a strapping if it could
just as well be avoided.

In the area he halted One-Eye, and they talked the matter over. The
latter had no trouble at all in seeing Johnnie's attitude. "Was a boy
myself oncet," he declared. "Used t' git the end of a rope ev'ry little
while--yeppie, the _knot_-end, and that's how----"

But here Johnnie interrupted the story which seemed to be under way in
order to urge some plan of action. However, it did not take long to fix
upon one, this while One-Eye was finishing his cigar, the last inch of
which, he asserted, was the best part, since in the process of smoking
he had drawn into it all "the good" of the whole outward-extending
portion. And while One-Eye smoked, Johnnie, who felt much better, went
over their plan in detail, talking gaily between giggles.

"But, say! You be solemn!" warned One-Eye.

"We don't want t' make 'em all feel _too_ bad, though," argued Johnnie.

"Sonny," counseled the other, "we'll savvy how we oughta behave _after_
we see how the hull proposition strikes the bunch."

Johnnie agreed. But he already knew just how their entrance (which was
nothing short of inspired) would "strike" the flat. He foresaw it all:
first, glad cries of "Johnnie!" from Cis and Grandpa, and a frightened
exclamation from Big Tom, whose anger would instantly melt; next, tears
would flow as those two who were dearest hastened to the prodigal, and
there would be anxious questions, and words of sweet consolation. On the
strength of the return perhaps Barber would even buy pop!

After that, what an affecting picture!--the patient on his bed of
pain--the maiden with cooling cloth and wash basin--the loving and
much-troubled old man who did not dare wheel about for fear of jarring
the hurt arm--a certain square-built lady, rocking this way and that (on
her toes), her face all motherly solicitude--the stranger, with the
gravest possible bedside manner--and, lastly, hovering somewhere in the
offing, the outstanding figure of the whole composition, the humbled
bully.

When Johnnie asked for his bed (which was part of the plan, for those
books must be concealed under the quilt till dark), how they would all
jump to fetch it; and when he asked for tea what an eager bustling,
Barber rattling the stove lids, and--for once!--getting his huge fingers
smudged, and Cis filling the kettle at the Falls of Niagara. The tea
brewed, and Johnnie propped to drink it, with Mrs. Kukor to hold the cup
to his lips