.

CONCERNING TROUSERS.
Duke, hastening to place himself upon the stone slab, raged at his enemy in safety; and presently the indomitable Gipsy could be heard from the darkness below, turning on the bass of his siren, threatening the water that enveloped him, returning Duke's profanity with interest, and cursing the general universe.
"You hush!" Penrod stormed, rushing at Duke.

"You go 'way from here! You DUKE!" And Duke, after prostrating himself, decided that it would be a relief to obey and to consider his responsibilities in this matter at an end.
He withdrew beyond a corner of the house, thinking deeply.
"Why'n't you let him bark at the ole cat ?" Sam Williams inquired, sympathizing with the oppressed.

"I guess you'd want to bark if a cat had been treatin' you the way this one did Duke." "Well, we got to get this cat out o' here, haven't we ?" Penrod demanded crossly.
"What fer ?" Herman asked.

"Mighty mean cat! If it was me, I let 'at ole cat drownd." "My goodness," Penrod cried.