The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-21

A0.S
Nevertheless, when he entered the
empty carriage-house Of the stable, OF
his return from school the next after
noon, his expression was not altogether
without apprehension. and he stood IN
the doorway looking we'll about him
before he lifted loosened plank IN
the flooring and took from beneath It
the grand old weapon OF the Williams
family. Nor did his eye tighten with
anv Measurable excitement as he sat
himself down in shadowy corner and
began some sketchy experiments with
the mechanism. The allure Of hrst
sight was gone. In Mr.. Williams bed
chamber. with Sam clamOring for pos
session, it had seemed to Penrod that
nothing in the world was SO desirable
as to have that revolver in his own
hands-lt was his dream come true.
Rut. for reasons not definitely known
to him. the charm had departed; he
turned the cylinder gingerly, almost
with distaste; and slowly there stole
over him a feeling that there was
something repellent .. = "a
the heavy blue steel.
Thus does the l<'. real
misbehave-not only f,A .'vhroi.
More out of sense &. dr.. To hihs-
ism in general than for ANY other rea-
son, he pointed the revolver at the
lawn-mower, and gloomily lnurmured.
"Bing!"
simultaneously, q low and cautious
voice sounded from the yard outside,
"Yay, Penrod!" and Sam Williams
darkened the doorway. his eye falling
instantly upon the weapon In his
friends hand. Sam seemed relieved to
see 1t.
"You didn't get caught with it, did
your he said hastily.
Penrod shook his head, rising.
II guess not! I guess I got some
brains around me-" he added. inspired
by Sans presence to assume slight
swagger. They'd have to get up pref
ty early to find any good ole revolaver,
once I got my hands on it,
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 it was those cheap plumb
ers Stole it that mamma got instead OF
the regular plumbers he always used to
have, and he said there wasn't any
chance ever gettin' it back, because
Won couldn't tell which one took 1t,
and they'd all swear it wasn't them
So It looks like we could keep 1t fol-
our revolaver, Penrod, don't 1t? I'll
give you half Of it."
Penrod affected some enthusiasm.
"Sam' we'll keep 1t out here in the
stable"
Eyes, and we'll go huntin' with It
Well do lots Of things with it," But
Sam made no effort to take 1t. and
neither boy seemed to feel yesterdays
necessity to show the other how ne
did. swat till next Fourth O July!
Sam continued. "Oh. oh! Look out!'
This invited a genuine spark from
Penrcd.
Fourth O. July! guess she'll be
little better than any f1recrackers F.! Jus'
a little Bling! Bling! Bling! she'll ot
goin'. Bling! Bing! Bing!"
The suggestion Of noise stirred hi
ccmrade. I'll bet she'll 60 of 1ouder'r
that time the gas-works blew up!
wouldn't be afraid to shoot her off any
time"
II bet you would" said Penrod. "Yor
aren't used to revolavers the way +
"You aren't, eithcr!" Sam exclaimed
promptly. II wouldn't be any more
afraid to shoot her off than you would
"You would. too!'
II would nct!"
swell, let's see you then; you tall
so much!'' And Penrod handed tn
weapon scornfully to Sam, who at onc'
became less self-assertive.
| "Td shoot her off in minute" Sar
said, "only it might break sumpthing i
it hit it."
"Hold her up in the air, then. 1
| 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 ear
but nothing happened. whats tn
matter?" he demanded. "Why don
you go on If you're goin' TOT?
Sam lowered his arm. Il guess
didn't have her cooked" he said apollo
getically, whereupon Penrod loudl!
jeered.
"Tryin' to shoot a revolaver ant
didn't know enough to cock her! II
didn't know any more about revolaver
than that, I'd"
"There!" Sam exclaimed, managing
to draw back the hammer until tw'
chilling clicks warranted his opinion
that the pistol was now ready to per
form its Office. II guess she'll do al
right to suit You this time!"
"Well, why'n't you go ahead. then
you know so much!" And as San
raised his arm, PenrOd again turne'
away his head and placed his forcing
ers in his ears.
| A pause followed.