Evening star., 1917-05-20
Booth Harrington ~


not have lived an hour unpistoled. In
the drug store, where Penrod bought
his candy and soda when he was in
funds, he would linger to turn the
were fascinatingly pistolic- Some of the
magazines upon the very library table
at home were sprinkled with pictures
of people CASUALLY in evening clothes)
the library board of the town had
emitted selected list of fifteen books
for boys" and Penrod had read four
teen of them with pleasure, but as the
fifteenth contained no weapons tn the
earlier chapters and held forth little
prospect of any shooting at all, he
abandoned 1t halfway, and read the
most sanguinary of the fourteen others
over again. So, the daily food of his
Imagination being gun, what wonder
that he thristed for the real:
He passed from the sidewalk into his
own yard, with a subdued "Bing" in
ficted upon the stolid person of gate
post. and, entering the house through
However, driven back from the fore
part of the house by a dismal sound Of
callers, he returned to the kitchen and
sat down.
know what I'd do if you was a crook
and I had my ottomatic with me?'
Della was Industrious and preoccu-
pied. IF 1 was 4 cook" she repeated,
ignorantly. and with no cordially;
well, / am cook. I'm a-cookin'
right now. Either gwan in the house
where y'blong. or git out in th' yard"
, Penrod chose the latter, and betook
himself slowly to the back fence, where
he was greeted in a boisterous manner
by his wistful little old dog, Duke. re-
turning from some affair of his own in
the alley.
Get down." said Pcnrod. coldIy, and
bestowed spiritless "Bing!" upon him.
At this moment a shout was heard
from the alley. "Yay, Penrod!' and the
sandy head of comrade Sam Williams
appeared above the fence.
Come ON over" said Penrod.
AS Sam obediently climbed the fence,
the little old dog. Duke. moved slowly
away. but presently, glancing back
over his shoulder and seeing the two
boys standing together. he broke into
trot and disappeared round corner
of the house. He was dog of long
and enlightening experience. and he
made it clear that the conjunction of
Penrod and Sam portended events
which. from his point of view. might
be unfortunate. Duke had forgiving
disposition, but he also possessed
melancholy wisdom. In the company
of either Penrod or Sam alone affec-
tion often caused him to linger, albeit
with little pessimism, but when he
saw them together ne invariably with
drew in as unobtrusive manner as
haste would allow.
X
What you doin'?" Sam asked.
'Nothin'. What you?"
''Pll show you If you'll come over to
our house." said Sam. who was wearing
an important and secretive expression.
What for?" Penrod showed little in
terest.
We'll, 1 said I'd show you if you came
on over. didn't II"
But you haven't got anything 1
haven't got" said Penrod indifferently.
Il know everything that's in your yard
and in your stable. and there isn't
thing"
Il didn't say it was in the yard or in
Well. there amt anything in your
house." returned Penrod frankly, that
Ia walk two feet to look at-not
thipg!" !ps ror. Sam assumed moc.srv
"Oh. no, you wouldn't! You know what
it is. don't you? Yes, you do"
Penrod's curiosity stirred somewhat.
We'll, all right" he said. II got
is it,? '' e0
You wait and see." said Sam. as they
climbed the fence. II bet your ole
eye eyesll I'll sas open pretty far in about min
Il bet they don't. It takes a good
sumpthing mighty-
You'll see" Sam promised.
He opened an alley gate and stepped
into his own yard in a manner signal
ing caution-though the exploit. thus
far, certainly required none-and Pen
rod began to be impressed and hopeful.
They. entered the house. silently. en-
countering no one. and Sam led the
way upstairs. tiptoeing. implying un-
usual and increasing peril. Turning. in
the upper hall. they went into Sans
fathers bedroom. and Sam closed the
door with a caution so genuine that
already Penrod's eyes began to fulfil his
hosts prediction. Adventures in an
other boys house are trying to the
nerves; and another boys fathers bed
room. when invaded. has a violated
sanctity that is almost appalling. Pen
rod felt that something was about to
happen-something much more important
than he had anticipated
Sam tiptoed across the room to a chest
of drawers. and. kneeling. carefully
pulled out the lowest drawer until the
surface of its contents-Mr. Williams
winter underwear-lay exposed. Then
he fumbled beneath the garments and
drew forth large object. displaying 1t