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

yard could be heard the voices OF COM
rades. including that Of Sam Williams
On the ground about the caldrOn were
scattered chips and sticks and bits Of
wood to the number Of great multi
tude Penrod mixed quantities OF this
refuse into the tar and interested him
self In seeing how much Of It he could
keep moving in slow swirls upon the
ebon surface.
Other surprises were arranged Tor
the absent workmen. The caldron was
almost full and the surface Of the tar
near the rim. Penrod endeavored to
ASCERTAIN how many pebbles and brick.
bats dropped In would cause an over
How. Laboring heartily to this end
be had almost accomplished 1t when
he received the suggestion for an ex-
pertinent on a much larger scale. EN-
bedded at the corner Of grass plot
across the street was whitewashed
stone the size Of a small watermelon
and serving no purpose whatever save
the questionable one Of decoration. It
was easily pried up with a stick.
though getting 1t to the caldron tested
the full strength Of the ardent laborer.
Instructed to perform such a task, he
would have sincerely maintained It's
impossibility, but now. as 1t was unbid-
den and promised rather destructive
results, he set about 1t with uncon-
Querable energy, feeling certain that
he would be rewarded with a mighty
splash. Perspiring, grunttng vehem-
emily, his back aching and all muscles
strained, he progressed in short stages
until the big stone lay at the base Of
the caldron. He rested moment,
painting. then lifted the stone and was
bending his shoulders for the heave
that would lift 1t over the rim when a
sweet, taunting voice close behind him
startled him cruelty.
"How do you do, little gentlemanT
Penrod squawked, dropped the stone
and shouted. "shut up. you dern fool!
purely from instinct even before his
about face made him aware who had
30 spitefully addressed him.
It was Marjorie Jones. Always dain-
ty, and prettily dressed. she was In
speckless and starchy white today. and
a refreshing picture she made, with
the new shorn and powerfully scented
Mitchy- Mitch clinging to her hand.
They had stolen up behind the toiler
and now stood laughing together IN
sweet merriment Since the passing
Of Penrod's Rupe Collins period he had
experienced some severe qualms Mt the
recollection Of his last meeting with
Marjorie and his Apache behavior-in
truth, his heart instantly became as
wax at sight Of her and he would have
offered her fair speech. But, alas. In
Mar1orie's wonderful eyes there shone
a consciousness Of new powers for his
undoing, and she denied him oppor-
tunity!
"Oh, ohr' she cried, mocking his
pained outcry. what way for a
little gentleman to talk! Little gentle
men don't say wicked
! "Marjorier' Penrod. enraged and dis
mayed. felt himself stung beyond all
endurance. Insult from her was bitter
er to endure than from any other.
"Don't you call me that again"
"Why not, little gentlemanT
, he stamped his foot "You better
stop~
: Marjorie sent into his furious face
her lovely, spiteful laughter.
Little gentleman, little gentleman.
little gentlenanl'' she said deliberately.
"How's the little gentleman this after
noon2 Hello, little gentleman"
Penrod. quite beside himself. danced
eccentrically. DRY u2" he howled
"Dry up, dry up, dry dP. dry upy'
Mitchy-Mitch shouted with delight
and applied q finger to the side Of the
caldron-a finger Immediately snatch
ed away and wiped upon handker'
chief by his fastdious sister.
"'Ittle gellamun" said Mitchy-
Mitch.
"You better look outw Penrod whirl-
ed upon this small offender with grim
satisfaction. Here was at least some
thing male that could without dishon.
or he held responsible. "YOu say that
again and I'll give you the worst
"You will notw snapped Marjorie, In
stantly vitriolic. HE'LL say just what
ever he wants to, and he'll say 1t just
as much as he wants to. Say 1t
again, Mitchy-MitchT
little gellamunw said Mitchy-Mitch
promptly.
"Ow-yahr Penrod's tone production
was becoming affected by his mental
condition. "You say that again and
lW-
"Go on, Mitchy- Mitch" cried Mario
RE. He can't do thing. He don't
dare! Say It some more. Mitchy-Mitch
say 1t whole lotw
Mitchy- Mitch, with his small, fat face
shining with confidence in his immu
nifty. complied
"Ittle sellamunw he squeaked ma
levolently. little gellamun! little
gellamun! little gellamun!'
The desperate Penrod bent over the
whitewashed rock, lifted 1t and then
outdoing Porthos, John Ridd and Ur,
sus In one miraculous burst of strength
-heaved it into the air.
| Marjorie screamed.
But It was too late. The big stone
descended into the precise midst OF the
caldron and Penrod got bis mighty
splash. 1t was far. far beyond his ex
pectations.
spontaneously there were grand and
awful effects-volcanic spectacles Of
nightmare and eruption. A black sheet
Of eccentric shape rose out Of the cai
dron and descended upon the thre<
children, who had no time to evade 1t
After It fell, Mitchy- Mitch. who stood
nearest the caldron, was the thickest
though there was enough for all. Bre'l
Rabbit would have fed from any o.
them.
When Marjorie and Mitchy- Mitch go
their breath, they used 1t vocally, ant
seldom have more penetrating sounds
issued from human throats. Coinci
! dsntally Marjorie. quite berserk. LAX
hands upon the largest stick within