Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-03

copyrifht. 1914. By Doubleday.
Page q Company
CHAPTER XII.
The Inner Boy.
~ENROD went home in splendor.
l. pretending that he and Duke
were a long procession, and he
made enough noise to render
the auricular part of the illusion per-
feet: His own family was already at
the lunch table when he arrived. and
the parade halted only at the door Of
the dining room.
"Oh, somethingr shouted Mr.. Scho-
field, clasping his bilious brow with
both hands. "Stop that noise! Isn't
it awful enough for you to sing? Sit
down! Not with that thing on! Take
that green rope of your shoulder!
Now take that thing out of the dining
room and throw it in the ashcan!
Where did you get it?"
"Where did get what, papa?" asked
Penrod meekly, depositing the accor-
dion in the hall just outside the din
ing room door.
THAT da-that third hand concer-
tina"
"It's Gordon" said Penrod, taking
his place at the table and noticing
that both Margaret and Robert VIII
liams (who happened to be a guest
were growing red.
II don't care what you call It," said
Mr.. Schofield irritably. II want to
know where you got It."
Penrod's eyes met Margaret's. Hers
had strained expression. She very
slightly shook her head. Penrod sent
Mr.. Williams a grateful look and
might have been startled II he could
have seen himself In a mirror at that
moment, for he regarded Mitchy- Mitch
with concealed but vigorous aversion.
and the resemblance would have horri-
fed him.
"a man gave 1t to me-" he answered
gently and was rewarded by the visi-
bly, regained ease of his patrons man
ner, while Margaret leaned back In
her chair and looked at her brother
with real devotion.
81 should think he'd have been glad
to- said Mr.. Schofeld. "Who was
he?"
"Sir?' In spite Of the candy which
he had consumed in company with
Marjorie and Mitchy-Mitch Penrod had
begun to eat lobster croQuettes ear
nestly.
"Who was he?'
"Who do you mean, papa?"
"The man that gave you that ghast-
ly thing"
"Yes, sir; a man gave it to me-"
~ say. Who was he?" shouted Mr..
Schofield.
"Well, 1 was just walking alone, and
the man came up to me. It was right
down in front of Colgates', where most
of the paints rubbed of the fence
"Penrod!" The father used his most
dangerous tone.
"Sir?"
"Who was the man that gave you
the concertina?"
81 don't know. I was walking along
and
"You never saw him before"
"No, sir. I was just walk
''That will do." said Mr.. Schofeld.
rising. II suppose every family has
its secret enemies and this was one OF
ours. l must ask to be excused"
With that he went out Grossly, stop
ping in the hall moment before pass
ing beyond hearing. And after lunch
Penrod sought in vain for his accor-
dion. He even searched the library,
where his father sat reading. though,
upon inquiry, Penrod explained that
he was looking for misplaced school
book. He thought he ought to study
a little every day, he said. even during
vacation time. Much pleased, Mr..
Schofeld rose and Joined the search,
finding the missing work on mathe-
matics with singular ease-which cost
him precisely the price Of the book the
following September.
Penrod departed to study in the back
yard. There, after a cautious survey
of the neighborhood, he managed to
dislodge the iron cover Of the cistern
and dropped the arithmetic within. A
fine splash rewarded his listening ear.
Thus assured that when he looked for
that book again no one would find 1t
for him, he replaced the cover and be-
took himself pensively to the highway,
discouraging Duke from following by
repeated volleys Of stones, some i'm
aginary and others all too real.
Arrived upon the populous and fes-
tive scene Of the dog and pony show,
he first turned his attention to the
brightly decorated booths which sur
rounded the tent. The cries Of the
peanut venders. Of the popcorn men,
Of the toy balloon sellers, the stirring
music of the band. playing before the
performance to attract a crowd; the
shouting of excited children and the
barking Of the dogs within the tent,
all sounded exhllaratingly in Penrod's
ears and set his blood a-tingle. New
ertheless he did not squander his
money or fling 1t to the winds In one
grand splurge. Instead, he began eau
tiously with the purchase Of an e1-
traordinarily large pickle, which he OBJ
tanned from an aged negress for bis
odd cent, too obvious bargain to be
missed. At an adjacent stand he
bought a glass Of raspberry lemonade
(so alleged and slipped 1t as he ate the
pickle. He left nothing Of either.
Next he entered a small restaurant
tent and for modest nickel was sup
piled with fork and box Of sardines,
previously opened. It is true, but more
than half full. He consumed the sar-
dimes utterly. but left the tin box and
the fork. after which be INDUCED In an
inexpensive half pint Of lukewafm ci-
der at one of the open booths. Mug In
hand, a gentle glow radiating toward
his aurface from yariOus centers of ac-