Perhaps it was a wonder the moon did not laugh out loud.
CHAPTER XXXVI
PEE-WEE TRIUMPHANT
In a little while the boys were rewarded by the appearance of a pair of headlights coming around the bend in the road.
“You be ready to run up to the house and wake them,” whispered Pee-wee, clutching his ice-pick.
“Suppose they haven’t a ’phone,” said Emerson.
“They have,” said Pee-wee; “a scout has to notice things. Don’t you see the wire branching over that way?”
Emerson thoroughly liked Pee-wee but now he was beginning to have a wholesome respect for his friend’s prowess and resource. Why should the fugitives not come this way? And if they did, had not Pee-wee provided for all contingencies? Had he not even taken note of the ’phone wire stretched from the main lines along the highway to the distant house? And his disinclination to arouse the occupants of that house till necessary suggested both self-reliance and consideration for others. Yes, to be sure, thought Emerson, he was in the hands of a bully little scout.
“I think you’re very clever,” said Emerson.
“Even I’ll get you something to eat afterwards too,” said Pee-wee, “because you know Schmitt’s Bakery on Main Street. By the time we leave here the bakers will be starting to work in the cellar and I know them and I know how to get in the back way and they’ll give us some hot rolls. Do you like hot rolls? Do you like buns? Shhh, here comes the car.”
The car proved to be a roadster and the driver of it was not a gypsy. Pee-wee removed the sign with a few words of explanation and the car went ahead. Another car came, and still another, then a long interval with no cars.