Page:Penrod by Booth Tarkington (1914).djvu/249

Rh afraid to talk to him. You wouldn't get a word out of your mouth before old Rupie'd have you where you'd wished you never come around him, lettin' on like you was so much! You wouldn't run home yellin' 'Mom-muh' or nothin'! Oh, no!"

"Who Rupe Collins?" asked Herman.

"'Who Rupe Collins?'" Penrod mocked, and used his rasping laugh, but, instead of showing fright, Herman appeared to think he was meant to laugh, too; and so he did, echoed by Verman. "You just hang around here a little while longer," Penrod added, grimly, "and you'll find out who Rupe Collins is, and I pity you when you do!"

"What he go' do?"

"You'll see; that's all! You just wait and"

At this moment a brown hound ran into the stable through the alley door, wagged a greeting to Penrod, and fraternized with Duke. The fat-faced boy appeared upon the threshold and gazed coldly about the little company in the carriage-house, whereupon the coloured brethren, ceasing from merriment, were instantly impassive, and Sam Williams moved a little nearer the door leading into the yard.

Obviously, Sam regarded the newcomer as a redoubtable if not ominous figure. He was a head