The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-08-19


the drawing room" A sneeze, unex.
pected both to him and the owner, In
formed him Of the presence of another
person.
Where are you, PenrodT the par
ent asked, looking about.
Here" said Penrod meekly.
STOPPING, Mr.. Schofield discovered
his son squatting under the piano, near
an open window-his wistful Duke ly-
ing beside him.
What are you doing therer
"MeT
why under the piano?"
"Well," the boy returned with grave
sweetness, Il was just kind Of sitting
here-thinking."
"All right Mr.. Schofeld, rather
touched, returned to the digestion Of
murder, his back once more to the
piano, and Penrod silently drew from
beneath his jacket (where he had slip
ped it simultaneously with the sneeze)
paper backed volume entitled, 'Slim-
sy, the Sioux City SQuealer; or. Not
Guilty, Your Honor"
In this manner the reading club con-
tinued in peace, absorbed, contented,
the world well forgot-until a sudden,
violently irritated slam bang of the
front door startled the members, and
Mrs. Schofield burst into the room and
threw herself into a chair moaning.
whats the matter, mamma?" ask
ed her husband. laying aside his paper.
Henry Passloe Schofield," return
ed the lady, II don't know what Is to
be done with that boy; do notr'
You mean PenrodY"
"Who else could l meanT She sat
Henry Passloe Schofield, you've got
to take this matter In your hands. It's
beyond mel"
swell, what has he"-
Last night I got to thinking" she
began rapidly, "about what Clara tolo
and little Clara have gone to tea ut
Cousin Charlotte's-but they'll be home
soon-about what she said about Miss
Spence
"You mean about Penrod's being a
comfortT
Eyes, and kept thinking and think
ing and thinking about 1t till couldn't
stand 1t any
"By Georgev shouted Mr.. Schoheh
starrlingly, STOPPING to LOOK under the
piano. A statement that he had sud
denly remembered his sons presence
would be lacking in accuracy, for the
highly sensitized Penrod was, In fact,
no longer present No more was Duke,
his faithful dog.
whats the matterW
Nothing" he returned, striding to
the open window and looking out
go on"
"Ohr' she moaned. 1T must be kept
from Clara. And I'll never hold up my
head again IL John Fairy ever hears
Of itr
Hears of whatY'
well. just couldn't stand it, got
so curious. And l thought, Of course,
II Miss Spence had become a little
unbalanced 1t was my duty to know
1t as Periods mother and she his
teacher. So I thought I would just
call on her at her apartment after
school and have a chat and see. And
did. and-oh"-
"WellT
I've just come from there, and she
told me-she told me! oh, I've never
known anything like this!"
what did she tell your"
Mrs. Schofield. making a great ef-
fort. managed to assume a temporary
appearance Of calm. Henry" she
said solemnly, bear this In mind.
whatever you do to PenrOd 1t must be
done In some place when Clara won't
hear 1t. But the first thing to do is to
find him."
Within view of the window from
which Mr.. Schoield was gazing was
the closed door Of the storeroom In the
stable. and just outside this door Duke
was performing a most engaging trick
His young master had taught Duke
to 'sit up and beg" when he wanted
anything. and If that didn't get 1t to
speak" Duke was facing the closed
door and sitting up aud begging. and
now he also spoken a loud, clear
bark.
There was an open transom over the
door, and from this Observation-Disclosures
by an unseen agency-a can half filed
with old paint
1t caught the small besieger of the
door on his thoroughly surprised right
ear. encouraged him to some remarka-
BILE acrobatics and turned large por-
lions of him a dull blue. Allowing
only moment to perplexity and decid-
ing after a single and evidently unap-
petlzing experiment not to cleanse him.
self of paint. the loyal animal resumed
bis quaint. upright posture.
Mr.. Schofield seated himself on the
window sill. whence he could keep In
view that pathetic picture Of unrequit-
ed love.
go Oh with your story, mamma" he
said. 81 think can find Penrod when
we want him."
And a few minutes later he added,
And I think l know the place to do
1t in"
Again the faithful voice of Duke was
heard pleading outside the bolted door.