estion. "Aw, name
somethin'!" he pleaded. "Can't y' think of a pritty that y'd like
awful?"

Cis thought. And having taken some time to turn the suggestion over,
while One-Eye watched her, and Johnnie mentally made up a long list of
possible gifts, "I'd like very much," she faltered, "if I could have a
nice doll."

What was there about the request that seemed to stagger One-Eye? Looking
at him, Johnnie saw that big Adam's-apple move convulsively, while the
green eye swam, and the lantern jaw fell. "A--a doll?" the cowboy
repeated feebly.

Cis knew that somehow she had said the wrong thing, and hastened to ease
the situation. "Oh, just a teeny, weeny one," she compromised. "You see,
Mr. One-Eye, I've never had but one, and I thought before I got _too_
big--because I've seen small dolls that were so sweet!--and I--and
I----"

But there she stopped, blushing painfully. To cover her embarrassment,
she dashed into her closet room and brought out Letitia, ragged dress
and all, as if the sight of the poor beloved would speak for her more
eloquently than she could for herself.

Which proved to be the case. For One-Eye stared at Letitia till that
single eye fairly bored through her sawdust frame. Next he took her up
and turned her about, his lips shut tight. His mustache stood up, he
gulped, and his hand trembled.

Then suddenly he rose. "Got t' go," he announced.

He went. He forgot to shake hands. He pulled the big hat far down across
his forehead. He stubbed his toe on the doorsill.

Cis and Johnnie hung out of the window a long time after, talking low
together, so as not to be overheard by the Gambonis, for the early
December night was surprisingly warm, and the building had all its
windows up. They speculated upon One-Eye's conduct. Johnnie was
distressed--and on two scores: first, that One-Eye should have gone so
abruptly; second, that Cis, when given a chance to ask for something,
had not named a gift worth having, such as another book.

"But you've got more books now than you've had time to read!" she
protested. "And anyhow One-Eye is sure to give you a Christmas present."
She was not cast down, but smiled at the sky, and talked of the new
doll, which she intended to name--Edwarda.

"Should think you'd name her after One-Eye," went on Johnnie; "long's
he's givin' her to you."

"_How_ could I name her after him?" she retorted. "What would I call
her?--Two-Eyes? I'm not going to spoil her by giving her a cra