Not much damage had been done, for, after all, it was only a fine spray of water that had floated about, and it was such a fine spray that it was almost like steam. The crowd swarmed about, looked in, and, seeing nothing to wonder at, passed on.
"I'm ever so much obliged to you, sir," said the candy store woman to Captain Ben. "For a time I thought my place was going to be blown up. I'm glad it wasn't, for I have to make my living by my little store."
"Have you any soda water left?" inquired Vi, who, with the other little Bunkers, had got out of the automobile when the crowd melted away.
"Yes, I have some in bottles. I don't suppose I could draw any from the fountain, could I?" she asked Captain Ben.
"Not very well until the broken pipe is mended," he answered.
"Bottled soda is all right," declared Russ. "We can drink it from straws if you have any," he added.
"Yes, I have some," the store woman said, and soon the four little Bunkers were sitting on stools in front of the counter, sucking soda water through straws out of bottles. Captain Ben insisted on using a straw also, but Daddy Bunker drank his from a glass.
"My, that tastes good!" said Captain Ben, as he drained the last of his sweet drink. "Many a time, in the army in France, I'd have walked ten miles to get a cool drink like that."
"The soda from the fountain is better," the woman said. "But I guess I won't have any of that to-day. I'll telephone for some one to come and mend the broken pipe."
"Can't I go down and see where it broke?" asked Laddie, when it was time for the little Bunkers to travel again. "I want to see it."