The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-20
ins ism -And Its Cure
!. owes Thriller for Penrod and Sam While 1t Lasts
T,v BOOTH HARRINGTON
lCopyrfght. 1917. Wheeler Syndicate, Incl

minutes after school, emerged to de-
serted street. That is, the street was
deserted so far as PenrOd was con-
cerned. Here and there people were
to be seen upon the sidewalks. OUT
they were adults, and they and the
shade trees had about the same quality
of significance in Penrod's conscious
ness. Usually he saw grown people
in the mass which is to say, they were
virtually invisible to him, though e1-
ceptions must be taken in favor Oh
policemen, firemen, 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
to another was intOlerable, and he
had not gone a 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
lightly and contemptuously with his
open hand; passed on a few PAGES,
but turned abruptly and, pointing his
right forefinger, uttered the symbolic
word, "Bing!"
Early childhood is not fastidious
about the accessories Of its drama
q cane is wildly a gun which may In
stantly, as wildly, become q horse;
but at Periods time Of life the latin
sword is no longer satisfactory. In
deed, he now had q vague sense that
weapons Ct wood were unworthy to
the point Of being contemplate ana
ridiculous, and he employed them only
when he was alone and unseen. For
months a 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 q
bit Of wood whitfield into the distant
likeness Of q pistol. but not even Sam
Williams had seen It. The wooden pis-
toll never knew the light Of day, save
when Penrod was in solitude; and yet
Il never left his side except at night.
when It was placed under bis 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 q Real Pistol
!, At this moment shout was heal
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, ~. presently. glancing over bis
shoulder end seeing the two boys
standing together, he broke into a trot
and disappeared round corner OF the
house. He was q dog Of long and en-
tightening experience; and he made
It clear that the conjunction Of Penrod
and Sam portended events which, from
his point of view, might be unfortu'
nate. Duke had q forgiving DISPOSE
ton, but he also possessed melan
choly wisdom. In the company OF
either Penrod or Sam, alone, affec'
ton often caused him to linger, albeit
with a little pessimism, but when he
saw them together, he invariably with
drew IN as unObtrusive q manner al
haste would allow.
"What you doin'?' Sam asked.
"Nothin'. What your
"ru show you If you'll come over tt
our house." said Sam, who was wear
ing an important and secretive express
sion.
"What fort" Penrod showed little in
terest. -.
sWell, I said I'd show you II yor
came on over, didn't IT.
aBut you haven't got anything
| haven't got" said Penrod Indifferent
H.. II know everything that's In you
Yard and in your stable, and there
isn't q thing"
II didn't say it was in the yard o.
In the stable, did r.
swell, there, amt anything in you
house." returned Penrod frankly
that ri walk two feet to look at
not til ag!"
"Oh, mol" Sam assumed mockery
'-Oh, no, you wouldn't! You kno
what it is, don't youl Yes, you dol"
Peurod's curiosity stirred somewhat
"Well, all right" he said, Il 60
nothin' to do. I just as soon go. VIVA
| Is it3"
"You wait and see" said Sam, q
they climbed the fence. II bet your oil
eyes'll open pretty far in about min
l ute or sol"
II bet they don't It takes goo'
deal to get me excited, unless It
sumpthing mighty"
you'll seew Sam promised.
He opened an alley gate and steppe
| into his own yard In manner signal
ing caution-though the exploit, thu
far, certainly required none-and Per
rod began to be impressed and hope
ful. They entered the house, silently