"Why don't--why--why don't you take a--a--a feller your size ?" he half cried and half panted.
The officers now began to have some glimmerings of the fact that here was a boy who did not belong in Barrel Alley.

They were a little taken aback by the exhibition of so much pride and spirit.

The customary, ominous grip of the collar had not worked.
"What were you doing down here, Sonny ?" Detective Slippett asked.
"I came down to hunt for fellers to start a scout patrol," Pee-wee said, "and one feller was laying keekie for cops and he had to go home so I took his place, because he had to keep his word with those fellers, didn't he?
Maybe you wouldn't promise fellers to do that but, gee whiz, if you did promise them you'd have to keep your word, wouldn't you?
If he sees I help him maybe he'll get to be a scout, won't he?
Do you mean to tell me it isn't more important to be a scout than it is to let fellers get to be arrested?
Even--even Roosevelt said the scouts were important, but he didn't say it was important you should catch fellers, did he ?" "That's some argument," Detective Slippett said, half smiling.
"I know even better arguments than that," Pee-wee boasted.
"Well," said Detective Spotson rather more gruffly, "you'd better look out how you try to interfere with the law, young feller, 'cause first thing you know you'll find yourself in jail.

And you'd better keep away from this outfit down here, too.

Now you chase yourself back to where you belong--see ?" "You thought you were going to scare me, didn't you ?" Pee-wee said..