Page:Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914).djvu/236

222 Penrod rubbed his neck and asked meekly:

"Can you do that to any boy up at the Third?"

"See here now," said Rupe, in the tone of one goaded beyond all endurance, "you say if I can! You better say it quick, or"

"I knew you could," Penrod interposed hastily, with the pathetic semblance of a laugh. "I only said that in fun."

"In 'fun'!" repeated Rupe stormily. "You better look out how you"

"Well, I said I wasn't in earnest!" Penrod retreated a few steps. "I knew you could, all the time. I expect I could do it to some of the boys up at the Third, myself. Couldn't I?"

"No, you couldn't."

"Well, there must be some boy up there that I could"

"No they ain't! You better"

"I expect not, then," said Penrod, quickly.

"You better 'expect not.' Didn't I tell you once you'd never get back alive if you ever tried to come up around the Third? You want me to show you how we do up there, 'bo?"

He began a slow and deadly advance, whereupon Penrod timidly offered a diversion: