The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-27

chamber with Sam clamoring for pos
session, it had seemed to Penrod that
nothing in the world was so desirable
hands-it was his dream come true.
But, for reasons not definitely known
to him, the charm had departed; he
turned the cylinder gingerly, almost
with distaste; and slowly there stole
over him a feeling that there was
something repellent and threatening in
the heavy blue steel.
Thus does the long-dreamed real
misbehave-not only for Penrod!
More out of sense of duty to bing-
ism in general than for any other rea-
son, he pointed the revolver at the
lawn-mower, and gloomily murmured,
"Bing!"
simultaneously, low and cautious
voice sounded from the yard outside,
"Yay, Penrod!" and Sam Williams
darkened the doorway, mis- eye falling
instantly upon the weapon in his
friends hand. Sam seemed relieved to
see it.
you didn't get caught with it, did
you" he said hastily.
Penrod shook his head, rising.
81 guess not! I guess 1 got some
brains around me-" he added, inspired
by Sans presence to assume a slight
swagger. '"They'd have to get up pref
ty early to find any good ole revolaver,
once got my hands on it,"
81 guess we can keep it, all right"
Sam said confidentially. Because this
morning papa was putting on his win
ter underclothes and he found it wasn't
there, and they looked all over and ev-
erywhere, and he was pretty mad, and
said he knew it was those cheap plumb
ers stole 1t that mamma got instead of
the regular plumbers he always used to
have, and he said there wasn't any
chance ever gettin' it back, because
you couldn't tell which one took it,
and they'd all swear it wasn't them.
So it looks like we could keep it for
our revolaver, Penrod, don't It? I'll
give you half of it."
Penrod affected some enthusiasm.
"Sam' We'll keep it out here in the
stable"
Eyes, and we'll go huntin' with it.
Well do lots of things with it," But
Sam made no effort to take it, and
neither boy seemed to feel yesterdays
necessity to show the other how he
did. "Wait till next Fourth O. July!"
Sam continued. ooh, oh! Look out !"
This invited a genuine spark from
Penrod.
Fourth o. July! guess she'll be
little better than any frecrackers Just
a little Bling! Bling! Bling! she'll be
goin'. Bling! Bling! Bing!"
The suggestion Of noise stirred his
comrade. "Tll bet she'll go off louder'n
that time the gas-wOrks blew up! l
wouldn't be afraid to shoot her off any
time"
81 bet you would" said Penrod. "You
aren't used to revolavers the way 7"
"You aren't, either!" Sam exclaimed
promptly. 81 wouldn't be any more
afraid to shoot her off than you would"
"You would, too!''
81 would not!"
swell, let's see you then; you talk
so much!" And Penrod handed the
weapon scornfully to Sam, who at once
became less self-assertive.
''Pd shoot her off in a minute" Sam
said, "only it might break sumpthing if
it hit it."
"Hold her up in the air, then. 1t
can't hurt the roof, can it?'
Sam, with a desperate expression,
lifted the revolver at arms length.
Both boys turned away their heads,
and Penrod put his fingers in his ears
but nothing happened. "What's the
matter?" he demanded. 'Why don't
you go on if you're goin' too"
Sam lowered his arm. 81 guess /
didn't have her cooked" he said apollo
getically, whereupon Penrod loudly
jeered.
"Tryin' to shoot q revolaver and
didn't know enough to cock herl If /
didn't know any more about revolavers
than that, I'd"
"There!" Sam exclaimed, managing
to draw back the hammer until two
chilling clicks warranted his opinion
that the pistol was now ready to per-
form it's office. 81 guess she'll do all
right to suit you this timer
"Well, why'n't you 60 ahead, then;
you know so much'' And as Sam
raised his arm, Penrod again turned
away his head and placed his forcing
ers in his ears.
A pause followed.
"Why'n't you go aheadT
PenrOd, after waiting in keen sus-
pense, turned to behold his friend
standing with his right arm above his
head, his left hand over his left ear,
and both eyes closed.
81 can't pull the trigger" said Sam
indistinctly, his face convulsed as in
sympathy with the great muscular eff
forts of other parts Of his body. "She
won't pull !"
"She won'tT Penrod remarked with
scorn. ''rll bet could pull her."
Sam promptly opened his eyes and
handed the weapon to Penrod.
GAIL right" he said, with surprising
and unusual mildness. "YOu try her,
then"
Inwardly discounted to a disagree
able extent, Penrod attempted to talk
his own misgivings out of counten-
ance.
"Poor little baby!" he said, swinging
the pistol at his side with a fair pre-