here was no chair for him), ate his own small
pie and cogitated philosophically. Big Tom had not repaid a good turn
with gratitude. But then at least he had been no uglier than usual; had
not stormed about wasting biscuit dough and sugar, as he might easily
have done. He had been just his ordinary self, which was something to be
thankful for.

"Would y' bring home a can of salmon fish for t'morrow supper when y'
come in t'night?" Johnnie asked. (He longed to try that scout recipe!)

To that, Barber did not commit himself.

When Johnnie and Cis were left alone, old Grandpa being already abed,
Johnnie did not try to win her interest in the Handbook, or share with
her the new and absorbing thinks it inspired. Since that unhappy ending
to the procession of the bath, with its wailing protest, and its tears,
with nice consideration he had not again so much as broached a pretend
to her. She sat at the window in the warm twilight, busy--or so it
seemed--with her fingernails, which these days consumed a great deal of
her time. Johnnie took down the clothesline and fell to making Knots
Every Scout Should Know.

But that night on the roof! What a revel there was of brave scout
doings, of gentlemanly conduct!--all witnessed by a large, fat moon. He
wigwagged messages of great portent to phantom scouts who were in dire
need. He helped blind men across streets that ran down the whole length
of the roof. He held back pressing crowds while the police were rendered
speechless with admiration. He swept off his scout headgear to scores of
motherly ladies in three-cornered shawls; wrapped up the sore paws of
stray dogs; soothed weeping children; straightened the blankets on
numbers of storm-blown horses standing humped against the bitter wind
and rain; and pointed out the right road to many a laden and bewhiskered
traveler.

But when his bed claimed him, and he was free to do a little quiet
thinking, it occurred to him that he had not strung a single bead that
day, nor made one violet. Did this not number him among the breakers of
that first law?--"by not doing exactly a given task." There was not the
least doubt of it! "My!" he exclaimed. "I'm 'fraid them laws 're goin'
t' be a' awful bother!"

Nevertheless, the following day, he did not fail to keep them in mind.
Though Barber had so ill repaid his efforts to please, though no can of
salmon had been forthcoming as requested, he did not punish the
longshoreman that morning. Life se