rsrflk fPHiH T H f ARKINGTON
The Greatest Stories Ever Written
of a Real Boy anil His Escapades
3 AN OVERWHELMING SATURDAY
HE "Worst Boy In Town' (popu
lation 135,000) emerged nasmy
tho kitchen door of his
father's house one scented morning in
apple-blossom time. His pockets bulged
abnormally; so did hla cheeka. and he
swallowed with difficulty
' A threatening mop. wielded by a
cook-like arm in a checkered sleeve,
followed him through the doorway, and
lie was preceded by a small, hurried,
wistful dos with a warm doughnut in
his mouth. The kitchen door slammed
petulantly, inclosing the sore voice of
the cook, whereupon Penrod Schofleld
and Duke seated themselves upon the
pleasant sward and Immediately con
sumed the spoils of their raid.
From trie cross street which formed
the side boundary of the Schoflelds'
ample yard came a Jingle of harness
and the cadenced clatter of a pair of
trotting horses and Penrod. looking up.
beheld the passing of a fat acquaint
ance torpid amid the conservative
splendors of a rather old-fashioned vic
toria. .
This was Roderick Magsworth Bltts.
Jr a fellow sufferer at the Friday Af
ternoon Dancing Class, but otherwise
not often a companion; a home-sheltered
lad. tutored privately and pre
served against the coarsening Influ
ences of rude comradeship and miscel
laneous Information. Heavily over,
grown in all physical dimensions, vir
tuous and placid, this cloistered mutton
was wholly uninteresting to Penrod
Echofleld. Nevertheless. Roderick Mags
worth Bltts. Jr, was a personage on
account of the Importance of the Mags
worth Bitts family; and It was Pen
rod's destiny to Increase Rodericks
celebrity far. far beyond its present
aristocratic limitations.
The Magsworth Bittses were Impor
tant because they were Impressive;
there was no other reason. And they
were Impressive because they believed
thmselves Important. The adults of th
family were lmpregnably formal: they
dressed with reticent elegance and wore
the same nose and the same expression
an expression which Indicated that
they knew something exquisite tfnd
sacred which other people could never
know. Other people, in their presence,
were apt to feel mysteriously Ignoble
and to become secretly uneasy about
ancestors, gloves and pronunciation.
In fact, this painful family had for
years terrorised the community, though
the community had never realised that
it was terrorlied. and Invariably spoke
of the family as the "most charming
circle in town." By common consent.
Mrs. Roderick Magsworth Bltts offi
ciated as the supreme model as well
critlc-ln-chlef of morals and deport
ment for all the unlucky people . pros
perous enough to be elevated to her
acquaintance.
Magsworth was the Important part
of the name. Mrs. Roderick Magsworth
Bitts was a Magsworth born, herself,
and the Magsworth crest (over a coro
net) decorated not only Mrs. Mags
worth Bitts- note paper, but was on the
china, on the table linen, on the chimney-pieces,
on the opaque glass of the
front door, on the victoria
harness, though omitted from the gar
den hose and the lawn mower.
Naturally no sensible person dreamed
of connecting that Illustrious crest
with the unfortunate and notorious
Rena Magsworth. whose name baa
crown week by week Into larger and
larger type upon the front pages ot
newspapers, owing to the sraduaUy
increasing public and official belief
that she had poisoned a family of
eight. However, the statement that
no sensible perjon could have c""V
ed the MagsWftrth Bitts family with
the arsenical Rena takes no account
of renrod SchoQeld.
Penrod never missed a murder, a
hanging or an lectro,cuUo" '"'
newspapers; he knew almost as much
about Rena Magsworth as her Jurymen
did. though they sat In a courtroom 200
rules away and he had It in
frank he was to ask Roderick Mags
worth Bitts. Jr., if the murderess hap
pened to be a relatives
The present encounter, being merely
one of apathetic greeting, did not afford
the opportunity. Penrod took off h s
cap Roderick, seated between his
mother and one of bis grown-up sis
ters nodded sluggishly, but neither
Mrs' Magsworth Bltts nor her daughter
acknowledged the salutation of the
boy m the yard. They disapproved of
him as a person of little consequence
and that little bad. Snubbed. Penrod
thoughtfully restored his cap to his
head. A boy can be cut as effectual-
ly as
s a man and this one was :..."
low temperature.
anlrita of VOUth. D.OW-
to
The
! r.vlred. Delia, the COOK,
depositing upon the back porch a large
rat trap from the cellar, the prison of
lour live rats, awaiting execution.
