Evening star., 1917-06-03
ROD---By Booth Harrington y

avalanche. She seemed to grow largest
and redder; lightnings played about her
the audience spraying out in fight, OIL
the tumult, sQuealings. trampltngS and J
dfspersals of a stricken field. Thai
mountain n s. was close upon him. S
he stood by the open mouth OF the
hayehute. which went through the dooIl2
to the manger below. Penrod also wen04
through the floor. He propelled hfmselE{
into the chute and shot down, but noe3
Williams had thoughtfully stepped int0i
the chute moment in advance Of hiSkl
partner. Penrod lit upon Sam.
Catastrophe noises resounded In the 4
lott: volcanoes seemed to romp upon the
stairway
Then there ensued a period when only
a shriil keening marked the wake of !
Roderick as he was borne to the tumbrfl
and then all was silence.
. -,
Sunset, striking through a Westerns
window. roughed the walls Of the Scho-.
helds' library. where gathered joint
family council and court-martial Of four
Mrs. schofeld. Mr.. schoheld and Mrx
and Mrs. Williams, parents of Samuel
of that ilk. Mr.. Williams read aloud a
conspicuous passage from the last edi.
ton of the evening paper.
Prominent people here believed close
relations of woman sentenced to hang.j
Angry denial by Mrs. r. MagsworthA
Bits Relationship admitted by younger
member of family. His statement con-
firmed by boy friends
DON'T" said Mrs. Williams. address,,
ing her husband vehemently. We've alb
read it a dozen times. We've got plenty
of trouble on our hands without hearing
that again. 3
singularly enough, Mrs. williams did
not look troubled; she looked as If she,
We're trying to look troubled Mrss5
Schof1eld wore a similar expression. So
did Mr. CchnAe1d Go Mr. lies
What did she say when she called you
up?' Mrs. Schoield inquired breathless-
ly of Mrs. Williams.
'She could hardly speak at first, and
then when she did talk she talked 30
fast I couldn't understand most OF It
and
Della says there were just streams
going in and out all day" said Mrs.
happened. but this Is the day I spend
every month in the country with Aunt
Sarah. and I didn't dream"
She said that the most awful thing
about 1t" Mrs. Williams went on, was
that, though she's going to prosecute;
the newspapers, many people would ali,
ways believe the story, and
Yes, imagine they will" said Mrs.
l and everybody who really knows the
Bits and Magsworth families underes
stand the perfect absurdity Of II: but r
suppose there are ever so many who'll
and Magsworths say" q
Hundreds and hundreds" said Mrsss
Williams. I'm afraid 1t VIII be great
come-down for them"
I'm afraid So" said Mrs. Schoneld1
gently. "A very great one-yes. q verys
very great one" -
well" observed Mrs. Williams, aftsp
thoughtful pause. there's only on@
better be done right away
She glanced toward the two HentlSx'
men.
Certainly" Mr.. schoneld agreedt
But where are they?"
Have you looked in the stable -
asked his wife. s
IT searched it. They've probably
started for the far west
Did you look in the sawdust boxr
Then that's where they are"
Thus, in the early twilight the now
historic stable was approached by two
fathers charged to do the only thing to
They entered t6e storeroom. in the
corner of which shoad the sawdust box.
a structure eight fstt high and open at
the top. ~
"Penrod" said Mr.. schofield.
SAM said Mr.. Williams.
Nothing disturbed the twilight hMl
But by means of ladder, brought
from the carriage house. Mr.. Schodeld
mounted to the top of the sawdust box.
He looked within and discerned the dim
outlines of two quiet figures.
They rose, upon command. descended
the ladder after Mr.. Schofield, and stood
before the authors of their being. who
bent upon them sinister and threaten
ing brows. With hanging heads and
respondent countenances, each still or
namented with a mustache and an imsa
perial. Penrod and Sam awaited ses>
tence.
Mr.. Williams took his son by the ear.
You march home!" he commanded.
Sam marched, not looking back. and
his father followed the small figure inn
placably.
"You goin' to whip me?" quavered
Penrod, alone with Justice.
Wash your face at that hydrant.~
said his father sternly.
About fifteen minutes later Penrod,
hurriedly entering the corner drug store
two blocks distant, was astonfshed to
perceive familiar form at the soda
counter.
"Yay. Penrod," said Sam williams.
Want some sody? Come on. He didn't
lick me. He didn't do anything to me
at all. He gave me a quarter"
Sod mine," said Penrod.
Copyright, 1917, by the Wheeler Syndicate. Ine.l.