“I’ll lend you a candle, if you like,” offered Tim Roon. “Of course I’ll have to have it back, but you can have it till school closes.”
“Oh, give it to him,” said Charlie Black. “Light it for him and let’s see how the lantern looks. Maybe it isn’t a good lantern.”
“All right, I will,” agreed Tim, his black eyes snapping with naughtiness. “Wait a minute, Edward, and I’ll show you how to do things right.”
Mr. Carter had gone over to the grammar school to see how their thank-offerings were coming in, and Miss Wright was busy in her office. There was no one in the basement to stop Tim Roon as he pulled what looked like a red candle from his pocket and fitted it in the hollow pumpkin. He stood the lantern in the center of a pile of apples and took a match from his pocket. None of the boys were allowed to carry matches and they looked at him in surprise.
“Now I’ll light it for you,” said Tim, touching the match to the candle he had placed inside.
Meg leaned forward to watch and her pretty hair was almost touching the pumpkin when Bobby shouted, “Look out!” and pulled her back.
Then with a loud noise the pumpkin blew into many pieces, scattering in all directions and sending the apples rolling to the floor!
CHAPTER III
FOUR GRATEFUL CHILDREN
JUST as the pumpkin burst, two things happened; Mr. Carter stepped inside the door and the gong rang to announce the end of recess.
Tim Roon shot for the door and the children followed. Tim was eager to escape the principal and the others did not want to be late in returning to their classrooms. But Mr. Carter stood in the doorway and did not move to let them pass.