Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-06-10

| 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.
What's the matter?''
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 if John Fairy ever hears
of it!'
Hears of what?"
well, I just couldn't stand it, got
so curious. And / thought, Of course,
if Miss Spence had become a little
unbalanced it was my duty to know
| it as Periods mother and she his
| teacher. So I thought | would just
call on her at her apartment after
school and have chat and see. And
did, and-oh''-
.Well?''
i've just come from there, and she
told me-she told me! Oh, I've never
known anything like thisr'
What did she tell you!"
Mrs Schofeld, making q great eff
fort, managed to assume temporary
appearance of calm. Henry" she
said solemnly, bear this in mind,
whatever you do to Penrod it must be
done in some place when Clara won't
hear it. But the first thing to do is to
find him."
Within view of the window from
which Mr. Schofield was gazing was
the closed door Of the storeroOm in the
stable, and just outside this door Duke
was performing most engaging trick.
His young master had taught Duke
to 'sit up and beg" when he wanted
anything, and if that didn't get it to
speak" Duke was facing the closed
door and sitting up and begging, and
now he also spoken a loud. clear
bark.
There was an open transom over the
door, and from this descended-hurled
by an unseen agency-a can half filled
with old paint.
It 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-
petizing experiment not to cleanse him
self of paint, the loyal animal resumed
his quaint, upright posture.
Mr.. Schofeld seated himself on the
window sill, whence he could keep in
view that pathetic picture of unrequit-
ed love.
eco Oh with your story, mamma" he
said. II think can find Penrod when
we want him."
And a few minutes later he added,
"And l think I know the place to do
it in
Again the faithful voice of Duke was
heard pleading outside the bolted door.
y =
Penrod entered the schoolroom Mon
day morning picturesquely leaning
upon a mans cane, shortened to sup
port cripple approaching the age of
twelve. He arrived about twenty min
utes late, limping deeply, his brave
young mouth drawn with pain, and the
sensation he created must have been
a solace to him, the only possible crit
icism Of this entrance being that it
was just a shade too heroic. Perhaps
for that reason it failed to stagger
Miss Spence. a woman so saturated
with suspicion that she penalZed Pen
rod for hardness as promptly and as
coldly as if he had been q mere, or
binary, unmutilated boy. Nor would
she entertain any discussion of the
justice of her ruling. It seemed almost
that she feared to argue with him.
However, the distinction of cane and
limp remained to him, consultations
which he protracted far into the week
until Thursday evening, in fact, when
Mr.. SchOfeld, observing from a win
dow his sons pursuit Of Duke round
and round the back yard, confscated
the cane with the promise that it
should not remain idle if he saw Pen
rod limping again. Thus, succeeding
depressing Friday, another Saturday
brought the necessity for new inven-
tons.
1t was a scented morning in apple
blossom time. At about ten Of the
clock Penrod emerged hastily from
the kitchen door. His pockets bulged
abnormally, so did his cheeks, and he
swallowed with difficulty. A threat
ening mop welded by a cooklike arm
in a checkered sleeve, followed him
through the doorway, and he was pre-
coded by small, hurried, wistful dog
with a warm doughnut in his mouth.
The kitchen door slammed petulantly,
inclosing the sore voice of Della, where
upon Penrod and Duke seated them
selves upon the pleasant sward and
Immediately consumed the spoils Of
their raid
From the cross street which formed
the side boundary of the Schofields'
ample yard came a Jingle of harness