Penrod at that instant had a singular experience—­an intellectual shock like a flash of fire in the brain.  Sitting in darkness, a great light flooded him with wild brilliance.  He gasped!

“What you doin’?” repeated Mr. Levy.

Penrod sprang to his feet, seized the licorice bottle, shook it with stoppering thumb, and took a long drink with histrionic unction.

“What you doin’?” asked Maurice for the third time, Sam Williams not having decided upon a reply.

It was Penrod who answered.

“Drinkin’ lickrish water,” he said simply, and wiped his mouth with such delicious enjoyment that Sam’s jaded thirst was instantly stimulated.  He took the bottle eagerly from Penrod.

“A-a-h!” exclaimed Penrod, smacking his lips.  “That was a good un!”

The eyes above the fence glistened.

“Ask him if he don’t want some,” Penrod whispered urgently.  “Quit drinkin’ it!  It’s no good any more.  Ask him!”

“What for?” demanded the practical Sam.

“Go on and ask him!” whispered Penrod fiercely.

“Say, M’rice!” Sam called, waving the bottle.  “Want some?”

“Bring it here!” Mr. Levy requested.

“Come on over and get some,” returned Sam, being prompted.

“I can’t.  Penrod Schofield’s after me.”

“No, I’m not,” said Penrod reassuringly.  “I won’t touch you, M’rice.  I made up with you yesterday afternoon—­don’t you remember?  You’re all right with me, M’rice.”

Maurice looked undecided.  But Penrod had the delectable bottle again, and tilting it above his lips, affected to let the cool liquid purl enrichingly into him, while with his right hand he stroked his middle facade ineffably.  Maurice’s mouth watered.

“Here!” cried Sam, stirred again by the superb manifestations of his friend.  “Gimme that!”

Penrod brought the bottle down, surprisingly full after so much gusto, but withheld it from Sam; and the two scuffled for its possession.  Nothing in the world could have so worked upon the desire of the yearning observer beyond the fence.

“Honest, Penrod—­you ain’t goin’ to touch me if I come in your yard?” he called.  “Honest?”

“Cross my heart!” answered Penrod, holding the bottle away from Sam.  “And we’ll let you drink all you want.”

Maurice hastily climbed the fence, and while he was thus occupied Mr. Samuel Williams received a great enlightenment.  With startling rapidity Penrod, standing just outside the storeroom door, extended his arm within the room, deposited the licorice water upon the counter of the drug store, seized in its stead the bottle of smallpox medicine, and extended it cordially toward the advancing Maurice.

Genius is like that—­great, simple, broad strokes!

Dazzled, Mr. Samuel Williams leaned against the wall.  He had the sensations of one who comes suddenly into the presence of a chef-d’oeuvre.  Perhaps his first coherent thought was that almost universal one on such huge occasions:  “Why couldn’t I have done that!”