"The signal I sent," said Nick, "was read and the one who read it was a
scout. He's the one that stopped the car. The cup was in the car and so
he saved the cup. It's his. He tried to keep his scouting a secret and
he didn't get away with it. He beat Scoutmaster Ned hands down. He left
him guessing. Scoutmaster Ned is easy. But this kid can't put anything
over on _me_; I've got him red-handed; he's a scout and he's got us all
looking like thirty cents. He's a scout and he'll tell the truth, if you
corner him. He won't lie. Here you go, catch this, Pete, hold your
hands steady; if you don't hold them up I'll chuck it plunk in your
face. As sure as I'm standing here I will! _I'm_ making this speech of
presentation, not Scoutmaster Ned. You know so much about the handbook,
remember law one, about telling the truth. Here you go, Peter Piper,
you're the only scout that ever dropped into this Frying-pan. Catch it
or by gosh--"
But he didn't catch it, because his eyes were glistening, and his hands
were trembling, and you can't catch things in such a state.
He stood there like one transfixed, hearing the uproar all about him.
Nervously he stooped and picked up the glittering cup and held it as if
he were afraid of it. Peter Piper, pioneer scout, of Piper's
Crossroads. He would go home famous and rich, a hero, just as his mother
had dreamed that some day he would do....
It was just at that moment that Scout Harris really recovered his voice.
He recovered it in the moment of having an "inspiration." He jumped upon
a barrel, released his teeth from the apple into which he had plunged
them, and dancing like a maniac, sang at the top of his voice:
"Peter Piper picked
A peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers
Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked
A peck of pickled peppers;
Where's the peck of pickled peppers,
Peter
Piper
picked?"
Then, finding the place in the apple where his mammoth bite had been
interrupted by his inspiration, he completed the bite, eating and
singing at the same time.
It was one of the great scout stunts of the season.
* * * * *
_This Isn't All!_
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this books you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store where you got this book.
_Don't throw away the Wrapper_
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But
in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._
* * * * *
THE PEE-WEE HARRIS BOOKS
By PERCY KEESE FITZHUGH
Author of "Tom Slade," "Roy Blakeley," "Westy Martin," Etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account