ct you need some wiping down," he began dangerously. "I'll give
you sumpthing to remem----"

"Oh, you will!" Maurice cried with astonishing truculence, contorting
himself into what he may have considered a posture of defense. "Let's
see you try it, you--you itcher!"

For the moment, defiance from such a source was dumfounding. Then,
luckily, Penrod recollected something and glanced at the automobile.

Perceiving therein not only the alert chauffeur but the magnificent
outlines of Mrs. Levy, his enemy's mother, he manoeuvred his lifted hand
so that it seemed he had but meant to scratch his ear.

"Well, I guess I better be goin'," he said casually. "See you tomorrow!"

Maurice mounted to the lap of luxury, and Penrod strolled away with an
assumption of careless ease which was put to a severe strain when, from
the rear window of the car, a sudden protuberance in the nature of a
small, dark, curly head shrieked scornfully:

"Go on--you big stiff!"

The cotillon loomed dismally before Penrod now; but it was his duty
to secure a partner and he set about it with a dreary heart. The delay
occasioned by his fruitless attempt on Marjorie and the altercation with
his enemy at her gate had allowed other ladies ample time to prepare for
callers--and to receive them. Sadly he went from house to house, finding
that he had been preceded in one after the other. Altogether his
hand for the cotillon was declined eleven times that afternoon on the
legitimate ground of previous engagement. This, with Marjorie, scored
off all except five of the seventeen possible partners; and four of the
five were also sealed away from him, as he learned in chance encounters
with other boys upon the street.

One lady alone remained; he bowed to the inevitable and entered this
lorn damsel's gate at twilight with an air of great discouragement. The
lorn damsel was Miss Rennsdale, aged eight.

We are apt to forget that there are actually times of life when too much
youth is a handicap. Miss Rennsdale was beautiful; she danced like a
premiere; she had every charm but age. On that account alone had she
been allowed so much time to prepare to receive callers that it was only
by the most manful efforts she could keep her lip from trembling.

A decorous maid conducted the long-belated applicant to her where she
sat upon a sofa beside a nursery governess. The decorous maid announced
him composedly as he made his entrance.

"Mr. Penrod Schofield!"

Miss