The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-08-19

entire city as audience by invitation
of the authorities.
Noon came. The rows of children
filed out, every head turning for a last
unpleasingly speculative look at the
outlaw. Then Miss Spence closed the
door into the cloakroom and that into
the big hall and came and sat at her
desk, near Penrod. The tramping of
feet outside, the shrill calls and shout
ing and the changing voices Of the
older boys ceased to be heard-and
there was silence. Penrod, still affect
ing to be occupied with Lowell. was
conscious that Miss Spence looked at
him intently.
"Penrod," she said gravely, "what
excuse have you to offer before I re-
port your case to the principal?'
The word principal struck him to
the vitals. Grand inQuisitor, grand
khan, sultan. emperor, car, Caesar
Augustus-these are comparable. He
stopped s%Quirming Instantly and sat
rigid.
Il want an answer. Why did you
shout those words at me?"
"Well," he murmured, II vas just
thinking"
Thinking what?" she asked sharply.
~ don't know
THAT won't dol"
He took his left ankle in his right
hand and regarded it helplessly.
THAT won't do, Penrod Schofield."
she repeated severely. IF that Is all
the excus you have to offer | shall re-
port your case this i%nstant!'
And she rose with fatal intent.
But Penrod was one of those whom
the precipice inspires We'll, l have
got an excuse"
"Wen'-she paused ~impatiently-
what Is it?"
He had not an idea, but he felt one
coming and replied automatically In a
plaintive tone:
~ guess anybody that had been
through what I had to go through last
night would think they had an ex-
cuse."
Miss Spence resumed her seat,
IuouSl Will NuC uII VI UClIlB AcuuJ W
leap from 1t instantly.
what has last night to do with your
insolence to me this morning?"
well l guess you'd see," he re-
turned, emphasizing the plaintive note.
1T you knew what I know"
"Now, Penrod," she said, in a kinder
voice, 81 have a high regard for your
mother and father, and 1t would hurt
me to distress them, but you must ell
Their tell me what was the matter with
you or I'll have to take you to Mrs.
Houston"
Well, amt I going TOT" he cried,
spurred by the dread name. Its be-
cause didn't sleep last night"
Were you illT' The question was
put with some dryness.
He felt the dryness. Nom;
wasn't"
Then If some one In your family
was so Ill that even you were kept
up all night, how does 1t happen they
let you come to school this morning?"
1T wasn't Illness" he returned,
shaking his head mournfully. 1T was
lots worse'n anybody's being sick. 1t
vast was-well, it was jest awful"
What WASP He marked with anxi-
ETY. the ~incredulity in her tone.
1T was about Aunt Clara" he said.
Your Aunt Clarav' she repeated.
"Do you mean your mothers sister,
who married Mr.. Fairy of Dayton.
ILL.,?
"Yes-Uncle John" returned Penrod
sorrowfully. "The trouble was about
him."
Miss Spence frowned q frown which
he rightly interpreted as one Of contin-
ued suspicion. "She and l were In
school together" she said. II used to
know her very well, and I've always
heard her married life was entirely
happy. don't'-
"Yes, it was" he interrupted, until
last year when Uncle John took to
running with travelling men,
"WhatT"
"Yes'm." He nodded solemnly. THAT
q good, kind husband, but these tray.
cling men would coax him into q sa-
loon On his way from work, and they
got him to drinking beer and then ales.
wines, liquors, and Cigars
"Penrod"
"Ma'amT"
I'm not inquiring into your Aunt
Clara's private affairs. I'm asking you
If you have anything to say which
would palliate"-
That's what I'm tryin' to tell you
about, Miss Spence" he pleaded, IF
you'd jest only let me. When Aunt
Clara and her little baby daughter got
to our house last night
You say Mrs. Fairy Is visiting your
mother?"
"Yes'm-not just visiting-you see.
she had to come. Well, Of course, lit
tie baby Clara, she was so bruised up
and mauled, where he'd been hittin'
her with his cane
"You mean that your uncle had done
such a thing as that!' exclaimed Miss
Spence, suddenly disarmed by this
scandal.