The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-22

turning at 5 o'clock from the cares of the, day, found the house deserted. and sat down to read his evening paper in what appeared to be an uninhabited apartment. known to its own world 7a the "drawingz room.'' A sneeze. unex- pected both to him and the owner, in formed him of the presence of another person.
 Where are you, Penrod?'' the par ents asked, looking about. .sHere." said Penred meekly. Stooping,= MT. Schofeld discovered his son squatting under the piano, near ing beside him.
 what are you doing there?''
 Me ?"
 .sWhy under the pfano?''
 Well. the boy Returned with grave sweetness. T was just kind of sitting here thInling 7
 f.lAH right MT. schofeld, rather touched. returned to the digestion of a murder, his back once more to the piano. and Penrod silently drew from beneath his jacket (where he had slip ped it simultaneously with the sneezel a paper backed volume entitled Slim sy, the Sioux City Squealer;s or, Not Guilty, Your Honor s' sInethis manner the reading club con l tinued in peace, absorbed, contented, the world well forgot unfn q sudden, violently nritated slam bang. of the front door startled the members, and Mrs. Scho6eld burst into the room and threw herself into chair moaning.
 Whats the matter, mamma ?'' ask ed her husband, laying aside his paper.
 Henry Passloef Schofeld,v Y return
  l be done with that boy; I do notI
 ou mean Penrod? ?,'
 Who else could I mean?'' She sat ups exasperated, to stare at him. ..Henry Passloe Schofeld, you've got to take this matter in your hands. It's beyond men E q
 wei; W hat has lie ' Last night I got fo thinking. ' she began rapidly ly. a bout what Clara told us-tha ak beaYen she and Margaret and little Clara have gone to tea at Cousin Charlotte but they'll .behome soon bout what she said about Hiss ASpence
 @You mean about Penrod's being a ] comforfgD
 Yes. and I kept thinking and think fng and thinking about it till couldn t stand it
 By George.' shouted Mr sehoheld. etartlingly, srooping to look under the 7 piano. 4 statement that he had sud- ] denly remembered his sons presence would be lacking in accuracy, for the l highly sensitized Penrod was, in fact, mo longer present. No more was Duke, his faithful dog.
 Whats the matter P 1 ssNothing,'s he returned, striding to the open window and looking out. ] s.sGo on.''
 .s0hr' she moaned. "1t must be kept from Clara. And I'll never hold up my i head again if John Harry ever hears of it.:''
 Hears of what?'' "WelI, [ just couldn't stand 1t, I got 1 so curious. And thought, of course, if Miss Spence had become q little unbalanced it was my duty. to. know l it as Penrod's mother and she his l teacher. So thought I would just call on her at her apartment after I school and have a chat and see. And I did and-ol1''
 w ell 2,
 t.I,ye est come from there. and she l told me-she told me. Oh, I've never known anything like this!' l What did she tell you:' Mrs. SchofeId, making a great eff I fort, managed to assume temporary appearance of calm. Henry, she said soleninly, ..bear this in mind, f Is.lvh Whatever you do to Penrod it must be I done in some pldee when Clara won t hear it. But the first thing to do is to { find him. ''
 Within view of the window from i which MT. Sehefe1d was gazing was l .E. EI-- ] ISstable.samd liassf outside this door Duke ] wds perfoF oFa1lillea ming most engaging trick, His YoHngss master had taught Duke l sto siE ul5 ana beg when he. wanted I asl4stlafIisz. a i'd Ifsfllat didn't get 1t to ssspea I1iiisss was facing the closed 1 door and sittIng Up and begging and Isnow he also spoIsein loud, clear bark
 I There wassan open transom over the i, door, and from this deseended -5hurled l by an lnseel1 agency can half filled i with old paints
 I 1t caught the small besiegers of the door on his thoroughly surprised right ear, encouraged him to some remarlka- i ble acrobaties and turned large DOT 1 tfons Of him a dull blue. Allowing I only a moment to perplexity and decid- Ling after a single and evidently. unap- 1 petizing experiment not to cleanse him. self of paint. the loyal animal resumed his quaint, upright posture.
 Mir. SchofeId seated himself on the window .si9ls whence. he could keep in view that pathetic picture offunrequit- ed love.
 '.Go on with your story, mamma he said. T think Iscan find Penrod when we want hi-71'
 fTo Be Continued5 ,