The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-21

I eontortionfst would have observed with real fnterest9 And all this while 1 of freezing suspense was but the criminals s detention awaiting trial. A known punishment may be anticipated with some measure of equanimity- at least, the prisoner may. prepare him l Self to, undergo -it-but the unknown looms more monstrous for every at 1 tempt to guess it. Penrod' S crime was unique. There were no rules. to aid him in estimating the vengeance to fall upon him for it. What seemed most 1 probable was that he would be expel- led from the school in the presence aof his family, the mayor and council Fand whipped afterward. by his father upon the. state house steps, with the entire city as audience by Invitation of the authorities. Noon came. The rows of children I filed out, every head turning for last unpleastngly speculative look at the outlaw. Then Miss Spence closed the door into the t:loakroom and that into the big hall and came and sat at her ] desk, near Penrod. The tramping of feet outside tie shriH calls and shout i ing. and the changing, voices aof the older boys ceased to be heard-and there was silence. Penrod, istfIIsaffeet- 1 ing to be occupied with Lowell. was conscious that Miss Spence looked at ] him intently.
 ssPenrod. : she said gravely, what excuse have you to offer before re port your case to the prineipal?. 2. E The word principal. struck him to i.the vita1s. Grand 1nquisitor.s grand khan, sultan, emperor, czar, Caesar Augustus these are comparable He stepped saurmiDg instantly and sat rigid.
 T want an answer Why did you shout those words at me2'
 Well, 7 he nurmured, q was just thinking
 s@Thtnking vihat2' she asked sharply.
 T don't know"
 That won't dor
 He took lis left ankle. in his right l l hand and regarded 1t helplessly.
 That won't do, Penrod Schofeld, y she repeated severely. If that is all i the excuse you have to offer shall re- s port your case this instant!' And she rose with fatal intent. l But Penrod was one of those whom l the precipice inspires Well, have got an excuse''
 ..WelI''-she paused impatientIy s'yvhat is it?
 He had not an idea, but he felt one coming and replied automa tica1ly in a { plainttve tone:
 4IS guess anybody that had been through what [ had to go through last night would think they had an ex7 cuse
 Miss Spence resumed her seat, though with the air of being ready to leap from it instantly. 1 What has last night to do with your insolencefo me tLis morning g
 -sssEell, I guess you'd see, he re l turned. emphasizing the plaintfve note. If if you knew vFhntsI know =
 Now. Penrod,' she said. in kinder voice, have high regard for your l mother and father. and it would hurt me to distress them, but you must ei- l ther tell me what was the matter with 1 you or I'll have to take you 4to Mrs. I sHoust 1--:za-
 tsys.eII saIn,t | going to2" be cried, 3spurred by the dread name Its be- s cause I didn't sleep last night.i i We're you. il ?.s The question was put with some dryness. He felt the dryness. Nom; I s wash t.
 Then if some one in your family I was 50 il that even you were kept sk up all night, how does it happen they 1etsyou come to schoolgt this morning ?''
 s'It wasn't illness, he returned, K t1aking his head rnournf ully. git was lots WoEse'n anybody,s being sick. It I sEaszsit was-yxeII. it5 was jest awful. '' What was ?'s Remarked with anxt- ety the incredulity in her tone.
 It, was about Aunt Clara, he said.
 Your Aunt Clara.' she repeated. stDo you mean your mothers sister, who married MT. Parry of Dayton. ILL
 sYes-Uncle John" returned Penrod sorrowfully. eThe trouble was about him.
 1 Miss Spence frowned frown which he rightly Interpreted as one of contin- ued suspicion. She and I were in school together she said T used to ] know her very well, and I've always I heard her married life was entirely happy. I don't
 Yes, it was,' he interrupted, until l last year when Uncle John took to running with travelling men,-
 .sNhat?''
 .1Yes. m He nodded so1emnly. That was what started it At first he was a good. kind husband, but these tray- cling men would coax him into a sa- loon on his way from work, and they got him to drinking beer and then ales, wines, liquors, and cigars''-
 "Penrodr'-
 '.da'am?' ?''
 I'm not fnquirfng into your Aunt Clara's private affairs. I'm asking you l if yop have anything to say which I would palliate''-
 That's what I'm tryin to. tell you about, Miss Spence. he pleaded. If yeu'd jest only let me. When Aunt Clara aud her little baby daughter got ] % our house last night'