The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-01-12

Bingism And Its Cure
Proves Thriller for Penrod and Sam While 1t Lasts
By BOOTH HARRINGTON
BY BOOTH HARRINGTON

Copyright, 1917, Wheeler Syndicate. Incl

minutes after school, emerged to a de
serted street. That is, the street was
deserted so far as Penrod was con
cerned. 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 Periods conscious
mess. Usually he saw grown people
I'm the mass, which Is to say, they were
virtually invisible to him, though ex'
ceptiOns must be taken In favor OF
policemen, f1remen, street-car cOnduc.
tors, motormen and all other men In
any sort Of uniform or regalia. But
this afternoon none of these met the
rowing eye, and Penrod set out upon
his homeward way wholly dependent
upon his own resources.
To one of Periods inner texture, a
mere unadorned walk from one point
TO another was intolerable, and he
had not gone a block without achiev-
ing some slight remedy for the tame
ness Of life. An electric-light pole at
the corner, invested with powers of
observation, might have been surprised
to find itself suddenly enacting a role
of dubious honor in improvised mel0-
drama. Penrod, approaching, gave
the pole a look of sharp suspicion,
!. then one Of conviction; slapped it
tightly and contemptuously with his
open hand; passed on a few PAGES,
but turned abruptly and, pointing his
right fOrefinger, uttered the symbolic
word, "Bing!"
Early childhood is not fastidiOus
about the accessories Of it's drama
a cane is wildly gun which may in
stantly, as wildly, become horse;
but ut Penrod's time of life the lath
sword Is no longer satisfactory. In
deed, he now had a 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 yearning had grown more and
more poignant in his vitals. and this
yearning was symbOlized by one of
his most profound secrets. In the In
ner pockets of his jacket he carried a
DIT of wood whitfield into the distant
likeness of pistol, but not even Sam
Williams had seen 1t. The wooden pis-
toll never knew the light of day, save
when Penrod was in solitude; and yet
1t never left his side except at night,
when 1t was placed under his pillow.
Still, IL did not satisfy; it was but the
token Of his yearning and his dream.
With all his might and main Penrod
ionged for one thing beyond all others.
He wanted Real Pistol!
At this moment shout was heard
from the alley, "Yay, Penrod!" and the
sandy head of conrad Sam Williams
appeared above the fence.
Come on over" said Penrod.
AS Sam obediently climbed the fence,
the little old dog, Duke, moved slowly
away, but presently, glancing over his
shoulder and seeing the two boys
standing together, he broke into a trot
and disappeared round a corner of the
house. He was dog of long and en-
tightening experience; and he made
1T clear that the conjunction of Penrod
and Sam portended events which, from
his point of view, might be unfortu-
nate. Duke had a forgiving DISPOSE
ton, but he also possessed melan-
choly wisdom. In the company Of
either PenrOd or Sam. alone, affec-
ton often caused him to linger, albeit
with a little pess!misn, but when he
saw them together, he invariably with
tn
haste would allow.
"What you doin'?' Sam asked.
= "Nothin'. What you"
-"Tll show you IL you'll come over to
our house." said Sam, who was wear |
fng an important and secretive express
sion.
what forT Penrod showed little in
Herest.
swell, 1 said I'd show you If you |
came on over, didn't IT"
"But you haven't got anything l
haven't got" said PenrOd Indifferent
~. II know everything that's in your
yard and in your stable, and there
isn't a thing"
II didn't say 1t was in the yard or
in the stable, did II"
"Well, there amt anything in your
house." returned Penrod frankly,
"that I'd walk two feet to look at
not thing!"
''Oh, mol" Sam assumed mockery.
~Oh, no, you wouldn't! You know
what it is. don't your Yes. you dol"
Penrod's curiosity stirred somewhat.
swell, all right" he said, Il got
nothin' to do. i just as soon 60. What
LIS itf"
"You wait and see," said Sam. as
they climbed the fence. II bet your ole
eyes'll open pretty far in about min
ute or So"
II bet they don't. 1t takes good
deal to get me excited, unless it's
mighty"
you'll seer Sam promised.
He opened an alley gate and stepped
Into his own yard in manner signal
Ing caution-though the exploit, thus
far, certainly required none-and Pen
rod began to be impressed and hope
full. They entered the house, silently,
no one, and Sam led the
way upstairs, tiptoeing, implying I'M