| Show teil n I 1 1 jr prisoner ri penrod and sams thrilling exploits in the N 3 L t neighborhood war game 4 y ka i by BOOTH JL H M copyright 1917 wheeler syndicate ine inc s during the daylight hours of several autumn saturdays there had beet severe outbreaks of cavalry in the schofield neighborhood tho the sabers were of wood the steeds were imaginary and both were employed in a gume culled called bonded by its inventors masters penrod schofield and samuel williams tho the pastime was not intricate when two ene intes met they fenced spectacularly untie the person of one or the other was touched by the opposing weapon then when ithe ensuing claims of foul play had been disallowed and the subsequent argument oett settled led the combatant touched was considered to be it prisoner until such time as lie he might be touched tou clied by the hilt of a sword belonging to one of ills his own party which affected ills his release and restored to him tile the full enjoyment of hostile activity pending such rescue however lie he was obliged to accompany the forces of his captor whithersoever their necessities led lea them which included ninny many strange places for the game was exciting and at its highest pitch would want sweep out of an alley into a stable oat of that stable and into a yard out of that sard and into a house and through tha muse with the sound arid and effect furniture of trampling herds in fact this very similarity must have been in the mind of tho the distressed colored woman in mrs airs williams kitchen when she declared that sho she might jes no as well try to cook right spang in tho the middle a 0 the stock yards all up and down the lie neighborhood the campaigns were waged accompanied by the martial clashing of wood and by many clamorous arguments youre it ft roddy 1 I am not I 1 you are tool I 1 touched you where id like to knowl on the sleeve 11 you did hotl I 1 never folt felt it I 1 guess id a felt it IT 17 what it if you I 1 touched tou clied you air and youre handed bonded I 1 leave it to sam williams yahl yah I 1 course you would 1 lies iles on your side older I 1 I 1 leave it to nerman herman no you wont I 1 if you cant show any sense about it well do it over and I 1 guess see whether yon feel it or not I 1 there I 1 now I 1 guess you i aw squash I 1 strangely enough the undoubted champion proved to bo be the youngest and darkest of all the combatants aine one verman colored brother to herman heriman and substantially under the size i to which his nine years entitled him verman was unfortunately tongue a tied but he was valiant beyond all i others and in spite of every handl handi cap he became at once the chief sup port of his own party and the despair of the opposition on the third saturday this oppose tion had been worp worn down by the successive j enli captures tures of maurice levy and i borgle bassett until it consisted of at only sam williams and penrod rence it behooved these two to ho be witty wary lt they be aped out alt ogeth 4 pr and sarn sam wits was dismayed indeed upon cautiously scouting round a corner of his bis own stable to find himself trace face to face with the valorous and skillful verrian Ver ninn who was noting acting as on an outpost or picket of the enemy verman immediately fell upon saro sam horse and foot and sam would have hao nod fled but dared not for fear ho he might be touched from the rear therefore he defended himself as aa best lie cavi and there followed a lusty whacking in the course of which v atch verman j i hat ft a relic and too large fell from ills his head touching sams capon in falling Tb there erel 1 panted sam de immediately medin tely that counts I 1 youre bonded banded verman alm aim meo werl verman protested interpreting tills this ns as aint neither sam invented a law to suit the slon alon yes yea you tire are the rule verman I 1 touched your put hat with my vord and your hats bats just the same as aa you imm mop I 1 verman insisted yes it Is said sam already warmly convinced by hla his own statement that ho he was wag in the right Us ten herel here I 1 if I 1 hit you on tho the shoe t f it would mould bo be the same as hitting you ou it I 1 guess count it if I 1 wl hit you on tho the shoe it well a hata bats just the same as shoes iron est tints the rule verman and youre a pilsner now in the arguing port part of the 4 same game Vcr muns Imbe impediment dIment co ed ml with a native am amiability to render hint him for far less effective than in the actual combat combi it he chuckled and ceded aled the point f L thaw aw wl he said auld and cheerfully i followed his captor to a hidden place among some bushes in the front yard where penrod lurked looky what I 1 gott got I 1 sam said im fc port antly pushing ills captive into tills this retreat now I 1 guess you wont say im not so much use any more I 1 squat down verman sos they cant sen see you it if hunten for far us ono one ol 01 the rules honest you got to squat when we tell you to verman was agreeable lie be squat ted and then began to laugh uproariously stop that noise 1 penrod commanded you want to betray us what you laughon laugh ln tn at ep muck mack ini am verman giggled lie he mean asked sam penrod was moro more familiar with Vern inns utterance and ho he interpreted lie says got get him back in a minute