The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-03-29

manded. 'sYou want to betray us9
What you laughin' att"
SEP mack Inn mimmup." Verman
giggled.
whats he mean?'' asked. Sam.
Penrod was more familiar with
verTnan's utterance,. and he inter-
preted.
HE says they'll set him back in a
minute"
mo, they won't. I'd Just like to
see
'Yes, they win, too" said Penrod.
ssThey'll get him back for the main
and simple reason we can't stay here
all day, canawe? 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 hen be
after us again and"
Listen herel" 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"
"No. we can't" said Penrod. 1--WE
can't, for the main and simple reason
we haven't got any rope or anything
to make the bonds with, have we2 !
wish we had some o. that stuff they
give sick people. Then, / bet they
wouldn't get him back SO so0nl"
"Sick people?" Sam repeated, not
comprehending.
1T makes 'em go 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 a pro-
test sufficiently inteliigible.
'sYou needn't worry" Penrod said
gloomily. "We haven't got any o. that
stuff; so we can't do it"
"Well, we got to do sumpthing,"
said Sam.
His coInrade agreed, and there was
a thoughtful silence, but presently
IPenrod's countenance frightened.
II knowl' he exclaimed. II know
what Wen do with him. Why, /
thought Of it just as easyi can
most always think of things like that
for the main and simple reason-well,
! thought of 1t just as soon"
"Well, what is it7" Sam demanded
Grossly. Penrod's 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
ly aware that the phrase was the
cause of his annoyance. "What are
we goin' to do with him, you know so
much?"
Pemrod rose and peered over the
tops Of the bushes, shading his eyes
with his hand, 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.
s'No enemies in sight-just for the
main and simple reason / expect
they're all In the alley and in Georgie
Bassett's back yard"
II bet they're not |" Sam said scorn-
fully, his irritation much increased
"How do you know so much about
itf"
AUST for the main and simple rea-
son." Penrod replied, with dignified
finality.
And at that, Sam felt a powerful
impulse to do violence upon. the per-
son of his comrade-in-arms. The emo
tion which prompted this impulse was
so primitive and straightforward that
1t almost resulted in action, but Sam
had a vague sense that he must con-
troll 1t as long as he could.
"Bugsi" he said.
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 to the common veal. "Get
upp' he commanded. "You get up,
| luO, N0fHldu. Lou SUl w thS
rule. Now here-Tll show you what
we're goin' to do. Stoop over, and
both o. you do just exackly like do.
You watch me, because this biz'nuss
has got to be done rightw
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 at Sans heels, both
following Penrcd 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
such merriment that he had ado to
master himself, and was forced to bot
| flo and enrk his Iauphtar with both