terrible lickin'."

"Mm." The one-eyed man seemed to understand; then, presently, "Your
paw?--or your maw?"

"No relation at _all_," protested Johnnie. "Just the man where I live."

"He feeds y' O. K.," put in the other. "I was noticin' back yonder in
the chuck-house how plump y' are."

Johnnie said nothing. There were things he could tell, if he wanted to,
which had to do with comparisons between Aunt Sophie's table and Big
Tom's. But these things would contradict the one-eyed man; and Johnnie
knew from experience that grown-ups do not like to be contradicted.

Just ahead was that great palace, lifting dark towers against the
glowing night sky. If the one-eyed man lived there, if the palace
actually contained a garden (and it seemed large enough to contain any
number of gardens), Johnnie wanted, if possible, to spend some time
under that vast roof. So it was wise not to say anything that might
bring him into disfavor; especially when what he wanted most now was
shelter and a reading light.

He grasped the other's hand firmly and flashed up what was intended for
a beguiling smile. "He don't ever feed me like _you_ do," he declared,
with dazzling diplomacy.

The compliment was grandly passed over. "But he shore dresses y'
tiptop!" was the next assertion.

At that, some inkling of the other's real meaning came to Johnnie. He
tried, but in vain, to catch that single eye. But even in the half light
it was busy taking in every detail of Big Tom's shirt and trousers.
"Y'--y' think so?" Johnnie ventured, ready to laugh.

"Think so!" cried the one-eyed man, spiritedly. "W'y, he must jes' about
go broke at it! Lookee! Twicet as much shirt as y' need, and at least
five times as much pants!"

Certainly there was no denying the statement. However, there was another
side to Barber's generosity that Johnnie longed to discuss. Yet once
more he decided to invite no argument. "It'll be worse if I had t' wear
girl's clothes," was what he returned, philosophically.

The street was dark just there. He was not able to mark the facial
expression which now accompanied a curious sound from the region of the
Adam's apple. But when the light at the palace corner was reached, a
quick glance showed a stern visage, with mouth set hard and that green
eye burning. And Johnnie's heart went out of him, for now he doubted
again.

They paused at the foot of those steps. "Do y' go t' school?" asked the
one-eyed man.

Johnnie shook his he