They hit inter th' highway from Barter, that's what
they done. Them fellers hez con-federates waitin' across th' state line
with Noo York license plates. They made th' line last night; them fellers
gits as fur as they kin on the first go off. Waal, ha ow's refreshments?"
he added, turning upon Pee-Wee.
"You ought to know," Pee-Wee piped up; "you took enough of them."
Which caused a laugh among the store loungers.
"When I wuz a youngster if I sassed my elders I got the hickory
stick," Beriah said. "Yes, and when you grew up you got the
peppermint sticks and doughnuts and things," Pee-Wee shot back.
At this Darius Dragg and Nathaniel Knapp laughed uproariously.
Constable Bungel saw but one way out of his rather embarrassing situation
and that was the old approved device of a box on the ears. The official
slap sounded loud in the little post office and left Pee-Wee's cheek
and ear tingling.
"I'll learn yer how to answer back yer superiors," said Constable
Bungel. "We don't relish sass from city youngsters daown here, you mind
that. Naow yer git along a outer here n' tell yer uncle ter learn yer
some manners n' respect fer th' law."
Pee-Wee faced him, his cheek flushed, his eyes blazing. "You're
a--you're a--coward--and a thief--that's what you are," he shouted.
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