Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-05-20

person went DANGEROUSLY about, max
ing it known everywhere that the best
tailor in town had been daZZled by a
tune. 1t consisted of blue velvet
knickerbockers, white satin waist
coat and beautifully cut little swal-
low tailed coat with pearl buttons.
The medieval and artistic triumph
was completed by mantle of yellow
velvet and little white boots sporting
gold tassels.
All this radiance paused in a bril-
liant career and addressed the Child
Sir Lancelot, gathering an immediate
ly formed semicircular audience of lit
tie girls. Woman was ever the trailer
of magniicence.
What you got on?" inquired Mr..
Levy after dispensing information.
What you got on under that ole golf
cape?
Penrod looked upon him co1dly. At
other times his questioner would have
approached him with Difference, even
with apprehension. But today the
Child Sir Galahad was somewhat in
toxicated with the power of his own
beauty.
what you got on?'' he repeated.
'Oh. nothin'," said Penrod, with an
Indifference assumed at great cost to
his nervous system.
The elate Maurice was inspired to
set up as wit. ''Then you're nakidv'
he shouted exultantly "Penrod Scho-
field says he hasn't got nothin' on I'M
der that ole golf cape! He's nakid!
He's nakid!'
The audience Of little girls giggled ir-
ritatingly. and a javelin pierced the
inwards Of Penrod when he saw that
the Child Elaine, amber curled and
beautiful Marjorie Jones, lifted golden
laughter to the horrid jest.
Other boys and girls came focking
to the uproar. Hes nakid, he's ma
kidr' shrieked the Child Sir Galahad.
"Penrod Schofelds nakid! He's na-a-a-
kid!'
Hush, hush!" said Mrs. Lora Rev.
bush, pushing her way into the group.
Remember. we are all little knights
and ladies today. Little knights and
ladies Of the Table Round would not
make so much noise. Now, children,
we must begin to take our places on
the stage. Is everybody here?"
Penrod made his escape under cover
of this diversion. He slid behind Mrs.
Lora Rewbush and, being near door,
opened it unnoticed and went out
quickly. closing it behind him. He
found himself in a narrow and vacant
hallway which led to a door marked
"JanitOr's Room"
Burning with outrage, heartsick at
the sweet, cold bloOded laughter Of
Marjorie Jones, Penrod rested his ell
bows upon a window sill and specu-
lated upon the effects Of leap from
the second story. One of the reasons
he gave it up was his desire to live on
Maurice Levy's account; already he
was forming educational plans for the
Child Sir Galahad
A stout man in blue overalls passed
through the hallway, muttering to him
self petulantly. II reckon they'll find
that hall hot enough now!' he said,
conveying to Penrod an impression
that some too feminine women had
sent him upon an unreasonable errand
to the furnace. He went into the JAM
tors room and, emerging a moment
later minus the overalls, passed PenrOd
again with bass rumble-"Dern 'emw
it seemed he said-and made a gloomy
the hallway.
The conglOmerate and delicate rustic
of a large. mannerly audience was
heard as the. janitor opened and closed
the door. and stage fright seized the
boy. The orchestra began an overture,
and at that Penrod, trembling violent
ly, tiptoed down the hall into the jan
itor's room. It was a cul-de-sac; there
was no outlet save by the way he had
come.
looked down upon himself for last
sickening assurance that the stockings
were as obviously and racefully
Margaret's as they had seemed in the
mirror at home. For a moment he was
encouraged; perhaps he was no worse
than some of the other boys. Then he
noticed that safety pin had opened;
one of those connecting the stockings
with his trunks. He sat down to fasten
it, and his eye fell for the first time
with particular attention upon the
trunks. Until this instant he had been
preoccupied with the stockings.
Slowly recognition dawned in his
eyes.
The SchOfields' house stood on a
corner at the intersection of two main
Travelled streets, the fence was low and
the publicity obtained by the washable
portion of the family apparel on Mon
days had often been painful to Penrod,
for boys have a peculiar sensitiveness
in these matters. A plain, matter of
fact washerwoman, employed by Mrs.
Schofield, never left anything to the
ina gination Of the passerby, and Of all
her calm display the scarlet Haunting
Of his fathers winter wear had most
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