Part 22 (1/2)
”L-lots of 'em,” says Mark.
”Don't git fresh,” says Jethro.
”I wasn't,” says Mark. ”I was t-t-tellin' the truth.”
”Did you see a kid,” says Jethro, ”that looked like he was runnin'
away?”
”How does a kid l-look that's runnin' away?” Mark asked.
Jethro reached for the whip like he had intentions of taking a lick at us, but he changed his mind.
”You know all the kids in Wicksville,” says he. ”This was a strange one-one you hain't never seen before. See sich a one?”
”No,” says Mark. ”What's he runnin' away for?”
”'Cause he's a ongrateful little skunk,” says Jethro. ”If you see any strange kids sort of hidin' around, you tell me and I'll give you a dollar.”
”You're Mr. Wigglesworth's man, hain't you?” says Mark, like he didn't know.
”Yes,” says Jethro.
”Didn't know you had a b-boy,” says Mark.
”He wasn't mine. I was sort of guardian over him.”
”Oh!” says Mark. ”And he's run off and you want us to help you f-find him?”
Jethro didn't say anything for a minute, but thought it over. Then he says to himself something about kids being all over creation and seeing everything that goes on. After that he says to us:
”You kids make a business of lookin' for this runaway, and I'll pay you five dollars if you find him.”
”Why don't you advertise?” says Mark, and at that Jethro looked sort of startled.
”Look here,” says he, ”no advertisin' goes. This is a secret between you and me. See? You hain't to talk about it to anybody or you don't get no five dollars.”
”Mum's the word,” says Mark.
”You report to me at Wigglesworth's house,” says Jethro, ”if you find out anything.”
”All right,” says Mark, and off drove Jethro. When he was gone Mark turned and winked at me.
”Hired by the enemy,” says he. ”Now there's a way we can get into the Wigglesworth grounds and house any t-t-time we want to without makin'
Jethro suspicious.”
”Sure,” says I, ”but what's this runaway business? Has Rock run off?”
”It l-looks that way,” says Mark,