“There may be a short circuit in the minute hand,” Harry said.
“That watch is right!” the kid shouted. “That’s a boy scout watch and it’s guaranteed for a year.”
“Well, it’s an hour ahead of the game,” Harry said. “You ask any one of these gentlemen the correct time.”
Oh, boy, I had to laugh. Pee-wee went through the aisle holding his precious old boy scout watch in his hand, asking the different passengers what time it was. Every single one of them took out his watch and showed the kid how he was an hour wrong. All of a sudden, in came the conductor and Harry winked at him and said, “What’s the correct time, Cap?”
“Eight thirty-eight,” the conductor said.
Harry said, “There you are, Kiddo; what have you got to say now?”
Gee whiz, the kid didn’t have anything to say. He just stood there gaping at his watch and then staring around and the passengers could hardly keep straight faces.
The conductor caught on to the joke and he winked at Harry and said, “Those toy watches aren’t expected to keep time.”
Harry said, “Oh, no, but he’ll have a real watch when he grows up. He’s young yet. He can take this one apart and have a lot of fun with the works.”
“Somebody set this watch ahead—some of you fellows did!” Pee-wee shouted. “It was right last night. It keeps good time. Somebody played a trick on me! This is a what-do-you-call-it—a conspiracy. You’re all in it.”