afraid no two people would ever agree as to which is our best
book," said the latter. "But if you'll tell me what you like, I'll do my
best to find something that'll suit you."

Johnnie, glancing about, reflected that, without question, Cis's speller
had come from this very room! The arithmetic, too!

"Got any spellers to-day?" he inquired casually--just to show them all
that he knew a thing or two about books.

"In several languages," returned the man, quite calmly.

"I like Aladdin better," announced Johnnie. Then trying not to sound too
proud, "I got it here with me right now." Whereupon he reached into the
baggy shirt and drew forth Mrs. Kukor's gift.

"Bless his heart!" cried a woman. "He _does_ love them!"

To Johnnie this seemed a foolish remark. Love them? Who did not? "If
you got another as good as this one," he went on, "I'd like t' buy it."

The red-headed man took _Aladdin_. Then he shook his head. The group was
moving away now, and he and Johnnie were to themselves. "I'm afraid this
book would be hard to equal," he said earnestly. "They aren't writing
any more just like it--which is a pity. But you stay here and I'll see
what I can find." He gave _Aladdin_ back, and hurried off.

There was a chair behind Johnnie. He sat down, his two precious books
and the dollar on his knees. Then once more he looked up and around,
marveling.

He was aware that several of those who had been in the group were now
talking together at a little distance. They seemed a trifle excited. The
red-headed man joined them for a moment, listened to what they had to
say, and took some money from each of them (Johnnie concluded that all
were bookbuyers like himself) before hurrying on between two high walls
of books. In anticipation of more literary possessions, Johnnie now
slipped his two volumes inside the shirt, one to the right, one to the
left, so that they would not meet and mar each other.

When the red-headed man came back, he brought three books, all new and
handsome. "I think you'll like these," he declared. "See--this one's
called _The Legends of King Arthur and his Knights_, and this one is
_The Last of the Mohicans_, and here's _Treasure Island_."

"Much obliged," said Johnnie, heartily. His eyes shone as he gathered
the books to him. His one thought now was to get away and read, read,
read. Quickly he proffered the dollar bill.

"Oh, you keep the money," said the red-headed man "You'll need it for
something el