d downward
into the gloomy interior, with excelsior already beginning to block the
means of egress.

Gymnastic moments followed; there were times when both boys hurled
themselves full-length upon the floor, seizing the animated stocking
with far-extended hands; and even when the snake was a complete thing,
with legs growing from its unquestionably ugly face, either Penrod
or Verman must keep a grasp upon it, for it would not be soothed, and
refused, over and over, to calm itself, even when addressed as, "Poor
pussy!" and "Nice 'ittle kitty!"

Finally, they thought they had their good ole snake "about quieted
down", as Penrod said, because the animated head had remained in one
place for an unusual length of time, though the legs produced a rather
sinister effect of crouching, and a noise like a distant planing-mill
came from the interior--and then Duke appeared in the doorway. He was
still feeling lively.

CHAPTER XX. THE DEPARTING GUEST

By the time Penrod returned from chasing Duke to the next corner, Verman
had the long, black snake down from the rafter where its active head had
taken refuge, with the rest of it dangling; and both boys agreed that
Mrs. Williams's cat must certainly be able to "see SOME, anyway",
through the meshes of the stocking.

"Well," said Penrod, "it's gettin' pretty near dark, what with all this
bother and mess we been havin' around here, and I expeck as soon as I
get this good ole broom-handle fixed out of the rake for you, Verman,
it'll be about time to begin what we had to go and take all this trouble
FOR."

.... Mr. Schofield had brought an old friend home to dinner with him:
"Dear old Joe Gilling," he called this friend when introducing him to
Mrs. Schofield. Mr. Gilling, as Mrs. Schofield was already informed by
telephone, had just happened to turn up in town that day, and had called
on his classmate at the latter's office. The two had not seen each other
in eighteen years.

Mr. Gilling was a tall man, clad highly in the mode, and brought to a
polished and powdered finish by barber and manicurist; but his colour
was peculiar, being almost unhumanly florid, and, as Mrs. Schofield
afterward claimed to have noticed, his eyes "wore a nervous,
apprehensive look", his hands were tremulous, and his manner was "queer
and jerky"--at least, that is how she defined it.

She was not surprised to hear him state that he was travelling for his
health and not upon business. He had not be