Evening star., 1917-05-20
. ENROD SCHOFIELD. having been
~ kept in" for the unjust period
Of twenty minutes after school.
emerged to O deserted street.


UO 'kept in" for the unjust period
Of twenty minutes after school
emerged to q deserted street
That is. the street was deserted
80 far as Penrod was concerned. Here
and there people were to be seen upon
the sidewalks. but they were adults
and they and the shade trees had about
the same quality of significance in
Penrod's consciousness. Usually he
saw grown people in the mass. which is
to say. they were virtually invisible to
him. though exceptions must be taken
in favor of policemen. firemen, street
car conductors, motormen, and all other
men in any sort of uniform or regalia
the rowing eye. and Perrod set out upon
his homeward way wholly dependent
upon his own resources.
To one of Penrod's inner texture 4
mere unadorned walk from one point to
another was intolerabIe, and he had not
gone a block without achieving some
slight remedy for the tameness of life.
An electric light pole at the corner. in
vested with powers of observation.
might have been surprised to find itself
suddenly enacting a role of dubious
honor in improvised melodrama. PEN
rod. approaching. gave the pole look
of sharp suspicion. then one of convic-
tion: slapped it lightly and contemptu-
ously with his open hand: passed on a
few PAGES, but turned abruptly, and,
pointing his right forefinger, uttered
the symbolic word, Bing"
The plot was somewhat indefinite: vet
nothing is more certain than that the
electric light pole had first attempted
something against him. then growing
bitter when he slapped. and stealing
after him to take him treacherously in
the back. had got itself shot through
and through by one too old in such
warfare to be caught off his guard
Leaving the body to lie where it was
he placed the smoking pistol in a hol-
ster at his saddlebow-he had decided
that he was mounted-and proceeded
himself in other encounters. refining
in at first suspicion of ambush with a
muttered whoa. Charlie" or whoa,
Mfke" or even "Whoa, Washington
weighed attention to the details of
theatrical consistency, though the
steeds varying names were at least
harmoniously masculine. since a boy, in
these creative moments. never rides a
mare. And having brought Charlie or
Mike or Washington to a standstill.
Penrod would draw the sure weapon
from its holster and-"Bing! Bingj
Bing"-let them have it.
1t Is not to be understood that this
was a noisy performance, or even an
obvious one 1t attracted no attention
from any pedestrian. and it was to be
perceived only that boy was pro-
ceeding up the street at somewhat
irregular gait. Three or four years
earlier. when Penrod was seven or
eight. he would have shouted "Bing"
at the top Of his voice: he would have
galloped openly: all the world might
have seen that he bestrode a charger.
But a change had come upon him with
advancing years. Although the grown
people in sight were indeed to him as
walking trees. his dramas were accom-
plished principally by suggestion and
symbol. His "Whoas" and "Bings"
were delivered in a husky whisper. and
his equestrianism was established by
action mostly Of the mind. the accom-
panying artistry of the feet being un-
Ineligible to the passerby.
And yet, though he concealed from
observation the stirring little scenes he
thus enacted. love of realism was in
creasing within him. Early childhood is
notfastidiousa about the accessories ofits
drama cane is vividly a gun. which
may instantly. as vividly, become a
horse: but at Penrod's time of life the
lath sword is no longer satisfactory.
Indeed, he now had vague sense that
weapons Of wood were unworthy to
the point of being contemplate and
ridiculous. and he employed them only
when he was alone and unseen. For
months a yearning had grown more
and more poignant in his vitals. and
this yearning was symbolized by one
Of his most profound secrets. In the
inner pocket of his jacket he carried a
bit of wood whitfield into the distant
likeness of pistol. but not even Sam
Williams had seen 1t. The wooden pis-
tol never knew the light of day, save
when Penrod was in solitude; and yet
it never left his side except at night.
when it was placed under his pillow.
Still. it did not satisfy; it was but the
token of his yearning and his dream.
With all his might and main Penrod
1onged for one thing beyond all others.
He wanted a Real Pistol!
That was natural. Pictures. of real
pistols being used to magnificently ro-
mantle effect were upon almost all the
biIlboards in town the year round, and