Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-08-05
CHAPTER VII.
Fidelity Of a Little Doc.

Shnt'einSSs. lHe accepGeQ theory WIS
that Penrod had been arrested.
How breath taking then the sensa-
ton when at the beginning OF the
second hour he strolled In with inimis
table carelessness and, rubbing his
eyes, somewhat noticeably in the man
ner of one who has snatched an hour
OF much needed sleep, took his place as
II nothing In particular had happened.
This ut first supposed to be d superhu-
man exhibition of sheer audacity, be-
came but the more dumfounding when
Miss Spence, looking from her desk,
greeted him with q pleasant little nod.
Even after school Penrod gave numer
Gus maddened investigators no relief.
All he would consent to say was:
"Oh, l just talked to her.
A myst1fcation not entirely uncon-
nected with the one thus produced was
manifested at his own family dinner
table the following evening. Aunt
Clara had been out rather late and
came to the table after the rest were
seated. She wore a puzzled express
sion.
DO you eyer see Mary Spence now
adaysY she inquired, as she unfold
ed her napkin, addressing Mrs. scho-
field. Penrod abruptly set down his
soup spoon and gazed at his aunt with
ftattering attention.
Eyes, sometimes" said Mrs. Scho-
field. shes Penrod's teacher.n
lis she?. said Mrs. Fairy. "Do
you She paused. "Do people think
her a l~ittle-queer these days?"
Why, nor, returned her sister.
What makes you say that?"
sShe has acquired a very odd man
ner," said Mrs. Fairy decidedly. AT
least, she seemed odd to me. I met
her at the corner just before / got to
the house a few minutes ago, and aft
err we'd said howdy do to each other
she kept hold Of my hand and looked
as though she was going to cry. She
seemed to be trying to say something
and choking
aBut | don't think that's SO very
queer, Clara. She knew you In school.
didn't she2"
Eyes, but,
"And she hadn't seer you for 80
many years I think it's perfectly nat
uraI She
wait! She stood there squeezing
my hand and struggling to get her
voice, and I got really embarrassed,
and then finally she said In a kind Of
fearful whisper: BE Of good cheer.
This trial will pass.'n
How queerp exclaimed Margaret.
Penrod sighed and returned some
what absently to his soup.
sWe1l, I don't know said Mrs. scho-
field thoughtfully. aOf course she's
heard about the outbreak of measles
In Dayton, since they had to close the
schools, and she knows you live
there
"But doesn't it seem a very exag-
gerated way" suggested Margaret. ito
talk about measles"
"WaitW begged Aunt Clara. AFTER
she said that she said something even
queerer and then put her handkerchief
to her eyes and hurried away"
Penrod laid down his spoon again
and moved his chair slightly back from
the table. A spirit of prophecy was
upon him. He knew that sore one
was going to ask q question which ne
felt might better remain unspoken.
"What was the other thing she
said7" Mr.. schoield inquired, thus Inn
! mediately fulfilling his sons Fremont
tion.
she said returned Mrs. FAIRY SLOW,
IL, looking about the table; .she said
I know that Penrod Is a great. great
comfort to you
There was d general exclamation OF
surprise. 1t was d singular thing, and
in no manner may it be considered
complimentary to Penrod that this
speech Of Miss Spence's should have
Immediately confirmed Mrs. Fairy
!, doubts about her In the minds OF al
his family.
Mi. schofeld shook his head pity
ingly
.I,m afraid she's a goner.v he weni
SO far as to say.
sof MI the weird ideasr, cried Mar
garet.
81 never heard anything like It in M
iife.s Mrs. Schoaeld exclaimed. "Was
that ailsshe saidg ggA
livery werdg'
Penrod again resumed attention e
his soup. His mother looked at hin
cnrdously, and then. struck BIZ q sud
den thought, gathered the glances q
the adults OF the table By q significant
movement Of the head, and, byanoth
er, conveyed an ~admonition tosdrop ths
subject until later. Miss Spence Wal
Penrod's teacher. 1t was better. fol
many reasons, not to discuss The sub
sject OF her queerness before him. T1iis