worked at night, when we were all asleep, we might
not have put the fire out so easily. This sure is suspicious! I'm
glad you found this, Koku."

Tom was carefully examining the bomb, as Ned had correctly
named it. The bank clerk, now that he was assured by his chum
that the, object had done all the harm it could, approached
closer.

What he saw was merely a hollow shell of iron, with a small
opening in it, as though intended for a place through which to
put a charge of explosives and a fuse.

"But there was no explosion, Tom," explained Ned.

"I know it," said Tom quietly. "It wasn't an explosive bomb.
Smell that!"

He held the object under Ned's nose so suddenly that the young
bank clerk jumped back.