“Come and read it! Come and read it!” shouted little Silas Knapp as he madly intercepted Pee-wee who, as I have said, was about to run to the house. “It’s a monolopy or somethin’ like that—Mr. Browser says so! Come and read it!”
So before going to the house Pee-wee went and read it. He did not know that the stern phraseology had been penned ever so tenderly and with a twinkle in the eye of the writer. He did not know that it was a tribute (or shall we say the repayment of a good turn?) to the little red-headed girl, who, all unaware of this hubbub, was sleeping in her little bedroom under the eaves. Strange that such a little girl could thus shake her fist by proxy at the grasping villagers!
NOTICE
The property on both sides of the road from two miles north of the Everdoze line to the boundary of Ebenezer Quig’s farm, is of private ownership.
Any one attempting to sell or vend or who erects any tent or shack for such purpose upon said property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Ira C. Jensen.
So Pepsy had kept her word after all, her one poor little investment of kindness had paid a hundred percent dividend, and the partners were the owners of a monopoly, or a monolopy, whichever you choose to call it.
CHAPTER XXXI
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
Along the road and over the stone wall and straight across the bed of tiger-lilies sped Pee-wee, using his own particular mode of scout pace, patent not applied for. Across the side porch and into the kitchen he went, pell-mell, shouting in a voice to crack the heavens.