Penrod at once took possession, re
tiring to the empty stable, where he in
stalled the rats In a small wooden box
w Ith a sheet of broken window-glass
held down by a brickbat over the top.
Thus the symptoms of tlieir agitation,
when the box was shaken or hammered
upon, could be studied at leisure. Sat
urday was startirg splendidly.
After a time the student's attention
was drawn by a peculiar smell, which
proved to be an emanation leaking Into
the stable from the alley. He opened
tiie back door.
Across the alley was a cottage which
a thrifty neighbor had built on the rear
line of his lot and rented to negroes,
and the'fact that a negro family was
now is process of "moving In" was
manifected by the presence of a thin
mulo and a ramshackle wagon, the lat
ter laden with the semblance of a stove
and a few other unpretentious house
hold articles.
A very small darky boy stood near
the mulo. In his hand was a rusty
chain and at the end of the chain the
delighted Penrod perceived the source
of the special smell he was tracing
a large raccoon.
-Whits that 'coons name: asru
IVnrod. intending no discourtesy.
"Aim gommo ma me. said the smai
dark v.
"What?"
The small darky looked annoyed.
"Aim comma mame, I hell you,'
he
said impatiently.
Penrod conceived that insult was in
tended. "What's the matter of you?" he de
manded, advancing." "You get fresh
with me and I'll "
"Hyuh. white boy!" A colored youth
of Penrod's own age appeared in the
doorway of the cottage, "You let 'at
brothuh mine alone. He ain't do nothin'
to you."
"Well, why can't he answer?"
"He can't. He can't talk no better'n
what he was talkin'. He tongue-tie.""
"Oh," said Penrod, mollified. Then he
turned to the afflicted one.
"Talk some more." he begged eager
ly. "I hoe you ackoom aim gommo
mame," was the prompt response.
"What's he mean?" asked Penrod,
enchanted. ,
"He says he tole you 'at "coon aln"
got no name."
"What's your name?"
Tm name Herman."
"What's his name?" Penrod pointed
to the tongue-tied boy.
"Verman."
"What?"
"Verman. Was three us boys In ow
fam'ly. Ol'est one name Sherman. 'N'en
come me; I'm Herman. 'N'en come him;
he Verman. Sherman dead. Verman, he
de littles' one."
"You goln' to live here?"
"TJmhun. Done move In f'm way
outen on a fahm."
He pointed to the north with his
right hand, and Penrod's eyes opened
wide as they followed the gesture.
Herman bad no forefinger on that
hand.
"Look there!" exclaimed Penrod.
"You haven't got any finger!"
"I mum map," said Herman, with
egregious pride.
He done 'if, Interrupted Herman,
chuckling. "Yessuh; done chop 'er
sprang off, long 'go. He's a playin' wtf
a ax an I lay my finguh on de do'-sill
an' I say. 'Verman, chop "er off!' So
Verman he chop 'er right sprang off up
to de roots! Yessuh."
"What for?"
"Jes fo' nothin'."
"He hoe me hoo." remarked Verman.
"Yesuh. I tole him to," said Herman,
"an' he chop 'er off, an' 'ey ain't airy
oth' one evuh grow on wheres do ole
one use to grow. Nosuh!"
Both brothers looked pleased and
proud. Penrod's profound interest was
flatteringly visible, a tribute to their
unusualness.
"Verman say tell you 'bout pappy,
eontlnued Herman. "Mammy move in
town an' go git de house all fix up befo'
pappy git out."
"Out of where?"
"Jail. Pappy cut a man, an' de police
done kep' him In Jail evuh since Chris'-mus-tlrae.
but dey doln' tuhn him loose
ag'ln nex' week." -
"What 'd he cut the other man witnT
asked Penrod breathlessly.
"Wif a pltohfawk."
Penrod began to feel that a lifetime
spent with this fascinating family were
all too short. The brothers, glowing
with amiability, were as enraptured as
he. For the first time in their lives
they moved in the rich glamor of sen
sationalism. Herman was prodigal ot
gesture with his. right hand: and Ver
man. chuckling with delight, talked
fluently. They cheerfully agreed to
keep the raccoon already beginning to
be mentioned as "our 'coon" by Pen
rod In Mr. Schofleld's empty stable,
and when the animal had been chained
to the wall near the box of rats, they
assented to their new friend's sugges
tion that the heretofore nameless pet
be christened Sherman, in honor of
their deceased relative.
