"Well, hand him down over the side to me. Let me"
"I'll get him down all right," said Penrod. "I got him up here, and I guess I can get him down!"
"Well then, do it!"
"I will if you'll let me alone. If you'll go on back to the house I promise to be there inside of two minutes. Honest!"
He put extreme urgency into this, and his mother turned toward the house. "If you're not there in two minutes"
"I will be!"
After her departure, Penrod expended some finalities of eloquence upon Duke, then disgustedly gathered him up in his arms, dumped him into the basket and, shouting sternly, "All in for the ground floor—step back there, madam—all ready, Jim!" lowered dog and basket to the floor of the storeroom. Duke sprang out in tumultuous relief, and bestowed frantic affection upon his master as the latter slid down from the box.
Penrod dusted himself sketchily, experiencing a sence of satisfaction, dulled by the overhanging afternoon, perhaps, but perceptible: he had the feeling of one who has been true to a cause. The oper-