no they wont id just like to seep see P yes they will too said penrod get him back for the ninin main and simple reason we cant stay here all day can we nye and find us anyhow an liow ti it we tried to theres so BO ninny many of lem cm against just us its two they can run in and touch him soon ns its they get up to us and then hell be after us again and listen here beret I 1 sam interrupted why cant wo we put sonic some real bonds on oil him we could put bonds on ills wrists and around ills his legs we could put em cm nil all over him easy na as bothin then we ve could gag him l no we cant said penrod we cant for the main and simple reason we got any rope or anything to make the bonds with have we I 1 ash wish we had some 0 that stuff bluff they give sick alck people then I 1 bet they i pet get him back so BO foont soon I 1 sick people sam repeated not comprehending it makes em cm go to sleep no matter what you yop do to ero em penrod explained pla ined the main and simple reason they cant wake up tip and you can cut off their whole legs or their arms or anything you want to illoyd exclaimed verman in a serious tone ills his laughter ceased instantly st nna ho he began to utter a protest sufficiently intelligible you worry penrod said eald gloomily we got any ol 01 0 that stuff so we cant do it well we got to do said sum nis ills comrade agreed and there was a thoughtful silence but presently Pen rods countenance counte nanco brightened 1 I knowl know he exclaimed 1 I know what well do with him why I 1 thought of it just as basyl I 1 can roost most always think of things like that for the main and simple reason well I 1 thought of it just as aa boon P well what Is it sam demanded crossly Pen rods reiteration of his newfound new found phrase for the main and simple reason bad been growing more and more irksome to his friend all day though sam sain was not definitely aware that the phrase was the cause of his annoyance what are we gain to do with him you know so eo much penrod rose and peered over the tops of the bushes shading hla his eyes with life his hand a gesture which was waa unnecessary but had a good appearance no ile looked nil all round about hira in this manner finally vouchsafing a report to the impatient sam no enemies in sight just for the main and simple reason I 1 expect nil all in the alley and in georgae bassetta bassetts Bas back yard 1 I bet not I 1 sam said scornfully ills his irritation much increased now how do you know so BO much about it just for the main and simple ren reason penrod replied with dignified finality and at that sam felt a powerful impulse to do violence upon the person of his comrade lu in arms the emotion which prompted this impulse was waa so BO primitive and straightforward that it almost resulted in action but sam had a vague sense that he be must control it no as long as an lie he could bugs I 1 ho he said penrod was sensitive and this cold word hurt him Ilo however wever he was under the domination of his strategic idea and ho he Pub subordinated private grievance to the common weal get cupl lie he commanded you get up too verman you got to its the rule now here ill show you what were gain to do stoop over and both 0 you do just exactly like I 1 do you watch me because this has got to be ba done right I 1 sam muttered something he was becoming more insurgent every moment but ho he obeyed likewise verman rose to his feet ducked his head between his shoulders and trotted out to the sidewalk nt at sams heels both tol following lowing penrod and assuming n stooping position in hul imitation tation of fit him rn verman was delighted with tills this phase of the game and also he fie was profoundly amused by Pen rods pomposity something dim and deep within him perceived it to be cause for such merriment that he be had find udo ado to master himself and was forced to bottle and cork hla his laughter with both hands they proved sputter ings burst forth between his fingers you stop chati said penrod looking back darkly upon the prisoner vennen endeavored to oblige though giggles continued to leak from him film nt at intervals and tile th e three boys stole along the fence in single file proceeding in this fashion until they reached own front gate nere the ie lender ier by a acon 0 ns no far ai the coluar that the tha hostile forces were mere still looking for t lion I 1 in a nother another direction no he returned t I 1 in n ft a stealthy but important manner to hla his disgruntled tol follower lower and the hilarious hU arloua captive well raid mid sain impatiently 1 1 I guess im not gain to stand around hero here nil all tiny I 1 fuessl guess 1 you got anything you want to do you go on and do it ren Pen rods brow was already contorted d to present the of detached and lofty concentration a histrionic failure aiace it lid did not deceive the audience lie ile raised a bushing hand slit ho be murmured 1 I got to think hugs I 1 said the impolite mr air wll wil again bent double squealing and sputtering indeed ho he was ultimately forced to sit upon tile the ground so exhausting hau linus sting ting was the mirth to which b ba now gave gao way Pen rods composure was somewhat affected and he be showed annoyance oh I 1 guess you iou wout wont laugh quite so much about a minute from now ole OIL mister Ver