ttered not
a jot to him. He was threading the woods of spring with Cora and Alice,
Uncas and Heyward.

It was later on, during February, when _The Legends of King Arthur_ were
uppermost in Johnnie's mind, that the flat had a mysterious caller, this
a bald-headed, stocky man wearing a hard black hat, a gray woolly storm
coat, and overshoes. "You Johnnie Smith?" he asked when the door was
opened to his knock.

"Yes, sir."

The man came in, sat without waiting to be asked, and looked around him
with a severe eye. Johnnie was delighted at this unusual interruption.
But Grandpa was scared, and got behind Johnnie. "Is that the General?"
he wanted to know, whispering. "Is that the General?"

"Is your father home?" asked the strange man finally.

"My father's dead," replied Johnnie.

"Ah. Then Mr. Barber's your uncle, eh?"

"He ain't no relation," declared Johnnie, proudly.

The clock alarm announced the hour of five. Johnnie fed the fire and put
the supper over. Still the man stayed. Once he got up and walked about,
stared into the blackness of Big Tom's bedroom, and held the lamp so
that he might have a look at Cis's closet. He grumbled to himself when
he put the lamp down.

All this made Johnnie uneasy. He could think of only one reason for such
strange and suspicious conduct. The books! Could _this_ by any chance be
Mr. J. J. Hunter?

When Barber came in, it was plain to Johnnie that the longshoreman knew
instantly why the man had come. At least he showed no surprise at seeing
him there. Also, he was indifferent--even amused. After nodding to the
visitor, and flashing at him that dangerous white spot, he sat and
pushed at first one cheek and then the other with his tongue.

"My name's Maloney," began the man, using a severe tone. "I'm here about
this boy."

Johnnie started. The man's visit concerned himself! He felt sure now
that it was about the book. He wondered if there would be a search.

Barber thrust out his lip. "You're a long time gittin' here," he
returned impudently. And laughed.

At that the man seemed less sure of himself. "Don't know how I've missed
him," he declared, as if troubled.

"Seein' he's been right here in this flat for five years," said the
other, sneeringly.

Maloney rose, and Johnnie saw that he was angry. "You know the law!" he
asserted. "This boy ought to be in school!"

School! Johnnie caught his breath. Mr. Maloney was here to help him! Had
not Cis declared over and over