The terrible responsibility
of suspenders was borne by a single strand consisting of a key ring
chain connected with a shoe lace and this ran through a harness pin
which, if the worst came to the worst, would act as a sort of emergency
stop. Licorice Stick was built in the shape of a right angle, his feet
being almost as long as his body and they flapped down like carpet
beaters when he walked.
"You stayin' wib Uncle Eb?" he asked. "I seed yer yes' day. I done
hear yer start a sto."
"A what?" Pee-Wee asked, as they walked along together.
"A sto-- you sell eats, hey?"
"Oh, you mean a store," Pee-Wee said.
"I help you," said the lanky stranger; "me'n Pepsy, we good friends.
She hab to go back to dat workhouse, de bridge it say so. Dat bridge am
a sperrit."
"You're crazy," Pee-Wee said. "What's the use of being scared at an
old rattly bridge. If you want to help us I'll tell you how you can do
it. I made a lot of signs and you can tack them all up on the trees
along the road for us if you want to. I'll show you just how to do it."
No one was at the shack when they reached it for Pepsy was about
her household duties, so she had no knowledge of this new recruit in
their enterprise. Pee-Wee's conscience was clear in this matter,
however, for he had enlisted Licorice Stick as an employee, at the
staggering salary of twenty-five cents a week; there was no thought
of his being a partner.
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