At this Juncture was heard from the
front yard the sound of that yodellng
which Is the peculiar accomplishment
of those whose voices have not
"changed." Penrod yodeled a response;
and Mr. Samuel Williams, a close com
rade, aged eleven, appeared, a large
bundle under his arm.
"Yay, Penrod!" was his greeting,
casual enough from without; but, hav
ing entered, he stopped short and
emitted a prodigious whistle. "Ya-a-ay!"
he then shoUteC i "Look at the
'coon!"
"I guess you better say, 'Look at the
coon!'", returned Penrod proudly.
"They's a good deal more'n him to look
at. too. Talk some, Verman." Verman
complied. ,
Sam was 'warmly Interested. "What a
you say his name was?" he asked.
"Verman."
"Oh!" said Sam.
"Point to something. Herman," Pen
rod commanded, and Sam's excitement,
when Herman pointed, was sufficient
to the occasion.
Penrod. the discoverer, continued his
exploitation of the manifold wonders of
the Sherman. Herman and Verman col
lection, and proceeded to a dramatic
climax the recital of the episode of
the pitchfork and its consequences.
The cumulative effect was enormous,
and could have but one possible result.
"Let's get up a SHOW!"
The bundle under Sam's arm, brought
with unsettled purposes, proved to have
been an inspiration, it consisted of
broad sheets of light-yellow wrapping
paper, discarded by Sam's mother in her
Spring house-cleaning. There were
half-filled cans and buckets of paint in
the storeroom adjoining the carriage
house, and presently the side wall, of
the stable flamed Information upon the
passer-by from a great and spreading
poster.
Subsequent arrangements proceeded
with a fury of energy which trans
formed the empty hayloft. An Interpre
tation of the spiral, inclining to whites
and greens, was brllltantly effective
upon the dark facial backgrounds of
Herman and Verman: and the counte
nances of Sam and Penrod were each
supplied with the black mustache and
Imperial, lacking which no professional
showman can be esteemed conscientious.
Duke and Sherman were secured to the
rear wall ot the loft a considerable dis
tance from each other. Benches were
improvised for spectators; the rats were
THE SUNDAY OREGOyiAXv PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 21, 1915
"WHAT'S THAT COOV
brought up; finally the rafters, corn
crib and hay-chute were ornamented
with flags and strips of bunting from
Sam Williams' attic, Sam returning
from the excursion accompanied (on ac
count of a rope) by a fine dachshund
encountered on the highway, and the
entire party went forth to add an en
riching line to the poster.
They found a group of .seven, Includ
ing two adults, already gathered In the
street to read and admire this work.
SCHoFiELD & WlLLIams
BIO SHOW
ADMISSION I CENT oR 20 PiNS
Now going on
SHERMAN HERMAN & VERMAN
THEili FATHER IN JAIL ST ABED A
MAN WITH A
PITCHFORK
SHERMAN THE WILD ANIMAL
CAPTURED IN AFRICA
HERMAN THE ONE FINGERED TA
TOOD WILD MAN VERMAN THE
SAVAGE TATOOD WILD BoY TALKS
ONLY IN HIS NAITIVB LANGUAGS.
Do NoT FAIL TO SEE DUKE THE
INDIAN DOO ALSO THE MICHIGAN
TRAINED RATS.
Penrod, with pardonable self-importance
In the presence of an audience
now Increased to nine slowly painted
the words Inspired by the dachshund:
IMPoRTENT Do NoT Miss THE
south American dog part alli
gator. After which Sam, Penrod, Herman and
Verman withdrew in considerable state
from non-paying view, and, repairing
to the hay-loft, declared the exhibition
open to the public Oral proclamation
was made by Sam, and then the loiter
ing multitude wasenticed by the seduc
tive strains of a band: the two partners
performing upon combs and paper, Her
man and Verman upon tin pans with
sticks.
The effect was immediate. Visitors
appeared upon the stairway and sought
admission. Herman and Verman took
positions among the exhibits, near the
wall.
Sam stood at the entrance, officiating
as barker and ticket-seller; while Pen
rod, with debonair suavity, acted as
curator, master of ceremonies and leo
turer. He greeted the first to enter
with a courtly bow. They consisted of
Miss Rennsdale, aged 8, and her nur
sery governess, and they paid spot cash
for their admission.
