enrod. Roddy, you're a--"

"Wait!" shouted Penrod, for he really believed Roddy's claims to be
both moral and legal. When an uncle who does not even play upon an old
second-hand horn wishes to get rid of that horn, and even complains of
having it on his hands, it seems reasonable to consider that the horn
becomes the property of a nephew who has gone to the trouble of carrying
the undesired thing out of the house.

Penrod determined to deal fairly. The difference between this horn
and the one in the "music-store" window seemed to him just about the
difference between two and eighty-five. He drew forth the green bill
from his pocket.

"Roddy," he said, "I'll give you two dollars for that horn."

Sam Williams's mouth fell open; he was silenced indeed. But for a
moment, the confused and badgered Roddy was incredulous; he had not
dreamed that Penrod possessed such a sum.

"Lemme take a look at that money!" he said.

If at first there had been in Roddy's mind a little doubt about his
present rights of ownership, he had talked himself out of it. Also,
his financial supplies for the month were cut off, on account of the
careless dog. Finally, he thought that the horn was worth about fifty
cents.

"I'll do it, Penrod!" he said with decision.

Thereupon Penrod shouted aloud, prancing up and down the carriage-house
with the horn. Roddy was happy, too, land mingled his voice with
Penrod's.

"Hi! Hi! Hi!" shouted Roddy Bitts. "I'm goin' to buy me an air-gun down
at Fox's hardware store!"

And he departed, galloping.

... He returned the following afternoon. School was over, and Penrod
and Sam were again in the stable; Penrod "was practising" upon the horn,
with Sam for an unenthusiastic spectator and auditor. Master Bitts' brow
was heavy; he looked uneasy.

"Penrod," he began, "I got to--"

Penrod removed the horn briefly from his lips.

"Don't come bangin' around here and interrup' me all the time," he said
severely. "I got to practice."

And he again pressed the mouthpiece to his lips. He was not of those
whom importance makes gracious.

"Look here, Penrod," said Roddy, "I got to have that horn back."

Penrod lowered the horn quickly enough at this.

"What you talkin' about?" he demanded. "What you want to come bangin'
around here for and--"

"I came around here for that horn," Master Bitts returned, and his
manner was both dogged and apprehensive, the apprehension being more
prevalent when he looked at