left behind! He blamed
himself for returning. "O-o-o-o-oh!" he moaned miserably. How mean and
greedy and cruel and awful Big Tom seemed now, measured alongside this
superb stranger!

Yet what Johnnie did not guess was that Barber was overjoyed at his
return; was more relieved at having an excuse for not whipping than
Johnnie was over not being whipped, since punishment might decide the
latter, on some future occasion, to stay away. Indeed, Big Tom had had a
scare.

"Not a bone!" answered One-Eye, almost proudly. "Neat a kick as ever I
seen. Reckon the bucket took up most of it. But it's bad enough. Yas,
ma'am. And it'll be a week afore he oughta use it."

"I want my bed!" quavered Johnnie, remembering that part of the plan.

Cis brought the bedding, and her own snowy pillow, fragrant with orris
root. As she straightened out the clothes and plumped the pillow, Big
Tom stayed in front of the visitor, staring as hard as ever, his great
underlip hanging down, and that big nose taking a sidewise dart every
now and then.

"Well! well! I'm glad y' happened t' bring the kid home," he began
again. "Must be grand country out where you come from. How far West d'
y' live, anyhow? And I'd like your name."

"This is Mister One-Eye," introduced Johnnie, his well arm twined
proudly about the stranger's leathery neck. It was plain that the
longshoreman was powerfully impressed. And Johnnie realized better than
ever that he had brought home a real personage.

"Yep, call me One-Eye and I'll come," declared the personage. "But now
the bed's ready, sonny." He rose and gently deposited Johnnie upon the
pallet. "Now keep quiet," he advised kindly, "so's t' git back some
strength." And to Cis, "Reckon we better give him a swaller o' tea."

Mrs. Kukor, who had been waiting all the while in the hall, and could
stand it no longer, now came rocking in, her olive face picked out with
dimples, it was working so hard, and all her crinkly hair standing
bushily up.

"Is that you, Mother?" cried old Grandpa. "Is that you?"--which misled
One-Eye into the belief that here was another member of the family, one
whom Johnnie had omitted to mention. So the green eye focused upon the
mattress in sorrowful reproof.

But the next instant a burst of dialect set Johnnie right in his new
friend's eye. "Ach, Chonnie!" cried the little Jewish lady. "Vot iss?
Vot iss?"

Her concern pleased One-Eye. He sat down, crossed his knees, and swung a
spur.

Mr