The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-08-26

However, the statement that no sensi-
BILE person could have connected the
Magsworth Bits family with the ar
senical Rena takes no account OF Pen
rod Schofield.
CHAPTER viii.
The Two Families.
ENROL never missed a murder,
a hanging or an electrocution
in the newspapers. He knew
almost as much about Rena
Magsworth as her jurymen did, though
they sat In courtroom 200 miles
away, and he had 1t in mind-so frank
he waste ask Roderick Magsworth
Bits, Jr., II the murderess happened
to be relative.
The present encounter, being merely
one Of apathetic greeting, did not af-
ford the opportunity. Penrod took off
his cap, and Roderick, seated betwe' |
his mother and one of his grownup
sisters. nodded sluggishly. but neither
Mrs. Magsworth Bits nor her daugh-
ter acknowledged the salutation Of the
boy in the yard They disapproved of
him as person of little consequence,
and that little bad. Snubbed, Penrod
thoughtfully restored his cap to his
head. A boy can be cut as effectually
as a man. and this one was chilled to
a low temperature. He wondered If
they despised him because they had
seen Il last fragment Of doughnut In
his hand; then he thought that per
haps it was Duke who had disgraced
him. Duke was certainly no fashion
able looking dog.
The resilient spirits of youth, how.
ever, presently revived, and, discover
ing a spider upon one knee and bee
tie simultaneously upon the other, Pen
rod forgot Mrs. Roderick Magsworth
Bits in the course of some expert
ments infringing upon the domain OF
DIR. Carrel. Penrod's efforts, with the
aid of pin. to effect transference Of
living organism were unsuccessful, but
he convinced himself forever that a
spider cannot walk with beetles
legs. Della then enhanced geological
interest by depositing upon the back
porch large rat trap from the cellar,
the prison Of four live rats awaiting
execution.
Penrod at once took possession. retir-
Ing to the empty stable. where he in
stalled the rats In small wooden box
with sheet of broken window glass,
held down by brickbat, over the top.
Thus the symptoms Of their agitation
when the box was shaken or hammer
ed upon could be studied at leisure.
Altogether this Saturday was starting
splendidly.
After a time the students attention
was withdraw n from his specimens by
peculiar smell. which, being follow
ed up by a system of selective shifting
proved to be an emnation leaking into
the stable from the alley. He opened
the back door.
Across the alley was a cottage which
a thrifty neighbor had built on the
rear line of his lot and rented to ne
groes, and the fact that a negro family
was now in process Of moving in
was manifested by the presence of
thin mule and a ramshackle wagon
the ldlleT iautl VIII the SeihUiahNe VI
stove and a few other unpretentiou'
household articles.
A very small darby boy stood neal
the mule. In his hand was a rusty
chain. and at the end Of the chain the
| delighted Penrod perceived the source
of the special smell he was tracing
large raccoon. Duke, who had shown
t,.t In, hn 10
set up frantic barking and simulated
ravening assault upon the strange
animal. 1t was only a hit Of acting
however, for Duke was an old dog
had suffered much and desired no un
necessary sorrow. wherefore he con
fined his demonstrations to alarum'
and excursions and presently sat dowI
at distance ana expressed himself By
intermittent threHenings in Quaver
ing falsetto.
whats that coon's nameT" asked
Penrod, intending no discourtesy.
Aim gommo NAME" said the small
darby.
"Whatf'
"Aim gommo name"
"What?'
The small darby looked annoyed.
Aim gommo name, hell you" ht
said impatiently.
Penrod conceived that insult was In
tended.
whats the matter of your he de
handed. advancing. you get fresf
with me and ZIP
"Hyuh. white boy" A colored youth
Of Penrod's own age appeared In ths
doorway Of the cottage. you let al
brothuh mine alone. He ain do moth
in to you"
well, why can't he answerF
HE can't. He can't talk no better I
what he was talkin'. He tongue tie
"Oh!" said Penrod, Modified; then
obeying an impulse so universally
aroused In the human breast undel
like circumstances that 1t has become
a quip, he turned to the afflicted one.
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