died
away on the stairs. He felt more regret and sorrow over being found
lacking by One-Eye than ever he had felt over a similar discovery made
by Big Tom. He realized that he would do more to win just the smile of
the one than he would to miss the punishment of the other. And there was
a sting in his little interior, as if some one had thrust a needle into
him, and left a sore spot; or as if he had swallowed a crust or a
codfish bone, and it had lodged somewhere.

He gave over thinking about wearing a cattleman's outfit, and began once
more to turn his thoughts inward upon the flat. He sought out _Aladdin_
from the precious pile of books and opened it at the page he had been
reading when One-Eye's voice had fallen for the first time upon his
ears. And at once he was again living with the Chinese boy that story of
stories.

The day sped. Whenever Grandpa interrupted him, Johnnie would go to look
at Cis's apple. He would take it up, and turn it, and smell it. He
looked at it affectionately, remembering who had bought it, had had it
in his hands, and carried it. It brought that dear one close.

"Good One-Eye!" murmured Johnnie, and first making certain that even
Grandpa was not watching, he laid the apple against one of his pale
cheeks. Somehow it comforted him. He pictured Cis's surprise and joy
when, having been told to shut her eyes and put out her hands, she would
see the crimson-skinned gift.

About this he received a cruel shock. For when Cis came slipping in,
with an anxious look around, as if she feared Johnnie might not be
there, and had gone through the--to her--annoying preliminary of shut
eyes and outstretched palms, there was plain disappointment on her face
as she saw what Johnnie had to give her. And when he told her whose gift
it was, far from changing her attitude, and showing the pride he
expected, what she did was to burst into peals of laughter!

It was like a slap in the face. He stared at her, not able to comprehend
how she could belittle a present from such a source. And all at once he
felt himself more in sympathy with Big Tom than he did with her, for Big
Tom at least held One-Eye in high honor, and considered his visit to the
flat a compliment.

Now she added insult to injury. "What a funny thing to give a girl!" she
cried. Then daintily taking a whiff of the fruit, "But then it'll scent
up my box fine." She went to tuck it among her belongings.

Not a word of gratitude! And she was cross