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

other boys house are trying to the
nerves; and another boys fathers bed
room, when invaded, has violated
sanctity that is almost appalling. Pen
rod felt that something was about tc
happen--something much more import
ant than he had anticipated.
Sam tiptoed across the room to q
chest Of drawers, and, kneeling, care
fully pulled out the lowest drawer un
til the surface of its commensurate
Williams winter underwear-lay ex
posed. Then he fumbled beneath the
garments and drew forth q large OBJ
ject, displaying it triumphantly to the
satisfactorily dumfounded Penrod.
1t was blue-steel Colts revolver
Of the heaviest pattern made in the
seventies. Mr.. Williams had inherited
it from Sans grandfather Ga small
man, deacon. dyspeptic) and 1t 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 rev0l-
yer was real and 1t was loaded!
Both boys lived breathlessly through
magnificent moment.
leave me have it," gasped PenrOd.
Leave me have hold of itv'
You wait minute!" Sam protest
,I = - rlN,
how do"
mo; you let me show you how I
dol" Penrod insisted; and they scuffled
for possession.
'Look oVtw Sam whispered warn
ingly. at might go Off"
Then you better leave me have it ~
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
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 a minute, can't you?
got right to show you the way I do,
first, haven't IT. Penrod began an i'm
prOvisation on the spot. "Say I'm COM
in along after dark like this-look,
Sam! And say you try to make a
jump at me-"
Il won't" Sam declined this role
impatiently. II 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. 1T amt either's Of us re-
volaver, so got as much right"
"You haven't either. It's my faith"
"Watch, can't you-just a minute !"
Penrod urged vehemently. I'm not
goin' to keep 1t, am 1? You can have
it when I get through, can't you?
Here's how l do: I'm 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 don't see you" continued the nc
tor. "Then I kind of get notion
sumpthing wrongs liable to happen, SO
L Mop He interrupted himself alb
ruptly. mo; that isn't it. You wouldn't
notice that had my good ole revolaver
with me. You wouldn't think I 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, buttoning 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 just q man comm along, and so
you"
Sam advanced. >"Well, you've had
your turn" he said. "Now, It's mine.
I'm goin' to show you how L"
swatch me, can't your" Penrod
walled. II haven't showed you how
do, have I? My goodness! Can't you
watch me minute?"
81 have been! You said yourself it'd
be my turn soon as you"
my goodness! Let me have
chance, can't you?" 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."
at isn't either! L"
Anyway" said Sam decidedly, |
him by the right shoulder
and endeavoring to reach his left side |
anyway, I'm goin' to have it now"
"You said I could have my turn
out" Penrod, carried away by indig-
nation, raised his voice.
81 did not!' Sam, likewise lost to
caution, asserted his denial loudly.
"You did, too"
"You said"
II never said anything!"
"You said Quit that"
"Boys!" Mrs. Williams, Sans moth
,r, opened the door Of the room and
stood upon the threshold. The scuf-
ling of Sam and Penrod ceased In
,tantly, and they stood hushed and
stricken, while fear fell upon them.
Boys, you weren't quarreling, were
Tou?"
.afofo~> ,o;I Copo