Miss Rennsdale and governess were
followed by Mr. Georgia Basset and
sister (Georgle being an almost perfect
character) and six or seven other
neighborhood children a most satisfac
tory audience.
"Uen-til-mun and lay-deeae." shout
ed Penrod, "I will first call your at-tain-shon
to our genuine South Amer
ican dog, part alligator!" He pointed
to the dai-hshund, and added. In his
ordinary tone, "That's him." Straight
way reassiimlng the character of show
man, he bellowed: "Nest you see
Duke, the genuine, full-blooded Indian
dog from the Far Western plains and
Rocky Mountains. Next, the trained
Michigan rats, captured way up there,
and trained to Jump and run all around
the box at the at the a$ the slightest
pretext.
"At the slightest pre-text," he re
peated, and continued, suiting the ac
tion to the word: "I will now hammer
upon the box and each and all may
see these genuine full-blooded Michi
gan rats perform at the slightest pre
text. There! (That's all they do now,
but I and Sam are goln' to train them
lots more before this afternoon.)
"Gen-til-mun and laydeeze, I will
kindly, now call your at-tain-shon to
Sherman, the wild animal from Africa,
costing the lives of the wild trapper
and many of his companions. Next
let me kindly interodoos Herman and
Verman. Their father got mad and
stuck his pitchfork right inside of An
other man, exactly as promised upon
the advertisements outside the big tenL
and got put in Jail. Look at them well,
gen-til-niun and laydeeze, there Is no
S JVAMET" ASKED PENROD. INTENDING NO DISCOURTESY.
extra charge, and re-mem-bur. you are And then Verman spake and Penrod
each and alt now looking .at two wild, was forgotten. Marjorle's eye rested
tattooed men which the father of Is in upon him no more. -Jail
Point Herman. Each and all of A heavily equipped chauffeur ascend
vou wm have a chance to see. Point ed the stairway, bearing the message
Last on the programme, gen-til-mun the last sound permitted (by the man
!Ti....a w. have Verman. the aj-ers) to Issue from Verman. Mr Levy
Bovao- tnrf-nnad wild boy
tattooed wJld boy. that can t
speak only the native foreign lan
guages. Talk some, Verman."
Verman obliged and made an ln-
. ' ... w: tta wnH Ancored rap-
Biaiiiaiivvua ...v. -
turously. again and again; and. thrill
InTwlth :,. Plr. of ' oelng
iran. .understood at the
same time, would have taiaea au-u-jr
k tnn riavnv. Sam Williams, how
ever, with: a true showman's foresight,
whispered to Penrod, who rang down
on the monologue.
"n-n.tii.mnn and lay-deeze, this
y-aeeze, cuio
closes our pufformance. -ray paw admission. News
quietly and with as little Jotllng Hg nd ... of Curi
possible. As soon as you are all out of the B , Show d
there's goin' to be a new pufformance coW spaces Interstellar niceness; for
and each and all are welcome at the oM spaces or n nQ la-
same price of admission. Re-mem-ber Nths new patron Junlof
the price Is only on. cent, the tenth ..Ballor ult.. from
- . . .
parL oi a -
taken. Pray pass out quietly and witn
as little Jostling as posslole. The sclio
fleld and Williams Military Band will
play before each performance, and each
play before each performance, ana .
and all are welcome for the same and
Dttiijyio w w w
nrfrA Af a Amission.
All of the first audience returnea.
most of them having occupied the in-
terval In, hasty excursions lor more
pins. And the thiVd performance found
all or the same inveterate patrons
once xrvore crowding the auditorium.
and seven recruits added.
From the first there was no ques-
tion which feature of the entertain-
ment was the attraction extraordinary,
VermanVerman. the savage
WUU UUy, vtj -- .
eign languages Verman was a tri
umph! Beaming, wreathed In smiles,
,.iiiiiii incredibly fluent, he had but
to open his lips and a dead hush fell
a ueua iiupu
upon the audience. Breathless, tney
leaned forward, hanging upon his
every semi-syllable, and when Penrod
checked the flow, burst Into thunders
of applause, which Verman received
with happy laughter.
The climax of his popularity came
during the fifth overture of the Scho-
Held and Williams Military Band, whon
... ..
the music was quite drowned itf the at-
u.tpH r In mora of Miss Kennsaaie. wno
was endeavoring to ascend the stairs
in spite of the physical dissuasion of
her governess.
