Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08

Mig. you'll be lucky II you leave hero
alivew And he leaned forward till his
nose was within less than an inch OF
Herman's nose.
It could be felt that something awful
was about to happen. and Penrod. as he
rose from the door. suffered an unex-
pected twinge of apprehension and re-
morse: he hoped that Rupe wouldn't
Of Rupe and RUPEES ways rose within
him as he looked at the big boy over
whelming the little darby with that fe-
rocious scow1. Penrod all at once felt
sorry about something undefnable; and.
with equal vagueness. he felt foolish.
Come on. Rupe." he suggested. feebiy:
''let Herman go and let's make our
billies out of the rake handle"
The rake handle. however. was not
available. II Rupe had inclined to favor
his lath for the rake, which he was at
this moment lifting In the air.
You ole black niger" the fat-faced
boy said venomously to Herman, I'm
goin' To-
But he had allowed his nose to remain
miliar nose had been as close, with
only ticklish mental effect upon the
not very remote descendant Of kongo
man-eaters. The result produced by the
glare of RUPEES unfamiliar eyes. and by
the dreadfully suggestive proximity of
RUPEES unfamiliar nose. was altogether
different Herman's and verman's Ban
gala great-grandfathers never considered
people of their own jungle neighborhood
proper material for a meal, but they
looked upon strangers-especially trucu-
lent strangers-as distinctly edible.
Penrod and Sam heard Rupe suddenly
equawk and below; saw him writhe and
twist and fling out his arms like fails.
though without removing his face from
its tuxtaposition; indeed. for a moment
the two heads seemed even closer.
Then they separated-and battle was
on!
1t has been, perhaps. sufficiently sug-
gested that the alteration in Mr. Scho-
fields stable opened with mayhem in
respect to tho aggressor's nose. Ex-
pressing vocally his indignation and the
extremity Of his panied surprise. Mr.. Col
Inns stepped backward. holding his left
man with his right. Then Verman hit
him with the rake.
verman struck from behind He struck
rs hard as he could. And he struck with
the tines down. For. in his simple. direct
African way, he wished to kill his enemy.
and he wished to kill him as soon as pos
sible. Herman was animated by the same
intention. On this account. Rupe Col
Inns was peculiarly unfortunate. He was
plucky and he enjoyed conflict. but
had ever included murder.
The rake glanced from the back of his
head to his shoulder. but it felled him.
Both darkies Jumped full upon him in
stantly. and the three rolled and twisted
upon the stable floor. unloosi1g upon the
air sincere maledictions closely connected
with the complaints Of cruel and unusual
treatment. Dan and Duke, installing all
for mirth. barked gayly.
From the painting, pounding, yelling
heap issued words and phrases hitherto
quite unknown to Penrod and Sam
also. a hoarse repetition in the voice OF
Rupe concerning his ear left 1t not to
be doubted that additional mayhem was
taking place. Appalled,. the two spec
tators retreated to the doorway nearest
the yard. where they stood dumbly
watching the cataclysm.
The struggle increased in primitive
simplicity: time and again the bowling
again as the earnest brothers, in theiI
own way, assisted him to a more re.
clining position.
At last out of the ruck rose Verman
dis1gured and maniacal. With a wild
eye he looked about him for his trusty
rake: but Penrod, in horror. had lons
since thrown the rake out into the yard
Naturally 1t had not seemed necessary
to remove the lawn-mower.
The frantic eye of Verman fell upon
the 1awn-mower, and instantly he leape6
for its handle. Shrilling a wordless
warcry. he charged, propelling the
whirling. deafening knives straight
upon the prone legs of Rupe Collins
The lawn-mower was sincerely intend
ed to pass longitudinally over the body
of Mr.. Collins from heel to head, and 4
was the time for q death song.
man. urging on the whirling knives.
They touched and lacerated the shir
Of Rupe as. with the supreme agony o,
effort creature in mortal peril putt