than a--than a tomato could--I will. You come ten steps nearer, I dare
you to."

Gamely paused irresolute, at which Pepsy, under protection of her
partner's terrible threat, set up a provoking laugh. Wiggle,
appearing to sense the situation, began to bark up-roariously. There
was nothing for the baffled village sport to do but retreat as
gracefully as he could.

"Can't you take a joke?" he said weakly. "Do you think I'd hurt you?"

"I know you wouldn't," said Pee-Wee; "you wouldn't get the chance.
You think you're smart, don't you, talking about the wagon coming to
get her and getting her all scared."

Deadwood Gamely broke into a very excessive but false laugh. "No
harm intended," he said, vaulting on to the fence and sitting
discreetly at that distance. "What's all this going on here? Going to
have a circus or play store or something?"

Pee-Wee was always magnanimous in victory. Abiding enmity was a
thing he knew not. So now he laid down his stencil brush (within easy
reach) and said, "We're going to start a refreshment shack and sell
fruit and lemonade and waffles and things and maybe auto accessories
and souvenirs."

Pepsy seemed a bit uncomfortable as Pee-Wee said this, perhaps just
a trifle ashamed. She was afraid that this clever, sophisticated young
fellow would ridicule their enterprise, as indeed there was good reason
to do. Yet she felt ashamed, too, of her momentary faithlessness to