Oxford Democrat., 1915-06-29
NUMBER 26

The elate Maurice was inspired to
set up as wit. Then you're nakidr'
he shouted exultantly. "Penrod Scho-
field says he hasn't got nothin' on un-
der that ole golf cape! He's nakid!
He's nakid!-
The audience Of little girls giggled r.
ritatingly, and q javelin pierced the
inwards Of Penrod when he saw that
the Child Elaine, amber curled and
beautiful Marjorie Jones, lifted golden
laughter to the horrid jest.
Other boys and girls came focking
to the uproar. Hes nakid. he's ma
kid" shrieked the Child Sir Galahad-
"Penrod Scho6elds nakid! He's na-a-a-
kidI
Hush, hush!" said Mrs. Lora Rev.
bush, pushing her way into the group.
Remember. we are all little knights
and ladies today. Little knights and
ladies' Of the Table Round would not
make so much noise. Now. children,
we must begin to take our places on
the stage. Is everybody here"
Penrod made his escape under cover
of this diversion. He slid behind Mrs.
Lora Rewbush and, being near a door.
opened II unnOticed and went out
quickly, closing it behind him. He
found himself in a narrow and vacant
hallway which led to door marked
"Janitor's Room"
Burning with outrage, heartstck at
the sweet. cold blooded laughter Of
Marjorie Jones, Penrod rested bis el-
bows upon window sill and specu'
lated upon the effects of leap from
the second story. One Of the reasons
he gave II up was his desire to live on
Maurice Levy's account; already he
was forming educational plans for the
Child Sir Galahhd.
A stout man In blue overalls passed
through the hallway, muttering to him
self petulantly. II reckon they'll find
that hall hot enough now" he said,
conveying to Penrod an impression
that some too feminine women had
sent him upon an unreasonable errand
to the furnace. He went into the JAM
tors room and, emerging moment
later minus the overalls, passed Penrod
again with a bass rumble-"Dern 'emT
It seemed he said-and made a gloomy
exit by the door at the upper end OF
the hallway.
The conglomerate and delicate rustic
Of q large, mannerly audience was
heard as the janitor opened and closed
the door. and stage fright seized the
boy. The orchestra began an overture,
and at that Penrod. trembling violent
", tiptoed down the hall into the jan
itor's room. 1t was a cul-de-sac: there
was no outlet save by the way he had
come.
Despairingly he doffed his mantle and
looked down upon himself for last
sickening assurance that the stockings
were as obviously and disgracefully
Margarets as they had seemed In the
mirror at home. For moment be was
encouraged: perhaps he was no worse
than some Of the other boys. Then he
noticed that safety pin had opened;
one Of those connecting the stockings
with his trunks. He sat down to fSsten
It, and his eye fell for the frst time
with particular attention upon the
trunks. Until this instant he had been
preoccupied with the stockings.
Slowly recognition dawned In his
eyes.
The Schofelds' house stood on
corner at the intersection Of two main
Travelled streets, the fence was low and
the publicity obtained by the washable
portion of the family apparel on Mon
days had often been painful to Penrod,
for boys have peculiar sensidveness
in these matters. A plain, matter OF
fact washerwoman, employed by Mrs.
Schofield, never left anything to the
Imagination Of the passerby, and Of all
her calm display the scarlet Haunting
Of bis fathers winter wear had most
abashed Penrod. One day Marjorie
Jones, all gold and starch, had passed
when the dreadful things were on the
line; Penrod had hidden himself, shud-
dering. The whole town, he was con-
vinced, knew these garments intimate
Iy and derisively.
| And now. as he sat in the tanitors
chair, the horrible and paralyzing
| recognition came. He had not an in
stant's doubt that every fellow actor,
as well as every soul in the audience,
would recognize what his mother and
sister had put upon him. For as the
awful truth became plain to himself
i seemed blazoned to the world, and
far, far louder than the stockings, tho
trunks did fairly below the grisly
secret; whose they were and what
they were.
Most people have suffered in dream
the experience Of finding themselves
very inadequately clad in the midst
Of a crowd Of well dressed people. and
such dreamers' sensations are compay-
able to Penrod's, though family. b.
cause Penrod was awake and In much
too full possession Of the most active
capacities for anguish.
A human male whose dress has been
damaged, or reveals some vital lack,
suffers from q hideous and shameful
loneliness which makes every second
absolutely unbearable until he b again
as others Of his sex and species. and
there Is no act or sin whatever too
desperate for him In his struggle 10 At
tain that condition. Also, there is alb
Bolutely NO embarrassment possible to
q woman which is comparable to that
Of q man under corresponding CIR
cumstances, and in this q boy II
man. Gazing upon the ghastly trunks,
the stricken Penrod felt that he was
a degree worse than nude, and great
horror Of himself flied his soul.
"Penrod Schofeld"'
The door into the hallway opened,
and q voice demanded him. He could
not be seen from the hallway, but the
hue and cry was up, and he knew be
must be taken. It was only a Ques-
ton Of seconds. He huddlsd in hh
chair.
"Penrod schoheldr' cried Mrs. Lora
Rewbush angrily.
The distracted boy rose, and a. he
did 30 a long pin sank deep into his
hack He extracted II frenziedly,