The Tomahawk., 1917-12-06
Neiahborhood War Game
Bv BOOTH TARKIN GTON

heller Syndicate, 1nc.)
I ted, and then began to laugh uproar-
iously.
"Stop that noise!" Penrod COM
manded. "You want to betray us?
What you laughin' at?"
"Ep mack i'm mimmup," Verman
giggled.
"What's he mean?" asked Sam.
Penrod was more familiar with
Verman's utterance, and he inter-
preted.
"He says they'll get him back in a
minute"
mo, they won't. I'd just like to
see"
eyes, they will, too" said Penrod.
''They'n get him back for the main
and simple reason we can't stay here
all day, can we? And they'd find US
| anyhow, If we tried to. There's so
many of 'em against just us two, they
can run in and touch him soon as
they get up to us-and then he'll be
after US again and"
Listen here!' Sam interrupted.
"Why can't we put some real bonds
on him? We could put bonds on his
wrists and around his legs-we could
put 'em all over him, easy as nothin'.
Then we could gag him"
mo, we can't" said Peprod. 1--WE
! can't, for the main and simple reason
we haven't got any rope or anything
to make the bonds with, have we? I
wish we had some o. that stuff they
give sick people. Then, I bet they
wouldn't get him back so soon!"
"Sick people?" Sam repeated, not
comprehending.
1T makes 'em 60 to sleep, no matter
what you do to 'em," Penrod ex-
planned. "That's the main and simple
reason they can't wake up, and you
can cut Off their whole legs-or their
arms, or anything you want to-"
"Hoy" exclaimed Verman, in a
serious tone. His laughter ceased in
stantly, and he began to utter pro-
test sufficiently Ineligible.
"You needn't worry" Penrod said
gloomily. 1--WE haven't got any O. that
stuff; so we can't do it."
"Well, we got to do sumpthing,"
said Sam.
His comrade agreed, and there was
a thoughtful silence, but presently
Penrod's countenance frightened.
II knowl" he exclaimed. II know
what We'll do with him. Why, I
thought of it just as easyl can
most always think Of things like that,
for the main and simple reason-well,
I thought Of it just as soon"
swell, what is it," Sam demanded
GROSSLY. Periods reiteration Of his
new-found phrase, 'for the main and
simple reason" had been growing
more and more irksome to his friend
all day, though Sam was not definite
~ aware that the phrase was the
cause Of his annoyance. "What are
we goin' to do with him, you know so
much?"
Penrod rose and peered over the
tops of the bushes, shading his eyes
with his hand, a gesture which was
unnecessary but had good appear
ance. He looked all round about him
in this manner, finally vouchsafing a
report to the impatient Sam.
mo enemies In sight-just for the
main and simple reason I expect
they're all In the alley and in George
Bassett's back yard"
II bet they're not!" Sam said scorn-
fully, his irritation much increased.
"How do you know SO much about
it?" -, =,
"Just for the main and simple rea-
son." Penrod replied, with dignifed
finality. =. -
And at that, Sam felt powerful
impulse to do violence upon the per-
son of his cOmrade-in-armS. The emo
ton which prompted this impulse was
so primitive and straightforward that
it almost resulted in action, but Sam
had a vague sense that he must con-
troll it as long rs he could. :.
"Bugsl" he said. r.
Penrod was sensitive, and this cold
word hurt him. However, he was un-
der the domination of his strategic
idea, and he subordinated private
grievance tdsthe common veal. "Get
upw he commanded. "You get up,
too, Verman. You got to-it's the
rule. Now here-T'll show you what
we're goin' to do. Stoop over, and
both O. you do Just exackly like I do.
You watch me, because this biz'nuss
has got to be done rightr'
Sam muttered something; he was
becoming more insurgent every mo-
ment but he Obeyed, Likewise, Yer
man rose to his feet. ducked his head
between his shoulders, and trotted out
to the sidewalk Mt SAINTS heels, both
following Penrod and assuming a
STOPPING position In imitation Of him.
Verman was delighted with this
phase of the game, and, also, he was
profoundly amused by Penrod's POM
posity. Something dim and deep with
in him perceived it to be cause for