The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1918-03-01
leeler Syndicate, Inc.)

| Other boys house are trying to the
nerves; and another boys fathers bed
! room, when invaded, has violated
sanctfty that is almost appalling. Pen
rod felt that something was about to
happen-something much more import
ant than he had anticipated.
Sam tiptoed across the room to
chest of drawers, AMI, kneeling, care
fully pulled out the lowest drawer I'M
til the surface of its cOntents-Mr.
williams winter Fundamentally ex-
posed. Then he fumbled beneath the
garments and drew forth large cd
ject, displaying it triumphantly to the
satisfactorily dumfounded Penrod.
1t was a blue-steel Colts revolver,
of the heaviest pattern made in the
seventies. Mr.. Williams had inherited
it from Sans grandfather "a small
man, deacon, a dyspeptic) and it was
larger and more horrible than any re-
volver either of the boys had ever seen
in any picture, moving or stationary.
Moreover, greenish bullets of great
size were to be seen in the chambers
of the cylinder, suggesting massacre
rather than mere murder. This revolt
yer was real and 1t was loaded!
Both boys lived breathlessly through
a magnificent moment.
"Leave me have !" gasped Penrod.
leave me have hold Of it
"You wait a minute" Sam protest
ed. in a whisper. II want to show you
how do"
"No; you let me show you how
dor Penrod insisted and they scufied
for possession.
"Look out" Sam whispered warn
ingly. "It might go Off"
"Then you better leave me have 1t |"
And Penrod victorious and flushed,
stepped back, the weapon in his grasp.
"Here," he said, "this is the way do:
You be crook; and suppose you got
a dagger, and +"
81 don't want any dagger" Sam pro-
tested advancing. II want that re-
volver. It's my fathers revolaver,
amt it?"
"Well, wait minute, can't you? /
got right to show you the way do
first, haven't II" Penrod began an i'm
provisation on the spot. "Say I'm COM
in along after dark like thistle (,
Sam And say you try to make a
jump at me-"
81 WON'T" Sam declined this role
impatiently. 81 guess it amt your faith
er's revolaver, is it?"
"Well, it may be your fathers but
it amt yours" Penrod argued, becom-
ing logical at amt others of us re-
volaver so got as much right"
"You haven't either. It's my faith"
"Watch, can't you-just minute !"
Penrod urged vehemently. ''Tm not
goin' to keep 1t, am I? You can have
it when l get through, can't you?
Here's how l do; Pm comm along af-
ter dark, just walkin' along this way
like this-look, Sam !"
Penrod, suiting the action to the
word, walked to the other end of the
room, swinging the revolver at his side
with affected carelessness,
'Tm Just walkin' along like this, and
first l don't see you" continued the ac-
tor. "Then / kind of get a notion
sumpthlng wrongs liable to happen, so
L MOI" He interrupted himself alb
ruptly. "No; that isn't it. You wouldn't
notice that had my good ole revolaver
with me. You wouldn't think l had
one, because it'd be under my coat like
this, and you wouldn't see it," Pen
rod stuck the muzzle of the pistol into
| the waistband of his knickerbockers
| at the left side and, buttening his jack
ct, sustained the weapon in conceal
ment by pressure of his elbow. $50
you think haven't got any you think
I'm lust a man comm along, and so
you"
Sam advanced. "Well, you've had
your turn" he said. snow, it's mine.
I'm goin' to show you how L"
"Watch me, can't you?" Penrod
walled. 81 haven't showed you how |
do, have 1? My goodness! Can't you
watch me a minute2"
81 have been! You said yourself it'd
! be my turn soon as you"
my goodness! Let me have a
chance, can't your" Penrod retreated
to the wall, turning his right side to-
ward Sam and keeping the revolver
still protected under his coat. II got
to have my turn first, haven't II"
"Well, yours is over long ago."
SIT isn't either! /"
Anyway" said Sam decidedly,
clutching him by the right shoulder
and endeavoring to reach his left side
ANYWAY, I'm goin' to have it now"
''You said 1 could have my turn
outm Penrod, carried away by indig-
nation, raised his voice.
ST did mott" Sam, likewise lost to
caution, asserted his denial loudly.
"You did, too"
"YOu said"
II never said anything!"
"You said Quit that J"
"Boys! 80 Mrs. Williams, Sans moth
er, opened the door of the room and
stood ,,nOn tho threshold The Scuf-