"Don't tell anybody I told him," Pee-Wee whispered to Pepsy, "or
you'll spoil it all and they won't give him the money."
"Suppose he tells himself," Pepsy said.
But Officer Bungel did not tell of the keen eyes and scout skill
which had put him in the way of profit and glory. For he was like the
whole race of Beriah Bungels the world over, officious, ignorant,
contemptible, grafting, shaming human nature and making thieving
fugitives look manly by comparison.
Everdoze was greatly aroused by this epoch making incident.
Even a few stragglers from Berryville followed the crowd back
as far as Uncle Ebenezer's farm and Pee-Wee tried to tempt them
into the ways of the spendthrift with taffy and other delights
which cause the reckless to fall. But it was of no use.
"I bet if there was a murder we could sell a lot," he said.
"Motorcycle thief crowds aren't very big. If the town hall burned
down I bet we'd do a lot of business. I wish the school-house would
burn down, hey? Murders and fires, those, are the best, especially
murders, because lots of people come."
"I like fires better," Pepsy said. "Lots and lots and lots of
people go to fires."
"Yes, and they get thirsty watching them, too," said Pee-Wee.
"That's the time to shout, ice cold lemonade.
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