The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-06-14


iously.
stop that noisei" Penrod com
manded. "You want to betray us
What you laughin' at2''
'Ep mack i'm mimmup," vermal
giggled.
whats he meanT asked Sam.
Penrod was more familiar will
Verman's utterance, and he inter
preted.
HE says they'll get him back in G
minute"
mo, they won't. I'd just like t.
| see"
"Yes, they will, too," said Penrod
They'll get him back for the mair
and simple reason we can't stay here
all day, can we? And they'd find us
anyhow, If we tried to. There's SC
many of 'em against just us two, they
can run In and touch him soon as
they get up to us--and then he'll be
after us again and"
Listen herew Sam interrupted
"Why can't we put some real bonds
on him? We could put bonds on his
wrists and around his legs-we could
put 'em all over him, easy as nothin'.
Then we could gag him"
mo, we can't" said Penrod. ave
can't, for the main and simple reason
we haven't got any rope or anything
to make the bonds with, have we?
wish we had some o. that stuff they
give sick people. Then, / bet they
wouldn't get him back so soonl'
"Sick people" Sam repeated, not
comprchending.
1T makes 'em go to sleep, no matter
what you do to EN-" Penrod ex-
planned. "That's the main and simple
reason they can't wake up, and you
can cut Off their whole legs-or their
arms, or anything you want to-"
"Hoy" exclaimed Verman, In q
serious tone. His laughter ceased in
stantly, and he began to utter a pro-
test sufficiently ineligible.
"You needn't worry" Penrod said
gloomily. 1--WE haven't got any O. that
stuff; so we can't do It,"
swell, we got to do sumpthing,"
said Sam.
His comrade agreed, and there was
thoughtful silence, but presently
Penrod's countenance frightened.
Il know" he exclaimed. ~ know
what Wen do with him. Why, 1
fhnnUhf of frIck
most always think of things like that,
for the main and simple reason-well,
l thought Of it just as soon"
swell, what is it7" Sam demanded
GROSSLY. Periods reiteration of his
new-found. phrase, "for the main and
simple reason" had been growing
more and more irksome to his friend
ali day. though Sam was not definite
ly aware that the phrase was the
cause of his annoyance. "What are
we goin' to do with him, you know so
much?"
Penrod rose and peered over the
tops Of the bushes, shading his eyes
with his hand, gesture which was
unnecessary but had a good appear
ance. He looked all round about him
In this manner. finally vouchsaflng
report to the impatient Sam.
mo enemies in sght-just for the
main and simple reason 1 expect |
they're all in the alley and in George
Bassett's back yard"
II bet they're mott" Sam said scorn-
fully, his irritation much increased. |
"How do you know so much about
it?"
"Just for the main and simple rea.
son." Penrod replied, with dignifed |
finality.
And at that, Sam felt a powerful |
Impulse to do violence upon the per.
son Of his comrade-in-arns. The emo
lion which prompted this impulse was
80 primitive and straightforward that |
It almost resulted in action, but Sam
had a vague sense that he must con.
trol 1t as long as he could.
"Bugs!" he said.
Penrod was sensitive, and this cold
word hurt him. However, he was I'M
der the domination Of his strategic
dea, and he subordinated private
grievance to the common veal. "Get
up" he commanded. "You. get up,
90, verman, You got to-it's the
'ule. Now here-I'll show you what
we're goin' to do. Stoop over, and
10Th O. you do just exackly like / do.
You watch me. because this biz'nuss
las got to be done rightw
Sam muttered something; he was
becoming more insurgent every mo-
nent, but he obeyed. Likewise, Yer
nan rose to his feet, ducked his head
'etween his shoulders, and tfotted out
o the sidewalk at Sans heels, both
ollowing Penrod and assuming a
topping position in imitation of him.
'erman was delighted with this
'hase Of the game, and, also, he was
amused by Periods POM
'osity. Something dim and deep with
n him perceived II TO be cause for
UGH nerriment that he had ado to
master himself, and was forced to bot
lie and cork his laughter with both
lands. They proved insufficient
burst forth between his