maril lio lie said severely reli you get up from there and do like I 1 tell you sou well lisi it you tell him why ft by lie wont laugh so macli their sam demanded ns no averinah rose Why nt you do something and quit so BO much about it haughtily led tho the way into tho the yard you follow me ho he sald said and I 1 guess learn a little sense 1 then abandoning ills hauteur for tin an air of mystery equally irritating to sam lie he stole up ua the steps of the lie porch and after a moments manipulation of tit lic knob of the big front door contrived to operate the fastenings and pushed the door open conic come on lie whispered mcclon ing and the three thice boys bois mounted the stairs to tho the floor above aboe in silence save tor for a belated giggle ou on the hie part of Ve which was restrained upon 5 N I 1 4 V V y you ou get in there verman 11 a terrible gesture from retired penrod verman burled buried ills mouth ns no deeply as possible in a ragged sleeve and confined his fits demonstrations to a heaving of the tom and dia diaphragm penrod led the way into the dainty room of hla his cearold benr old sister bister margaret and closed the door there he said ki hi a 11 low nud lind husky voice 1 I expect see bee what im gain to do bowl now I 1 well what ashod the skeptical sam it if we stay here hem very long your inot herll come arid and send us downstairs the good a of f walt cant you pel penrod ire walled in a whisper sly my good goodness I 1 and going to an inner door he threw it open disclosing a clothes closet hung with pretty garments of at many kind kandi while upon its floor wore were two rows of f shoes and slippers of 0 great variety and charm A thing Is to be remarked concerning the door of till somewhat intimate treasury there was no knob or latch upon the inner side bide so BO that wian the door was ased it could bo be opened only from me outside therel there 1 said penrod you get in there verman and ill bet they wont get to touch bouback you lack out ol 01 0 bein our very soon now newt I 1 oh I 1 gueld not lt Ills pshaw bawl I 1 said sam bain Is that all you were gain to do why your mot motheral herll come and make him get out the first ao 20 no she wont she and margaret have gone to my aunts aunte in the country and arent areat gain to be back till dark and evena ho he in ande antle a lot ol 01 0 folse its kind of kinrd to hear any tiling fionin in there anyway when the doors shut besides lies got to keep quiet the rule verman youre a find its tile ho rule you cwt cat hotter holler or YOU un nna tt unit aw wl anid Ver vennan luark then brhen RO ge on an it in there aurryl the obedient verman marched arched in into tile the closet and oat down among the shoos shoes and anil slippers where tic lie presented an interesting effect of contrast lie mot still subject to tit hilarity larity though endeavoring to suppress it hy by means of n leather slipper when penrod closed the door therel there I 1 said penrod lending leading the way front froin the room 1 I guess now you see seel I 1 sarn said nothing and they came out to the ho open air arid and reached moir retreat in fit the williams yard again without his having tic pen pell rods rodn service to their mutual cause 1 I thought of that just ab ensyl penrod renit irked probably prompted to tills this odious hit bit of complacency liy by asnins withholding the praise which might naturally have hoen been expected and lie was macd to add 11 1 I guess of been a pretty long while if wed lind to wait for you to think of as good ni as that astlin 11 why would it sam asked why would it of oc been apon mich bai cli it long while olt oh responded penrod airily just for tile tho main anti simple reason so 1 I datil could hour bear it no longer oil hush up cupl I 1 lie he shouted penrod was stung do you mol lie demanded yes yea I 1 dot dol replied the goaded sam did you toll tell me to hush up yes I 1 1 1 I guess you dont know who youre tallan to penrod sald ominously 1 I ducis I 1 atit heller better show you who youre to like that I 1 guess you need a little sump thing tor for tho the main and sli sam uttered nn an uncontrollable howl how and sprung sprang upon penrod ent catching chIng him round the simultaneously with tills this impact the wooden swords spun through gli the air and were presently trodden underfoot its ai the two boys wre wrel UPI pd to and fro penrod was not altogether surprised by the onset of ills his friend lie ile hud been aware of sams increasing irritation though neither boy could lieve clearly stated its cause censo arid and lint very deiy irritation produced a corresponding emotion in lie he bosom of the mentally penrod via nt N t s quite ready for the conflict nay anny lie ho welcomed it though for the first few moments sarn sam hod had the advantage however no lion ever wever it Is proper that a nent neat distinction he be drawn hero here this was n conflict but neither technically nor in the intention of it a fight penrod rind sam rain WUK were both in it a state of high ich arid and there wits was great pit ait bitterness but no blows fell anti and no henrs they trained strained thea they twisted and they panted and muttered olt oh no you dont olt oh I 1 guess I 1 dot do 1 oh you ial will you see what you ou get in about a miti atel 1 I guess aull learn |
