Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-17

eentleman! And oh-lul-lookNoh, lul-
look at my du-dressi Lul-look at Num-
itchy-oh-Mitch-oh"
Unexpectedly she smote again-with
results-and then, seizing the indistin.
suishable hand Of Mitchy- Mitch. she
ran wailing homeward down the street
"'Little gentleman" said George
Bassett, with some evidences Of dis
turbed complacency. "Why, that's
what they call me-"
"Yes, and you are one, tooT shouted
the maddened Penrod. "But you bet
ter not let anybody call me that! I've
stood enough around here for one day,
and you can't run over me. George
Bassett. Just you put that in your giz-
zard and smoke itr'
ANYBODY has perfect right" said
George, with dignity, ITO call a per.
son a little gentleman. There's lots Of
names nobody ought to call. but this
ones q NICE
"You better look out!"
Unavenged bruises were distributed
ell over Penrod, both upon his body
and upon his spirit. Driven by subtle
forces he had dipped his hands In
catastrophe and disaster. 1t was not
for a George Bassett to beard him.
Penrod was about to run amuck.
II haven't called you little gentle
man, yet" said Georgie. II only said
It. Anybody's got a right to say It
"Not around me! You just try 1t
again and"-
II shall say It," returned Georgie,
"all I please. Anybody in this town
has a right to say little gentleman
Believing insanely, Penrod plunged
his right hand into the caldron, rushed
upon George and made awful work
Of his hair and features.
Alas, It was but the beginning! Sam
Williams and Maurice Levy screamed
with delight and. simultaneously In
fected, danced about the struggling
pair, shouting frantically:
"IAttle gentleman! Little gentleman
Sick him, George! Sick him, little
gentleman! Little gentleman! Little
gentleman
The infuriated outlaw turned upon
them with blows and more tar. which
gave George Bassett his opportunity
and later seriously impaired the purity
Of his fame. Feeling himself hopeless
ly tarred, he dipped both hands repeat
edly into the caldron and applied bis
gatherings to Penrod. 1t was bringing
Goals to Newcastle, but 1t helped to
assuage the Just wrath Of George.
The four boys gave a fine imitation
Of the LAGOON group complicated BY
an extra fgure-frantIc spluttertngs
and choking1, strange cries and stran
ger words Issued from this tangle
hands dipped lavishly into the mex
haustible reservoir Of tar, with more
and more picturesque results. The cal
dron had been elevated upon bricks
and was not perfectly balanced, and
under a heavy impact Of the struggling
group 1t lurched and went partly over
pouring forth Stygian tide which
formed deep pool in the gutter.
It was the fate Of Master Rodericl
Bits, that exclusive and Immaculate
person, to make his appearance upol
the chaotic scene at this juncture. Al
in the cool of a white sailor suit" b.
turned aside from the path Of duty
which led straight to the house OF
maiden aunt-and paused to hop witt
10y upon the sidewalk. A repeated
epithet, continuously half painted. hal
sQuawked, somewhere in the nest o
gladiators, caught his ear. and he tool
it up excitedly, not knowing why.
: Little gentleman shouted Roder
lex, jumping up and down in childisl
gIee. Little gentleman! Little gen
tIeman! Lit
! A frightful figure tore itself fire.
from the group, encircled this innocen
bystander with black arm and bur-
ed him headlong. Full length and fla
on his face went Roderick into tn
stygian pool. The frightful figure wa
Penrod. Instantly the pack hun
themselves upon him again, and, col
rying them with him, he went owe
upon Roderick, who from that instan
was as active q belligerent as an
there.
Thus began the great tar fight, tn
origin of which proved afterward 8
difficult for parents to'trace owing t
the opposing accounts Of the con
batants. Marjorie said Penrod begal
It; Penrod said Mitchy-Mitch bega
It; Sam Williams said George Basset
began 1t; George and Maurice Lev
said Penrod began It; Roderick Bits
who had not recognized his first assai
ant, said Sam williams began It.
Nobody thought Of accusing the bal
/ Der. But the barber did not begin Il
II 1voa tho hy on tho barbor'S nose tha