"I won't go horn to lunch!" screamed
Miss" Rennsdale. her voice accompanied
by a sound of ripping- "I will hear the
by a sound of ripping. "I will hear the
tattooed wild boy talk some more! Its
lovely I will hear him talk! I wllU I
will! I want to listen to verman i
want to I want to"
Wutling, she was borne away of
her sex not the first to be fascinated
by obscurity, or the last to champion
Its eloquence.
The first performance of the after
noon rivaled the successes of the morn
inir and although Miss Rennsdale was
detained at nome, inus ui-jms "f.""
fnirl source of cash Income developed
..jIm . v.
before lunch, little Maurice Levy ap-
peared escorting beautiful Marjorie
Jones, and paid coin for two admis-
sinne ifrnnnlnir the money into Sam's
-
sions. dropping the money mio am a
hand with a careless nay, a contemp
tuous gesture.
At sight of Marjorie, Penrod Scho
fleld flushed under his new mustache
(repainted since noon) and lectured as
i.. v.oVi npvpr lectured before. A new
- coula you ue a j - , --
grace invested his every gesture; a new etarlng at Roderick. He had suddenly
sonorousness rang in his vpice; a sim- rernembered his intention . to ask Rod
pie and manly pomposity marked his crick Magsworth bitts about
very walk as he passed from curio to Rena ; and Jh.- reeoLec Ion
curio. And when he fearlessly handled ddlnb,,Ronder,cII'B claiming nome
- ' '
with cool insouciance, he beheld for
mm -. - .
the first time in his life a purl of ad-
me nri. L 1 1 " '
. : " ,1 ..! r-r In Xfnrlnrtfi'fl IvaIv
miration
ye, a certain softening of that eye.
and Miss Jones departea to a re.
in., nt u. real theater, the limpid eyes
of MaiJorie looking back softly over
her shoulder but only at the tattooed
wild boy.
urtnr this. Derhaps because of sated
curiosity, perhaps ou account of . p..
famine, the -tendance begantojan-
"""V' , , ,
th K.mi niavad in vain.
About 3 o'clock Schofleld and Will
lams were gloomily discussing various
unpromising devices for startling the
ij i4,j - - -
public into a renewal or inioresi.
o nut hur nRLron uiie.icv j "
t1
the Manor during a period of severe
maternal and tutorial preoccupation.
He seated himself without parley, and
the pufformance was offered for his en-
::;t;,nment with admirable conscian
tainment ; . w
ii.,...u True to the Lady Clara caste
and training. Roderick's pale', fat face
hlnK except an Impervious
. cold and un-
' the front bench like a
"Zm tt must.be said that
law. ' J'mg audiance "to
J. .d. 'ot? however, unre-
-oonslve far from it. He offered com-
"877chlUins t0 the warm grandil-
ment
hs my urle Ethe.bert's dachs-
.... he remarked. at the beginning
of the lecture. "You better take mm
back if you don't want to get arrested."
"My papa would buy me a lots better
'eoon than that." was the Information
, . iatar "only
vn iini t.f. ruu cl i.fcw .. - , - -
want the nasty old thing."
.confident in his own singular
v chucUled openly at the failure
v attractions to charm the
vIait0r, and, when his turn came,
OUred forth a torrent of conversation
P 8tralBhtway dBmmed.
aald Ur BUU ianguidly. "I
' better show than this
nand
..-
..iir.ii .v..t wnulil vou have In your
old show?" asked Penrod, condescend
ing to language.
"That's all right, what I'd have. Id
have enough!"
Well, what would you nave.' inmn.
Penrod derisively. "You'd have. to
.Umpthlns: you think you could be
have sumpthins: you think you could be
a show all by yourself?" aemanaea rS..-
rod.
"How do you know I couldn't?
Two white boys and two black boys
shrieked their scorn of the boaster.
"I could, too!" Roderick raised his
voice to4a sudden howl, obtaining a
hearing. v,
"Well, then, how'd you be a showr
t, ,um.n,!ed. "We got a show
i tlll tJi. --' .... .
nere even if Herman aiun i puiuc
,,.' jMt talk. Their father
veriita.ii -
grabbed a man with a pitchfork,' I
d,dnt he?..
HoW do i know?"
T ..,,,.- i,.-a in lail. ain
guess.
