“I don’t know nuthing about no speech,” said the general utility man. “You better let me go—I’ve got some work to do down to the barn.”
“We want you to tell us about your experience as a soldier,” said Pepper.
“I never was a soldier—I was a fireman.”
“That’s the talk!” cried Andy. “Tell us how you became a fireman, and rescued four live kittens from a ten-story burning building, Peleg.”
“Didn’t rescue no kittens. But once I rescued——”
“A three-legged bedstead,” finished Stuffer.
“No, it was a——”
“Broken-backed clothes horse,” suggested Dale. “Did the horse get over it, Peleg?”
“Now see here, I didn’t say nuthing about a hoss. When I was a member o’ the Cowtown Volunteer Fire Company, Mr. Glasby’s house burnt down, and I saved——”
“Two pair of overalls and a box of gumdrops,” finished Pepper. “Very brave, Peleg, very brave! It’s a wonder they didn’t give you a tin medal.”