The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-08-30

something repellent and threatening In
the heavy blue steel.
Thus does the long-dreamed real
misbehaye-not only for Penrodi
More out Of sense Of duty to bing-
ism In general than for any other rea-
son, he pointed the revolver at the
lawn-mower, and gloomily murmured,
"Bingi"
simultaneously, low and cautious
voice sounded from the yard outside,
"Yay, PenrodF and Sam Williams
darkened the doorway. his eye falling
instantly upon the weapon in his
friends hand. Sam seemed relieved to
see II.
"You didn't get caught with It, did
your" he said hastily.
Penrod shook his head, rising.
81 guess not guess l got some
brains around me-" he added, inspired
by Sans presence to assume a slight
swagger. They'd have to get up pref
ty early to find any good ole revolaver,
once got my hands on itw
II guess we can keep It, all right"
Sam said confidentially. Because this
morning papa was putting on his win
ter underclothes and he found it wasn't
there, and they looked all over and ev-
erywhere, and he was pretty mad, and
said. he knew 1t was those cheap plumb
ers stole 1t that mamma got instead Of
the regular plumbers he always used to
have, and he said there wasn't any
chance ever gettin' II back, because
You couldn't tell which one took 1t,
and they'd all swear 1t wasn't them.
So It looks like we could keep 1t for
our revolaver, Penrod, don't it7 I'll
give you half Of It." ..a.. g.
Penrod affected some enthusiasm.
"Sam' we'll keep 1t out here In the
stable"
ayes, and wen 60 huntin' with It..
Wen do lots of things with IT." But
Sam made no effort to take it, and
neither boy seemed to feel yesterdays
necessity to show the other how he
did. "Wait till next Fourth O. July !"
Sam continued. "Oh, OH Look out! "
This invited a genuine spark from
Penrod.
Fourth o. Julyl guess she'll be a
little better than any firecrackers! Just
little Bling Bling BingF she'll be
goin'. Bingl Bingl Bingr"
The suggestion Of noise stirred his
comrade. "rll bet she'll 60 off louder'n
that time the gas-works blew up!
wouldn't be afraid to shoot her of any
time"
II bet you would" said Penrod. "You
aren't used to revolavers the way II
"You aren't, eitherr Sam exclaimed
promptly. ~ wouldn't be any more
afraid to shoot her off than you would
"You would, tool"
II would not n
"Well, let's see you then; you talk
so muchl" And penrod handed the
weapon scornfully to Sam, who at once
became less self-assertive.
I'D shoot her off in a minute" Sam
said, "only it might break sumpthing If
II hit it."
Hold her up in the air, then. 1t
can't hurt the roof, can it?"
Sam, with a desperate expression,
lifted the revolver at arms length.
Both boys turned away their heads,
and Penrod put his fingers in his ears
but nothing happened. "What's the
matter?" he demanded. "Why don't
you go on if you're goin' TOT"
Sam lowered his arm. II guess l
didn't have her cooked" he said apollo
getlcally, whereupon Penrod loudly
jeered.
"Tryin' to shoot a revolaver and
didn't know enough TO cock her! If 1
didn't know any more about revolavers
than that, I'd"
to draw back the hammer until two
chilling clicks warranted his opinion
that the pistol was now ready to per-
form its Office. ~ guess she'll do all
right to suit you this time"
"Well, why'n't you 60 ahead. then !;
you know so muchl And as Sam
raised his arm, Penrod again turned
away his head and placed his forcing
ers In his ears.
A pause followed.
"Why'n't you 60 aheadf"
| Penrod, after waiting in keen sus-
pense, turned to behold his friend
standing with his right arm above his
hend, his left hand over his left ear,
and both eyes closed.
II can't pull the trigger" said Sam
indistinctly, his face convulsed as in
sympathy with the great muscular eff
forts of other parts of his body. "She
won't pullw
"She won'tT' Penrod remarked with
scorn. "Ill bet could pull her"
| Sam promptly opened his eyes and
handed the weapon to Penrod.
"All right" he said, with surprising
and unusual mildness. "You try her,
them"
Inwardly discounted to disagree
able extent, Penrod attempted to talk
his own misgivings out of counten-
ance.
"Poor little baby y he said, swinging