.Trii t cvhoks he's in Jail, ain t fie:
"Well' what if their father is in Jail?
didn't say he wasn't did I?"
"Well, your father ain't in Jail, is he.
said he was, did I?"
'Well, then." continued Pernod, how
' UA etnntirl nbrllDtlV
mvsterious a-l.'1"""'",
"rrant his setting up
which would
as a show
wariciui. . . "
hia single person. Penrod 3 whole man-
n : a uin&rc j-
VinnCArl i T"l S t U II 1 1 V.
-- i, .,,1
"Roddy,' he aeked,
ulmost over
, mbsWsssss
I
whelmed by a prescience ot some
thing vast and magnificent. "Roddy,
are you any relation of Rena Mags
worth?" Roderick had never heard of Rena
Magsworth. although a concentration
of the sentence yesterday pronounced
upon her'had burned, black and hor
rific, upon the face of every newspaper
in the country, lie was not allowed to
read the Journals ot the day, and his .
family's indignation over the sucrl
liglous coincidence of the name hd
not been expressed In his presence. But
he aw that It was an awesome name
to Penrod Schofleld and Samuel Will
iams. Even Herman and Verman were
Informed on the subject of Rena Mags
worth through hearsay, and they Joined
In the portentious silence.
Roddy." repeated Penrod. "holiest. Is
Rena Magsworth some relation of
your?"
There, is no obsession more dangerous
to its victims thun a conviction es
pecially an Inherited one of superior
ity. From hia earliest years Roderick
Magsworth Bitts, Junior. hd beon
trained to believe In the importance of
the Magsworth lamuy. jm eeijr
absorbed a sense 01 j-.br.--.vm
greatness. And yet. in his infrequent
meetings with persons of his own
iiid sex, he was ireaieu "es. "
DOW, U 1 1 1 1 1 . w I'.'"""-
was a Magsworth claim of some sort
. v... ....iv.H th.t there
which was impassive, even iu
. . . . i .1 . . 1 1 T.n rr rl . IU i H With
nouu. oniu u - w .
solemnity, "is Rena Magsworth some
relation or yours;
"Is she, Roddy? asked sera, annum
hoarsely.
She's my aunt!" shouted Koaay.
n. ...li.. 1 Uom B ml PillirOd.
silence iuiu'n tu. -
spellbound, gazed upon Hodurick Mags
worth Bltts, junior, co uui ." -and
Verman. Roddy's staggering lie
had char.god the face of things utterly.
..n . . . . . i a xyrA In VOlce
rtouaj, nnm
tremulous with hope, "Roddy, will you
Join our show?" Koaay jomeu.
Even he could see tftat the offer Im
plied his being, starred as the para
mount attraction of a new order of
things. 'It was obvious that ho had
swelled out suddenly. In the estimation
of the other boys, to that Importance
which he had been taught to believe
his native gift and natural right.
The sensation was pleasant. He hsd
often been treated with effusion by
grown-up callers and by acquaintances
of his mother and sUtors. and little
girls had sometimes shown him defer
ence, but until this moment no boy had
ever allowed him., for one moment, to
presume ivon to equality. Now. In a
trice, he was not only admitted to
comradeship, but patently valued as
something rare and sacred, to be nc
claimed and pedestaled. In fact, the
very first thing that Schofleld and
Wllliais did was to find a box and a
chair for him to sit on.
The misgivings stlrfed in Roderick s
bosom by the subsequent activities of
the firm were not bothersome enougn
to make him forego his prominence as
Exhibit A. He was not a "qulck
mlnded" boy and It was long (and
much happened) before be thoroughly
comprehended the causes of his new
celebrity. He had a shadowy 'el'"
that if the affair were heard of at
home It might not be liked, but. Intoxl.
cated by the glamouf and bustle which
surrounds a public character, he made
no protest. On the contrary, he entered
whole-heartedly Into the preparations
for the new show. Assuming, with
Sam's assistance, a blue rt"h;
"sideburns." he helped In the paint ng
of a new poster, which. ui'P'"
old one on the wall of the stable,
screamed bloody murder at the passers
In that rather populous thoroughfare.
SCHoFiELD & WILLIAMS
NEW BIG SHoW
RODERICK MAGSWORTH BITTS JR
ONLY LIVING NEPHEW
OF
RENA MAG8WORTH
THE FAMOS
MURDERESS GolNO To LE
HUNG
NEXT JULY KILED EIGHT PEOrLL
PUTS ARSiNECK IN THEIr MILK
ALSO SHERMAN HERMAN AND VER
MAN THE MICHIGAN RATS DOG.
