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

Aooe PicuiSuous AuftutuTeS III Hu-
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 to
happen-something much more import
ant than he had anticipated.
! Sam tiptoed across the room to a
chest Of drawers and, kneeling, care
fully pulled out the lowest drawer I'M
til the surface of its contents-Mr.
Williams winter underwear-lay ex-
posed. Then he fumbled beneath the
garments and drew forth large OBJ
5ect, displaying 1t triumphantly to the
satisfactorily dumfounded Penrod.
1t was blue-steel Colts revolver,
of the heaviest pattern made In the
seventies. Mr.. Williams had inherited
1t from Sans grandfather "a small
man, deacon, a dyspeptic) and II 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 revolt
yer was real and it was loaded
Both boys lived breathIessly through
magnificent moment.
sLeave me have itl gasped Penrod-
leave me have hold of It'll"
you wait a minuter Sam protest.
ed, in whisper. ~ want to show you
how do"
"No; you let me show you how
dol" Penrod insisted; and they scuffied
for possession.
Look oyt!" Sam whispered warn
ingly. ut might go off,
'"Then you better leave me have It I"
And Penrod victorious and flushed,
stepped back, the weapon in his grasp.
"Here," he said, "this Ia the way do:
You be a crook; and suppose you got
a dagger, and L"
II don't want any dagger" Sam pro-
tested, advancing. II want that re-
volver. It's my fathers revolaver,
amt it2'
"Well, wait minute, can't you? l
got right to show you the way do,
first, haven't I?' 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-"
II won'tw Sam declined this role
impatientIy. "Iguess 1t amt your faith
er's revolaver, is itT
"Well, 1t may be your fathers but
it amt yours" Penrod argued, becom-
ing logical. ut amt others of us re-
volaver, so got as much right"
"You haven't either. It's my faith"
swatch, can't you-just minute !"
PenrOd urged vehemently. "I'm not
goin' to keep 1t, am 1? You can have
it when / get through, can't your
Here's how 1 do: I'm comm along af-
ter dark, just walkin' along this way
like this-loOk, Samv'
Penrod, suiting the action to the
word, walked to the other end of the
room, swinging the revolver at his side
with affected carelessness.
"T'm Just walkin' along like this, and
first don't see you," continued the &C.
tor. 'Then I kind of get notion
sumpthing wrongs liable to happen, SO
l. Now He interrupted himself alb
ruptly. mo; that isn't 1t. 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 man comm along, and SO
you"
Sam advanced. swell. you've had
your turn" he said. "Now, it's mine.
I'm goin' to show you how +"
"Watch me, can't your Penrod
walled. 81 haven't showed you how I
do, have II My goodness! Can't you
watch me a minute?"
IT have beenl You said yourself it'd
be my turn soon, as you"
"My goodness! Let me have a
chance, can't your Penrod retreated
to the wall, turning his right side to-
ward Sam and keeping the revolver
still protected under his coat Il got
to have my turn first, haven't II"
swell, yours Is over long ago"
at isn't either! l."
Anyway" said Sam decidedly.
clutching him by the right shoulder
and endeavoring to reach his left side
anyway, I'm goin' to have It now"
"You said l could have my turn
out" Penrod, carried away by indig-
nation, raised his voice.
II did not =" Sam, likewise lost to
caution, asserted his denial loudly.
"You did, too"
t'You said"
II never said anything"
"You said Quit that! !"
"Boys |" Mrs. Williams. Sans moth
er, opened the door of the room and