Finally he was ready to begin reading. He was loyal to his friend
Aladdin then, whom he had left, on the fatal stroke of twelve, in rather
dire straits. The Oriental wonder book on his knees, he resumed the
enthralling story, his lips and fingers moving, and--in the excitement
of it all--his misty eyebrows twisting like two caterpillars.

Pedestrians hurried past him, motor vehicles and surface-cars sped
by--for Fourth Avenue lay in front; but what he saw was Aladdin in
chains; Aladdin before the executioner; Aladdin pardoned, yet aghast
over the loss of his palace and the beloved Buddir al Buddoor, and ready
to take his own life.

The afternoon went swiftly. Evening came. But the nearest street lamp
was lighted in advance of the dark. Engrossed by the awful drama
transpiring in Africa, where Aladdin and his Princess were plotting to
rid themselves of the magician, Johnnie did not know when lamplight took
the place of daylight.

_The Princess, who began to be tired with this impertinent declaration
of the African magician, interrupted him and said, "Let us drink first,
and then say what you will afterwards;" at the same time she set the cup
to her lips, while the African magician, who was eager to get his wine
off first, drank up the very last drop. In finishing it, he had reclined
his head back to show his eagerness, and remained some time in that
state. The Princess kept the cup at her lips, till she saw his eyes turn
in his head----_

"Hurrah!" cried Johnnie, relieved at this fortunate end of the crisis,
for his very hair was damp with anxiety. "His eyes've turned in his
head!"

"Wal, by the Great Horn Spoon!"

This strange exclamation, drawled in a nasal tone, came from the steps
at his back. He started up, jerking sidewise to get out of reach of the
hands that belonged to the voice, and clutching his book to him. But as
he faced the speaker, who was peering down at him from the top of the
steps, wonder took the place of apprehension.

For to his astonished and enraptured gaze was vouchsafed a most
interesting man--a man far and beyond and above anybody he had ever
before beheld in the flesh. This person was tall and slender, and wore a
blue shirt, a plaid vest hanging open but kept together with a leather
watchchain, a wide, high, gray hat, and--most wonderful of all--a pair
of breeches which, all down the front, were as hairy as any dog!

It was the breeches that gave the stranger his startling and admi