Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-07-15


meekly:
Can you do that to any boy up at
the Third?"
"See here now" said Rupe In the
tone Of one goaded beyond all endur-
ance, "you say il l can. You better
say 1t quick orr
II knew you could" Penrod inter
posed hastily, with the pathetic SEM
blance Of laugh. II only said that in
fun"
I'm .funr" repeated Rupe stormily.
you better look out how YOU
"Well. l said wasn't in earnest"
Penrod retreated a few steps. II
knew you could all the time. l expect
I could do it to some of the boys up at
the Third myself. Couldn't I?'
mo; you couldn't"
well, there must be some boy up
there that l COULD
mo; they amt. You better
II expect not. them" said Penrod
quickly.
You better expect not Didn't l
tell you once you'd never get back
alive If you ever tried to come up
around the Third? You want me to
show you how we do up there, boz"
He began a slow and deadly ad-
vance, whereupon Penrod timidly Of
fered diversion:
"Say. Rupe. got box of rats in our
stable under a glass cover, so you can
watch 'em jump around when you
hammer on the box. Come on and
look at EN-"
"All right" said the fat faced boy,
slightly Modified. well let Dan kill
en-
"No, sir! I'm goin' to keep 'em.
They're kind of pets. I've had 'em all
summer. got names for 'em and
look here, 'bo. Did you hear me
say We'll let Dan kill 'em?"
Eyes, but WON'T
What won't your Rupe became
sinister Immediately. ut seems to me
you're gettin' pretty fresh around
here"
well, don't want
Mr.. Collins once more brought into
play the dreadful eye to eye scowl as
practiced "up at the Third" and some
times also by young leading men upon
the stage.
Browning quite appallingly and
thrusting forward his underlip, he
placed his nose almost in contact with
the nose Of Penrod, whose eyes natu-
rally became crossed.
Dan kills the rats. See" Kissed the
fat faced boy, maintaining the horrible
juxtaposition.
"WeH, all right" said Penrod, swal-
lowing. II don't want 'em much" And
when the pose had been relaxed he
stared at his new friend for moment,
almost with reverence. Then he bright
ened.
Come on, Rupew he cried enthusiast
tically, as he climbed the fence. We'll
give our dogs little live meat-'bo"
At the dinner table that evening Pen
rod surprised his family by remarking
in a voice they had never heard him
attempt-a lawgiving voice of interna-
tional gruffness:
ANY man that's maxim a hunderd
dollars month is maxim good money"
WHAT" asked Mr.. Schofield, staring.
for the previous conversation had con
cerned the illness of an infant relative
In Council Bluffs.
Amy man that's maxim a hunderd
dollars month is maxim good money"
what is he talking about!' Marga-
ret appealed to the Invisible.
"Well," said Penrod, frowning. THAT'S
what foremen at the ladder works get"
How in the world do you know"
asked his mother.
well, | know it. A hunderd dollars
a month is good money, tell your
"Well, what Of it," said the father.
impatiently.
"Nothin. l only said it was good
money"
Mr.. Schofeld shook his head, dismiss
ing the subject; and here he made
mistake; he should have followed up
his sons singular contribution to the
conversation.
That would have plainly revealed
the fact that there was certain
Rupe Collins whose father was fore
man at the ladder works. All clews are
important when boy makes his first
remark in a new key.
"'Good money!" repeated Margaret
curiously. What is good money!"
Penrod turned upon her stern
glance. Say, wouldn't you be just as
happy If you had some sense?'
"Penrodr' shouted his father. But
Penrod's mother gazed with dismay at
her son; be had never before spoken
like that to his sister.
Mrs. Schofield might have been more
dismayed than she was If she had re-
allied that it was the beginning Of an
epoch. After dinner Penrod was
slightly scalded in the back as re-
suit of telling Della, the cook. that
there was a wart on the middle finger
Of her right hand. Della thus proving
poor material for his new manner to
work upon, he approached Duke in the
hack ward and hopdipr douhla Soi1o6