“You’re welcome—and I can beat you running,” the girl said.
“Girls are afraid of snakes,” Pee-wee retorted. Meanwhile the individual who had been cited as a model of social correctness by Aunt Jamsiah stood upon the doorstep looking eagerly up into Pee-wee’s face and wagging his tail with vigorous and lightning rapidity. Wiggle’s tail was easily the fastest thing in Everdoze. His head vibrated in unison with it and his look of intentness carried with it all sorts of friendly expectations. He fairly shook with excitement and cordiality. He followed the sedan car a few yards upon its homeward journey and then, by a sudden impulse, deserted it and returned to a position directly in front of Pee-wee with wagging tail and questioning gaze. Pie seemed to say, “I’m ready for anything, the sky is the limit.”
“You haven’t had a bite to eat since breakfast and you’re starving. I can tell it,” said Aunt Jamsiah. “You come right in the kitchen.”
“I had a lot of frankfurters and things at the places along the highway,” Pee-wee said. “I had waffles at one place. I bet they make a lot of money along that road selling things. There are shacks all the way. All the autoists stop and buy things to eat. You can get tires and everything.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to eat tires,” said Pepsy.
“You think you’re smart, don’t you?” Pee-wee said.
“What are your soldier clothes for?” the girl wanted to know.
“They’re not soldier clothes,” Pee-wee said; “I’m a scout.”
“I bet you don’t know as much as Miss Bellison does.”
“I bet I don’t either,” Pee-wee said, “so I win.”