Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13

position in imitation of him. Verman
was delighted with this phase Of the
amused by Periods pomposity. Some
i thing dim and deep within him per-
ceived it to be cause for such merri-
ment that he had ado to master himself.
and was forced to bottle and cork his
laughter with both hands.
The three boys stole along the fence
in single file, proceeding In this fash
ion until they reached Periods own
front gate. Here the leader ascertained,
by a reconnaissance as far as the cor
ner. that the hostile forces were still
looking for them in another direction.
He returned in stealthy but import
ant manner to his disgruntled follower
and the hilarious captive.
Well said Sam impatiently.
guess I'm not goin' to stand around
here all day. I guess. You got any
thing you want to do. why'n't you go
on and do it?"
Periods brow was already contorted
to present the appearance OF detached
and lofty concentration.
Ssh" he murmured. II got to think"
"Bugsw said the impolite Mr.. Will
lams again.
yerman bent double, sauealing and
SUFFERING so exhausting was the mirth
to which he now gave way. Penrod's
composure was somewhat affected.
"oh, 1 guess you won't laugh quite so
much about minute from now, ole
Mister Fernan" he said severely:
Well. why'n't you tell him why ne
won't laugh so much. them" Sam de-
manded. why'n't you do sumpthing
and quit talkin' so much about it!'
Penrod haughtily led the way into
You follow me-" he said. "and 1
sense
Then, abandoning his hauteur for an
air of mystery equally irritating to
Sam, he stole up the steps OF the porch:
and after a moments manipulation or
the knob Of the big front door con-
trived to operate the fastenings ana
pushed the door open.
Come on" he whispered. reckoning.
And the three boys mounted the stairs
to the floor above in silence-save for
a belated giggle on the part OF YER
man, which was restrained upon ter
rible gesture from Penrod.
Penrod led the way into the dainty
room of his nineteen-year-old sister,
Margaret. and closed the door.
There" he said, in a low and husky
voice. Il expect you'll see what I'm
wei, what?' asked the skeptical
Sam.
wait. can't you?" Penrod walled. in
to an inner door. he threw IL open, dis
closing a clothes-closet hung with
pretty garments of many kinds. while
upon it's floor were two rows of shoes
and slippers of great variety and
charm.
A significant thing is to be remarked
concerning the door of this somewhat
intimate treasury; there was no knob
or latch upon the inner side, SO that,
when the door was closed, it could be
opened only from the outside.
There said Penrod. You get in
there. verman, and I'll bet they won't
get to touch you back out O. bein' our
pris'ner very soon, now! Oh, 1 guess
not"
"Pshaw" said Sam. els that all you
were goin' to do? Why, your motherll
come and make him get out the
FIRST"
have gone to my aunt's in the country,
and aren't goin' to be back till dark.
And even II he made lot o. noise. it's
kind of hard to hear anything from in
there. anyway. when the doors shut.
Besides. he's got to keep quiet-that's
the rule, Verman. You're a pris'ner,
and it's the rule you can't holler or
nothin'. You understand that. Yer
man."
"Aw wi" said yerman
Then go on in there. Hurry"
The obedient Verman marched into
the closet and sat down among the
an interesting effect Of contrast.
THERE said Penrod, closing the
door and leading the way from the
Sam said nothing. and they came out
TO the open air, and reached their re-
treat in the Williams yard again.
Il thought Of that Just as easy" Pen
pretty long While Il We'd had d to oes wait
for you to think of sumpthing as good
as that. Sam
why !, would V i'd. it," Sam asked; Why
Oh. responded Penrod. airily, Just
for the main and simple reason"
Sam could bear 1t no longer,
"Oh. hush up" he shouted
Penrod was stung.
DO you mean meT' he dema nded
Yes. I dol" replied the goaded Sam.
DID YOU ~, tell y me to hush up'"
II guess you don't know who you're
talkin' to-. Penrod said. omanously. ~
guess just better show you who
you're ta1ktn' to like that guess you
need little sumpthins. for the main
Sam uttered an uncomfortable howl
and sprang upon Penrod. catching him
round the waist. Simultaneously with
this impact. the wooden swords spun
through the air, and were presently
trodden underfoot as the two boys
wrestled to and fro.
Streaks and blotehes began to appear
upon the two faces. where color had
been heightened by the ardent applica-
ton of a cloth sleeve or shoulder while
ankles and insteps were scraped and
toes were trampled. Turf and shrub
berries suffered also as the struggle
went on. until finally the wrestlers
pitched headlong into a young lilac
bush. and came to earth together,
among its crushed and sprawling
branches.
"Ooch" and ''wuf." were the two ex-
CARNATIONS which marked this episode,
and then. with no further comment. the
struggle was theoretically continued
upon horizontal plane
Thus they were discovered by a foray
OF the hostile party. headed by Roddy
Bits and Herman COLDER brother to
Ferman) and followed by the bonded
prisoners, Maurice Levy and George
Bassett. These and others caught sight
OF the writhing figures, and charged
down upon them with loud cries OF tri-
umph. W