Penrod | Page 5

the surface of the sawdust in another corner of
the floor, and drew forth a cigar-box in which were half a dozen
cigarettes, made of hayseed and thick brown wrapping paper, a
lead-pencil, an eraser, and a small note-book, the cover of which was
labelled in his own handwriting:
"English Grammar. Penrod Schofield. Room 6, Ward School Nomber
Seventh."
The first page of this book was purely academic; but the study of
English undefiled terminated with a slight jar at the top of the second:
"Nor must an adverb be used to modif----"
Immediately followed: "HARoLD RAMoREZ THE RoADAGENT OR
WiLD LiFE AMoNG THE ROCKY MTS."
And the subsequent entries in the book appeared to have little concern
with Room 6, Ward School Nomber Seventh.

CHAPTER II
ROMANCE
The author of "Harold Ramorez," etc., lit one of the hayseed cigarettes,
seated himself comfortably, with his back against the wall and his right
shoulder just under the lantern, elevated his knees to support the
note-book, turned to a blank page, and wrote, slowly and earnestly:
"CHAPITER THE SIXTH"
He took a knife from his pocket, and, broodingly, his eyes upon the

inward embryos of vision, sharpened his pencil. After that, he extended
a foot and meditatively rubbed Duke's back with the side of his shoe.
Creation, with Penrod, did not leap, full-armed, from the brain; but
finally he began to produce. He wrote very slowly at first, and then
with increasing rapidity; faster and faster, gathering momentum and
growing more and more fevered as he sped, till at last the true fire came,
without which no lamp of real literature may be made to burn.
Mr. Wilson reched for his gun but our hero had him covred and soon
said Well I guess you don't come any of that on me my freind.
Well what makes you so sure about it sneered the other bitting his lip
so savageley that the blood ran. You are nothing but a common
Roadagent any way and I do not propose to be bafled by such, Ramorez
laughed at this and kep Mr. Wilson covred by his ottomatick
Soon the two men were struggling together in the death-roes but soon
Mr Wilson got him bound and gaged his mouth and went away for
awhile leavin our hero, it was dark and he writhd at his bonds writhing
on the floor wile the rats came out of their holes and bit him and
vernim got all over him from the floor of that helish spot but soon he
managed to push the gag out of his mouth with the end of his toungeu
and got all his bonds off
Soon Mr Wilson came back to tant him with his helpless condition
flowed by his gang of detectives and they said Oh look at Ramorez
sneering at his plight and tanted him with his helpless condition
because Ramorez had put the bonds back sos he would look the same
but could throw them off him when he wanted to Just look at him now
sneered they. To hear him talk you would thought he was hot stuff and
they said Look at him now, him that was going to do so much, Oh I
would not like to be in his fix
Soon Harold got mad at this and jumped up with blasing eyes throwin
off his bonds like they were air Ha Ha sneered he I guess you better not
talk so much next time. Soon there flowed another awful struggle and
siezin his ottomatick back from Mr Wilson he shot two of the
detectives through the heart Bing Bing went the ottomatick and two
more went to meet their Maker only two detectives left now and so he
stabbed one and the scondrel went to meet his Maker for now our hero
was fighting for his very life. It was dark in there now for night had
falen and a terrible view met the eye Blood was just all over everything

and the rats were eatin the dead men.
Soon our hero manged to get his back to the wall for he was fighting
for his very life now and shot Mr Wilson through the abodmen Oh said
Mr Wilson you---- ---- ---- (The dashes are Penrod's.)
Mr Wilson stagerd back vile oaths soilin his lips for he was in pain
Why you---- ----you sneered he I will get you yet---- ----you Harold
Ramorez
The remainin scondrel had an ax which he came near our heros head
with but missed him and ramand stuck in the wall Our heros amunition
was exhaused what was he to do, the remanin scondrel would soon get
his ax lose so our hero sprung forward and bit him till his teeth met in
the flech for now our hero was