farm. One was a brief case lying on the back seat of the auto on which
was printed WALLACE CONSTRUCTION CO. The other was something he heard
one of the men say after he had returned a little way along the road.

"I didn't think you were such a fool," the man said, evidently to
young Gamely. Within a few seconds more the auto was rolling away.

It seemed to Pee-Wee that Gamely had told the men of his proposal
to join the big enterprise and that they had denounced his wisdom and
judgment.

But Pee-Wee was not the one to be discouraged by that. "Maybe they
know all about construction," he said to himself, "but that's not
saying they know all about refreshment shacks. I bet they don't know
any more about eats than I do." Which in all probability was the case.

On the way back to the farm, Pee-Wee noticed in a field the most
outlandish scarecrow he had ever seen. It was sitting on a stone wall,
and it must have been a brave crow that would have ventured within a
mile of that ridiculous bundle of rags. The face was effectually
concealed by a huge hat as is the case with most scarecrows, and all
the cast-off clothing of Everdoze for centuries back seemed combined
here in incongruous array.

What was Pee-Wee's consternation when he beheld this figure actually
descend from the fence and come shambling over toward him. If the legs
were not on stilts they were certainly the longest legs he had ever
seen, and they must have been suspended by a kind of universal joint
for they moved in every direction while bringing their burden forward.