Part 19 (1/2)
”That you're not a murderer”
”I always said you were not,” Westy added
”No friend of ours is a o back to raising lad we've got our old car to go to”
”Sa for a little in silence
”Will they hang him, I wonder?” Doc Carson asked
”He must have been out of his head when he did it,” one answered
”He was out of his head when he _didn't_ do it, you mean,” insisted Pee-wee ”Do you think the Silver Foxes commit ood of an argu suddenly upon Roy; ”do you mean to tell me that the felloho saved your life like that would kill people?”
”Just because I like you, that doesn't prove that I'm out of my head, does it?” Roy asked with a kind of wistful humor
”Sure it does,” said Pee-wee, ”because you say a friend of yours kills people If it wasn't for hi now, so that proves the kind of a fellow he is I don't mean he made you limp, but he made you stay alive so you could limp, and he doesn't even know that you thank hian; he could hardly speak ”I do--”
”All right then,” Pee-wee concluded ”Didn't I tell you I was going to find that girl, and didn't I find her? Didn't I send that letter? Didn't I say that scout up at Teet well? Couldn't I always tell ere going to have apple duo and believe an old picture and a lot of specific vacations or whatever you call the loyal--you're such a fine patrol leader--you act on!”
”What do you
”The fellows--”
”I don't care about the troop,” Pee-wee interrupted ”I' about you and the fellow that saved your life” He paused in the road and stood facing Roy; a funny little round-faced figure he ith eyes blazing ”You've got to say, is he a ot to say it Yes or no? And these fellows--your own patrol--they can prove what you say--”
Roy was al Pee-wee certainly held the floor--or the road
”The men--Mr Ferrett--they know better than we do, Kid Blythe is the one whose picture--”
”You say yes or no,” Pee-wee demanded in a voice of thunder ”They lifted hiht and so now you're alive and you can _speak_ Is he ato pieces The little scout whom he had always found it so easy to jolly, towered over hiiant
”I--no he--_no he isn't_--he isn't, Kid,” Roy stammered
Without another word Pee-wee hooked his duffel bag to the end of his scout staff, after the fashi+on of a Swiss peasant, and carrying the staff over his shoulder,hero, as if he preferred not to be seen hiking with such people
CHAPTER XXVIII
HOME SWEET HOME
The sturdy little scout did not long walk alone Roy, visibly affected, li a word, and hobbled along at his side And presently Warde Hollister, quiet, thoughtful, and always somewhat a puzzle to the other scouts, joined them ”I'm with you, Kiddo,” he said Pee-wee did not appear to care ith him and as not His own stout little scout heart ith hih
And so these three who had taken the hike to Woodcliff, and discovered the tell-tale notice, and mailed the formidable envelope to soether now, and the resolute, loyal, unreasoning spirit of Pee-wee Harris was like a contagion, giving the others hope where indeed there see like cheer