Evening of a Bomb

Experience has taught most inhabitants of Mexico to be calm in the presence of bombs. Therefore when Chief of Police Edmondo Herrera of the rebel garrisoned city of Juarez, saw a large red bomb lying in the gutter, one evening last week, he stopped his car and inspected it professionally. It was a time bomb, containing about 24 Ibs. of dynamite and set to explode at 10:30 p. m.

"Mm!" said the Chief and he called a soldier, ordering him to take the bomb to the headquarters of General Augustin de la Vega, the rebel commander, and destroy it. The soldier, misunderstanding, left the bomb ticking quietly on General de la Vega's desk.

The General, a busy man, entered his office about 9:30.

"What's this?" cried he with an expression of disgust. "A bomb on my desk? Juan!" he called to his orderly. "Take this away and throw it in the canal."

The orderly saluted. General de la Vega turned on his heel and left for a rapid tour of inspection of the defences of Juarez. Nearly an hour later he returned to his office, prepared to plunge at once into the mass of papers accumulated on his desk. The large red bomb was still there, still ticking.

"Christ's Bones!" swore the infuriated General. "Is this obedience? Is this discipline?"

"Pardon, my General," quavered Orderly Juan, "I could not find a soldier to take your bomb to the canal."

A rapid glance showed General de la Vega that the 24 Ibs. of dynamite would explode in just three minutes. Pouncing, he seized the ticking bomb, swept past his expostulating orderly, dumped the dynamite into the nearest horse trough.