"Reade told us there would be a smash of glass, but that it would be harmless.
He warned your mother, Dick, so that she wouldn't he startled when it came.

Tom did the right thing in warning your mother.
I wish all boys could realize that only cowards and fools go about frightening women." "But something else happened," insisted Mrs.Prescott.

"I wonder what it was ?" "Suppose we take a lantern and go out in the back yard and see," proposed Dick.
While Dick was finding the lantern the elder Prescott closed the front of the store, also drawing down the shades for the night.
Dick's mother followed him into the rear yard.

The fragments of the bottle under one of the store windows told the whole story to one as experienced in jokes as Dick Prescott.
"But see how wet the ground is," Mrs.Prescott remarked after Dick had explained the trick.
"That was because I didn't recognize the joker, and emptied the contents of my water pitcher on him just as he broke the bottle," Dick smiled.

"Poor old Tom.