THE LUCKY CRACKER

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 120, 16 November 1929, Page 22

THE LUCKY CRACKER

ii • "NP-s dears, I'm afraid Daddy hasn't enough money .this year for fire*?orks," sajd Murnmie. "There are so many things "that we really need •that ttaddy q-n't afford, sg he certainly couldn't, spend i* on fireworks." £ The ehi<<iren lowced at e^ch otheTf. Thif? was a'Wd bfr^tQ the #? younSest, Iyy and Dave, though Nona and >Yony ha&half expected it. >sJ^the oilier children were talking about the bonfires and fireworks they ;Were going to >have, and the four Blairs were the only ones who could Jfi?ltell thei children about their fireworks. : 3| :^Gan't we even have a bonfire?" asked Ivy, dismally. > ;■'-.■■■ "Pears, you know we live in a flat, and have no backyard like your ;friends have," replied Mrs. Blaiy, sadly! ' ' %'. •■f.T^Hfe pix-year-old Dave's mouth was beginning to turn down at the corners, when Tony said impetuously: ; ' . " : "For goodness sake, don't howl, Dave, you baby! Mummie, don't worry about us, we'll have just as much fun as anyone, you see,", and seizing the others before "they coiild speak, he dragged them out of the room. ■-. \ ......' . Once outside the room, Nona explained that they must just be brave and try not to worry Mummie and Daddie, The children promised, and things went smoothly iintU (syy Fawkes. TJay. '■'■'■' -.."No'pie, dear, would you mind running down to the shop for me? I need several things." • . y "Of course riot, Mummie," replied Nona* jumping up. "And I'll take Ivy and Davie with me, too." , ) "'.: ■:..-- . §OW. she was running down the dusty street with the children on either side of her. - ' - :.^'Nonie!" ; . , ■■'.[■ " , ■Nona's thoughts were, interrupted by Ivy's voice. "Well, dear?"7 - ' . v ," " '"I?i>'t it a shame, we can't have any fireworks?" "Yes, it is, darling, but Paddie. can't afford it!" : "Why cant lie?" ; •■■'■■ :',.\ .; ■. ; ' :\y ■'.?;•" "Because he hasn't enough money." "Why do'n't they give him some more?" . - "Because they can't." ■ • ' "Why can't they?", : "You wouldn't understand if I told you, Ivy,so why ask?" \ . ','J teH. you what I wish, Nona," said Davie. "I wish I was that rich boy.that use^ to live at home." ■,'■'■■ ■'■'■ :: "Oh,;Davie," said Nona, shacked, "you kriow what a, dreadfully boy that Montgomery boy was, though bje; was so: rich," Arthur Montgomery lived with a guardian-in the flat,while Ins parents, were touring India. He was absolutely spoilt, being the only :£hilcj iri the ho. use, and haying such rich parents. He used to find the •Jnost difficult hiding-places to hide his toys in, in case some one would ljke to >haye a look at them. Arthur Montgomery was a most unpleasant character. . ,- : . '-■•" ■' ■ T Nona hurried home with her shopping" and then played with the children.till !te|L tjm.e. After tea, she settled-dowh tp readuntilTony, who • fcM been flaying cricket all-the. afternoon,;6amp In, threw.down his bag, and shouted, out to her, ■f i say, old girl, coni| s?e whait I've got here:" i^oiia "went into the kitchen. -Tony held aloft a large cracker. * jl '?May l« .held in the hand," read the labesl, and Nona gasped with jjelight. •' • ■■■■■ ■■■•■1,-":'-\' ■■■•■• '■ „"• ■' t" y A'Where did you get it-from, Tony?'' •■-.;.: ■ .; "Fptmd it on the road!" replied her twin, tugging at his boots. '■ . Nona rushed away to tell the smaller childreri, who were even more ■ excited. ■ ■: ' . . -; -; ' '. : • '.. "' ' ■ ■t{ ,:. "As soon as it gets dark," sair Mr, Blair, "you n^ay tftke it into the play-room arid light it." , ' ," ". v As soon as it was dark the four childrenjrushedririto. the play-room, n->"J?£ cracker gnd danqed round thVroorohpl,4ing It .aloft. Dave vas so excited that he knocked against Tony,' who, unluckily sent the cracker spinning into the toy cupboard on some pajper, getting it alight ■ Quick as a flash, Nona snatched up a tattered rug from the floor and flung herself and the rug on to the blaze just as it caught some more 'paper. .^. iShje. crashed "against the wall, a, portioii; ofl'ivhieh x;aVed in. She ttise panting. The fire was out. , . '7 ■" "Are you all right, Npnie," asked Tony anxiously. "Yes^but lppk,"Tony, look!" cried Nona. M'fhe wall gave way as I came against it^-^and look what's inside!'' " „ She plunged her both arms into the cobwebby hole, and pulled out a big wooden box, lacked, but withthe key hangihg from a string. The children unlocked it, and found inside ,3 pardboar^ bo^, abq^t two feet Ipng. It w^s Ml of firewprks^Roman^candlfes, snow sprays, golden ra.ins, golden zodiacs, rockets,' throwdpwns, and every sort of firework : you could imagine. , . "-. % ' "Great suffering catfish!" ejaculated Tony, blankly. "My sainted Aunt!" exclaimed Nona. "" ''Well, I'm blessed, so* that's where Arthur Montgomery's fireworks vent! The greedy little beggar—hiding them like that 'cause he went awa> in such a hurry, he didn't have time to get'them. Well, kids, they're our's now. so we'll just tell Mummie and Daddie and then won't we have a time! . Ivy and Dave, a vote of thanks to Nona and the Lucky Cracker! Passed unanimously!" , < "PETER PAN." Wadestown. . , :