Meanwhile Pee-Wee went across the lawn and down the road to the
scene of their hapless enterprise. The roadside rest could boast now
of but two jars, one of peppermint sticks and one of gumdrops (both
in rapid process of consumption) and a number of spools of tire tape.
But the absence of doughnuts and sausages and lemonade, this was
nothing. It was the absence of Pepsy that counted.
Pee-Wee took his customary eye-opener, consisting of a gumdrop. He had
to shake the jar to get a red one, that being the kind he preferred.
Then he drew his legs up on the counter and proceeded to work upon
the willow whistle he was making.
His handiwork soon reached that stage of manufacture where it was
necessary to soak the willow bark in water, so as to cause it to swell.
He thereupon distributed the remaining gumdrops impartially between his
mouth and his trousers pocket and filled the empty jar with water,
dropping his handiwork into it. Thus by gradual stages and without any
sensational "closing out sales" the refreshment business was steadily
going into a state of liquidation, even the lemon sticks being reduced
to a liquid. There was no stock on hand now but two peppermint sticks
and some tire tape.
Suddenly a most astonishing thing happened.
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