PART ALLIGATOR DUKE THE GEN
UINE InDlAN DoG. ADMlSSIon I CENT
OR 20 PiNS SAME AS BEFORE Do Nor
MISS THIS CHANCE TO SEE ROD
ERICK ONLY LIVING NEPHEW oF RENA
MAGSWORTH THE GREAT FAMOS
MURDERESS
GotNG To 13E
HUNG
Prosperity smiled again. The very
first audience after the acquisition of
Roderick was larger than the largest
of the morning. Mr. Bltts-the only
exhibit plaped upon a box-was a su
percurlo. All eyes fastened upon him
and remained. hungrily feasting,
throughout Penrod's luminous oration.
The second audience contained a
cash-payir.g adult, a spectacled young
man whose poignant attention was very
flattering. He remained after the lec
ture and put a few questions to Roddy,
which were answered rather confused
ly upon promptings from Penrod. I he
young man went away without having
stated the object of his Interrogations,
but it became quite plain, later In the
day. This same object caused the spec
tacled young man to make several brief
but unsatisfactory calls directly after
leaving the Schofleld and Williams Big
Show, and the consequences thereor
loitered not by the wayside.
The Big Show was nt high tide. Not
only was the auditorium filled and
throbbing; there was an Indubitable
lineby no mean wholly Juvenile
welting for admission to the next per
formance. A group stood in the street
examining the poster earnestly, and
people In automobiles and other vehi
cles had halted wheel in the street to
read the message so plquantly given
to the world. These were the conditions
when a crested victoria arrived at a
gallop, and a large, chastely magnifi
cent and highly flushed woman de
scended and progressed across the yard
with an air of violence.
At sight of her the adults of the wait
ing line hastily disappeared, and most
of the pausing vehicles moved instantly
on their way. She was followed by a
stricken man in livery.
The etisirs to the auditorium wore
narrow and sleep, and Mrs. Roderick
Magsworth was a stout favor; the
voice of Penrod was audible during
"Re-mem-ber. gentilmun and lay
deeae, each and all are now gn.lng
upon Roderick Magsworth Bltts.
Junior, the only living nephew of the
great Rena MaBSWorth. She stuck
runic tn the milk f rlaht irat
ami distinct lel to l"'t I" their cof.
fco and e.i'-h and all of 'em dl-d. Tlie
ureal am-nlc murderous. Kena M.k'i
worth, tonlilmiin and lay-d.exr. and
Roddy's hr only llvln nephew. Khn's
a relutlve of all the Hilts family, but
he's her one and only living nephew.
Romem-burt Next July she's goln" to
be hung. and. each nd all. you now
see before you" ,
lVnrod paused abruptly, neeliis: some
thing before himself the niiKut and
awful presence which filled the entry
way. Before herself. Mrs. Roderick Mats
worth Bltts saw her son ln-r i Ion
wearing a mustache and sideburns of
blue, with plenty of othrr colors upon
him variously, and perched upon a box
surrounded by Sherman and Viman,
the Michigan rats, tho Indian
Duke, Herman, and the Jng part alli
sslor. Roddy, also, saw something before
himself. It nveded no pr..liet to read
the countenance of the dreu.1 aj'iwrl
tlon In the entry way. His tuoullt
oponrd ronialned open then lilled to
capacity with a calamitous sound of
grief not unmlngled with apprehen
sion. Penrod's rtsson slagicertd under the
crisis. For a horrible moment he saw
Mrs. Roderick Maasworth Uitt ap
proaching like some fatal mountain la
avalanche. She seemed to Krow larger
and redder; llghtnlncs played about
her head: he had a vukuo conscious
nass ot the audience iringing out In
flight, of the tumult, squeallnss, tram
pllngs, and dlsprrsals tf the Irlekea
Held. The mountain was clofe upon
him
He stood by the open mouth of tho
haychute which went throuah the floor
to the manger below. Penrod aUo
went through the finer. He propelled
himself, into the chuto and shot down,
but not quite to the maimer, for Mr.
Samuol Williams had thoughtfully
stepped Into the rhule In advance 'f
his partner. I'e::rod lit upon ham.
Catastrophic noises resounded In tho
loft; volcanoes seemed to romp upnn
the stairway.
