Evening star., 1917-06-03

ever, unresponSive-far from 1t. he
offered comment very chilling to the
That's my uncle Ethelbert's dachs-
hund." he remarked, at the beginning
of the lecture. you better take him
back If you don't want to get arrest
ed
my papa would buy me y lots better
coon than that" was the Information
volunteered a little later. "only
wouldn't want the nasty old thing.
verman, confident in his own singular
powers, chuck1ed openly at the failure
frosty visitor. and, when his turn came.
poured forth a torrent Of conversation
which was straightway damned
Rotten" said Mr.. Bits, languid1y.
"I could get up a better show than
this with my left hand.
We'll, what would you have in your
old show?" asked Penrod, condescend-
ing to language.
.aThat's all right what I'd have I'd
have enough"
well, what would you have?'' insist
ed Penrod. derisively. You'd have to
be a show all by yourself?" demanded
Penrod.
How do you know couldn'tr'
Two white boys and two black boys
shrieked their scorn Of the boaster.
ct could, too,' Roderick raised his
voice to a sudden howl, obtaining a
hearing.
"weli. then. how'd you be a show?'
Penrod demanded. I'VE got a show
here, even IL Herman didn't point or
verman didn't talk. Their father stab
bed a man with a pitchfork, guess,
didn't he?"
How do know?"
"well, I guess he's in Jail, amt her
well, what If their father is in jail?
didn't say he wasn't, did IT.
Dal1 70 ain in Ia
he?''
well, never said he was. did II"
well, then" continued Penrod, how
could you be a." He stopped abruptly,
remembered his intention to ask Rod
erick Magsworth Bits, jr.. about Rena
Magsworth. and this recollection col
lided in his mind with the irritation
produced by Roderick's claiming some
mysterious attainment which would
warrant his setting up as a show in his
single person. Penrod's whole manner
changed instantly.
whelmed by a prescience of something
vast and magnificent. 'Roddy. are you
any relation Of Rena Magsworth?"
Roderick had never heard OF Rena
Magsworth. although concentration
of the sentence yesterday pronounced
upon her had burned, black and hor-
rife. upon the face of every newspaper
in the country. He was not allowed to
read the journals of the day, and his
family's indignation over the sacrilegi-
GUS coincidence Of the name had not
been expressed in his presence. But he
saw that it was an awesome name to
Penrod Schofield and Samuel Williams
Even Herman and Verman were In
formed on the subject of Rena Mags-
worth through hearsay. and they Joined
in the portentous silence.
"Roddy," repeated Penrod. honest, is
Rena Magsworth some relation Of
yoursT
There. is no obsession more dangerous
to its victims than conviction-es-
pecially an inherited one-of superb
ority.
From his earliest years Roderick
Magsworth Bits. jr.. had been trained
to believe in the Importance of the
Magsworth family. At every meal he
ness. And yet. in his infreauent meet
ings with persons of his own age and
sex. he was treated as negligible. Now,
dimly. he perceived that there was
Magsworth claim Of some sort which
was impressive, even to boys.
"Roddy," said Penrod again. with SOL
emnity. "is Rena Magsworth some rela-
tion of yoursT
''Is she, Roddy?" asked Sam, almost
hoarsely.
"She's my aunt" shouted Roddy.
Silence followed Sam and Penrod.
spellbound. gazed upon Roderick Mags-
worth Bits, jr. So did Herman and
verman: Roddy's staggering lie had
changed the face of things utterly.
"Roddy." said Penrod. in voice
tremulous with hope. "Roddy. will you
join our show?'' Roddy Joined.
Even he could see that the offer i'm
piled his being starred as the paramount
attraction of a new order Of things. 1t
was obvious that he had swelled out
suddenly, in the estimation Of the other
boys, to that Importance which he had
been taught to believe his native gilt
and natural right.
The sensation was pleasant He had
often been treated with effusion by
grown-up callers and by acquaintances
of his mother and sisters, and little
girls had sometimes shown him defer-
ence, but until this moment no boy had
ever allowed him. for one moment, to
presume even to equality. Now, in a
trfce he was not only admitted to COM