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

By BOOTH HARRINGTON
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright, 1917. VIII


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
ito 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
ness. Usually he saw grown people
in the mass which is TO say, they were
virtually invisible to him, though ex-
Iceptions must be taken in favor or
policemen, flremen, 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,
mere unadorned walk from one point
ito another was intolerable, and he
had not gone 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 role
of dubious honor In imprOvised melo-
drama. Penrod, approaching gave
the pole a look of sharp suspicion,
then one of conviction; slapped 1t
Nightly and contemptuOusly with his
open hand; passed on a few PAGES,
hut turned abruptly and, pointing his
right forefinger, uttered the symbolic
word, ''Bingr'
Early childhood is not fastidiOus
about the accessories of its drama
a cane Is wildly u gun which may in
stantly, as wildly, become a horse;
but at Penrod's time of life the lath
sword is no longer satisfactory. In
deed, he now had 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
bit of wood whitfield into the distant
likeness of a pistol, but not even Sam
Williams had seen it. The wooden pis-
tol never knew the light of day, save
when Penrod was in solitude; and yet
lit never left his side except at night,
when 1t was placed under his pillow.
Still, it did not satisfy; it was but the
token of his yearning and his dream.
With all his might and main Penrod
longed for one thing beyond all others.
He wanted Real Pistol
At this moment a 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 trot
land disappeared round corner of the
house. He was dog of long and en-
Tightening experience; and he made
lit clear that the conjunction of Penrod
and Sam portended events which, from
his point of view, might be unfortu-
mate. Duke had a forgiving DISPOSE
ition, but he also possessed melan-
choly wisdom. In the company of
either Penrod or Sam, alone, affec-
tion often caused him to linger, albeit
with little pessimism, but when he
hn inv aro hlu H.
drew in as unobtrusive manner as
haste would allow.
"What you doin'?" Sam asked.
''Nothin'. What your
'Pll show you if you'll come over to
our house." said Sam, who was wear
ing an important and secretive express
sion.
'What for?" Penrod showed little in
terest.
"WeIl, 1 said I'd show you if you
came on over, didn't TT
But you haven't got anything l
haven't got" said Penrod Indifferent
by. 81 know everything that's in your
yard and in your stable, and there
isn't a thing"
II didn't say it was in the yard or
In the stable, did I?'
'Well, there amt anything in your
house" returned Penrod frankly,
THAT I'd walk two feet to look at
mot a thing!"
"Oh, mol" Sam assumed mockery.
s'Oh, no, you wouldn't! You know
what 1t is don't you? Yes, you do"
Penrod's curiosity stirred somewhat.
'Well, all right" he said, II got
inothin' to do. just as soon go. What
is it?"
You wait and see," said Sam, as
they climbed the fence. Il bet your ole
eyes'n open pretty far in about min
mte or so!'
81 bet they don't. 1t takes a good
deal to get me excited, unless it's
sumpthing mighty"
You'll seer Sam promised.
He opened an alley gate and stepped
into his own yard in a manner signal