“I—I bet you like your flivver better than any other friend you’ve got,” said Pee-wee.

“I bet I don’t,” said Townsend, with a kind of enigmatic smile. “So you lose.”

“Anyway, I bet you like it ’cause it’s kind of old and sort of ramshackle, I bet you do.”

“Maybe,” said Townsend.

“Gee whiz, anyway I like you better than any friend I’ve got except Roy Blakeley, and he’s kind of more like an enemy only we’re good friends.”

Townsend laughed outright. “We’re going to have a great patrol, Kiddo,” was all he said.

Sure, we are, and I’m glad you’re the leader of it. I bet if you met a big feller your own size you’d like him better than me, wouldn’t you? Because I knew lots of fellers that were friends with me till they got to know fellers their own size.”

“Yes?”

“Sure, I did. But anyway I have lots of fun. Gee whiz, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“No? Well, how about the little Ford? You say you think I like that.”