Pee-wee explored the crooked, muddy, sordid street, gazing wistfully here and there for possible recruits.

But no human material was to be seen.

The older boys were playing craps in Dennahan's lot and the smaller boys were watching them.

One lonely sentinel was perched on the fence scanning the horizon for cops.

For this he received the regular union pay of a stale apple-core.
He was an unkempt urchin with an aggressive and challenging countenance, but he had solved several problems in economy.