sacrifice heroically. He found Deadwood Gamely in front of Simeon
Drowser's village store, talking with two men who sat in an auto.

The auto was so large and handsome that it looked out of place in
front of Simeon Drowser's store, and the men who occupied it looked
like city men. It encouraged Pee-Wee ( or rather confirmed his
assurance of success) to see this sumptuous car in Everdoze, for it
proved that people did come to that sequestered village. He pictured
these two prosperous looking business men with frankfurters in their
hands, their mouths dripping with mustard.

Pee-Wee was nothing if not self-possessed, his scout uniform was
his protection, and he strode up and spoke quite to the point to the
young fellow who leaned against the car with one foot on the running
board.

"We decided not to take you in as a partner," he said, "because
we want to have it all to ourselves and I came to tell you."

Deadwood Gamely seemed rather taken aback, but whether it was
because of this refusal of his offer, or because Pee-Wee's loud
announcement embarrassed him before the strangers it would be hard
to say. Seeing that the diminutive scout no longer held the deadly
stencil brush he removed Pee-Wee's hat with a swaggering good humor,
ruffled his hair, and said (rather disconcertedly), "All right, kiddo;
so long."

Pee-Wee had anticipated an argument with Gamely and he was surprised
at the promptness and agreeableness of his dismissal. Two things, one
seen and one heard, remained in his memory as he trudged back to the