Then there endued a period when only
a shrill keening marked the wake rf
Roderick n lie was borne to the tum
bril and then all alienee.
Sunset, striking throiiKh a teter
window, rouged the walls of the rVho
flelds' library, where gathered a Joint
family council and court martial of four
Mrs. Schofleld. Mr. Schofleld and Mr.
and Mra. Williams, parenta of Samuel
of that Ilk. Mr. Williams read aloud
a ronsplcuoua rasanEe from the laet
edition of the evening paper.
"Prominent people here believed close
relations of woman sentenced to hang.
Angry denial by Mrs. U. Maaworth
Bltta. Relationship admitted by
younger member of family. His state
ment confirmed by hoy-frlends "
"Don't!" said Mrs. Williams, address
ing her husband vehemently. "We've
all read It a dosen time. We've sot
plenty of trouble on our hands without
hearing that again!"
Singularly enough, Mrs. Williams did
not lotik troubled; slie looked aa If she
were trying to look troubled. Mrs.
Schofleld wore a similar expression, fo
did Mr. Schofleld. So did Mr. William.
"What did she say when she called
you up?" Mrs. Schofleld Inquired
breathleaaly of Mrs. Williams.
"She could hardly speak at flrat, and
then when ahe did talk, she talked so
fast I couldn't understand mo.t of It.
ami"
"Delia sas there were Just streams
going In and out all day." snld Mrs.
Schofleld. "Of course It wouldn't have
happened, but this Is tho day I spend
every month In the country with Aunt
Sarah, and I didn't dremn "
"She said that the most awful thing
about It," Mrs. Williams went on. "wa
that, though she's going to prosecute
the newspapers, mafiy people would al
ways believe the story, ntnl "
"Yes, I linnplne they will." said Mrs.
Schofleld musingly. "Of course you and
' I and everybody who really knows the
Iiltts and MaKsworth families under
stand tho perfect absurdity of It; but I
suppose there are ever so many who'll
beliove It. no matter what the Ulttsea
and Maasworths Fay."
"Hundreds and hundreds,", snld Mrs.
Williams. 'I'm afraid It will be a great
come-down for them."
"I'm afraid so." said Mrs. Schofleld
gently. -"A very great one yea, a very,
very great one."
"Well." observed Mrs. Williams, after
a thoughtful pause, "there's only
thing to be done, and I suppose It had
better be done rlKht away."
She glanced towurd the two gentle
men. "Certainly," Mr. Schofleld agreed.
"But where are they?"
"Have you looked In the stable?
asked his wife.
"I searched It. They ve probably
started fur the Far West."
"Did you look In the sawdust dm .
"No. 1 didn't."
"Then that's where t h ey a re
Thus. In e esrly twilight, the now
historic stable was approached by !
fathers charged to do the only thing
to be done. ..
They entered the storeroom. In the
corner of which stood the saw.lu-t box.
a structure eight feel high and ..pen
at the tor. ......
"Penrod!" said Mr. Behoneid.
"flam!" said Mr. Williams.
Nothing disturbed the twilight hush.
Hut by means of a ladd.r, broneht
from the carrlaa-o-house. Mr. Sch-.tlel.!
mounted to the top of the sawdust by.
He looked within, and discerned the
dim outlines of two oulet flcureu.
Thy rose, upon command, descended
the ladder sfter Mr. Hchofield. and stood
before the authors or their being. h-r
bent upon them sinister and threaten
lug brows. With hanging hearts and
despondent countenances each still or
namented with a mustache end an Im
perial. Penrod and Sam awaited sri.
tence. ,
Mr. Williams took his son by the ear.
"You march home!" he commanded.
Sam marched, not looking bstk. and
his father followed the small figure
Implacably.
"Tou goln' to wblO tner quavered
Penrod. alone with Justice.
"Wah your face at that hydrant,
said his father sternly.
About 16 minutes later. Penrod. hur.
rledly entering the corner druustore
two blocks distant, waa astonished to
percelvo a familiar form at tho soda
counter.
"Yay. Penrod." said Hum Williams.
"Want some sody? Come on. Ho didn't
lick me. He didn't do anything to me
at all. He gave mo a quarter."
"So"d mine," said Penrod.
(Copyright. 1914. by the Wheeler Syndi
cate. Inc.)
The next l'enrod Schofleld story wi
appear next Sunday. 11' Is culitltd
"Brothers of Angels."