s he went by to look
after him. Others smiled, for the contrast between the boy and his
armful of blossoms was comical. A few looked severe, as if they
suspicioned that he had not come by the bouquet honestly. Now and then a
boy called to him, or ran alongside. At a corner, two girls caught at
one of the buds, missed it, then scampered out of reach, squealing. His
chin up, his eyes up, he ignored them all.

On and on he sauntered--west, then north. Perhaps he might go as far as
that store where New York bought all of its books. Being Sunday, of
course, the store would be closed. But it would be fine to have a look
in at the windows. From the book shop he would swing east again, for a
glimpse of the horse palace. It might just happen that One-Eye would be
back! Oh, if only----!

"Hey there!"

Somehow he knew that the call was at him. And though it was a man who
was hailing him, he pretended that he did not hear. But a whistle
blew--a police whistle. Instantly he brought up. According to one of
those twelve laws in the Handbook, a scout is obedient to "all other
duly constituted authorities," and Mr. Perkins had explained that
"constituted authorities" is simply a big word way, and a nice way, of
saying "cops." Johnnie turned about; and there was the large figure in
official blue, from whose gray mustache a whistle was at that moment
descending.

The policeman was standing in front of a grocery store. Shoulder to
shoulder with him was another man who was even larger--taller, and
wider, and thicker through. About this man's dress there was something
strange. He had on no tie. Instead, laid neatly below the narrow line of
his white collar was a smooth triangle of black.

Johnnie marched straight up to the two. "Yes, sir?" he said to the
patrolman. (He would have saluted if he had had a free hand.)

The patrolman stared, open-mouthed. Naturally enough he had jumped to
the conclusion, as some others had, that this boy in cast-off clothes
had not come by a valuable bouquet through purchase. He had expected
that Johnnie, when challenged, would promptly take to his heels. And
here----!

The gentleman who had on no tie was also staring in amaze. Externally
this boy with the roses was a guttersnipe. But--who in all his life ever
before saw a guttersnipe with eyes so lacking in cunning and roguery?
eyes, clear, honest, fearless, manly? "And that bright," the gentleman
declared, but as if he were talking only to himself, "t