cisely like the one Johnnie had worn when he first came to the Barber
flat--except, of course, that it was larger). The marble-topped table
and the fat chairs folded themselves up out of sight. And all those
delicious fruit pies dissolved into thin air.

But one thing did not go: A sense of satisfaction. Having met his enemy
before the world, and conquered him; having spent his own anger and
loathing, and revenged the other's hated touch, his gray eyes held a
pleased, proud look. Once more in the soiled big shirt and trousers,
with the strap coiled about his middle, he could put Barber aside for
the day--not brood about him, harboring ill-will, nor sulk and fret.

Now he was ready for "thinks" of a different sort--adventures that were
wholly delightful.

A feeling of joy surged through him. Ahead lay fully nine unhampered
hours. He pivoted like a top. His arms tossed. Then, like a spring from
which a weight has been lifted, like a cork flying out of a charged
bottle, he did a high, leaping hop-skip straight into the air.

"Wow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" he sang out full-throatedly. "Rr-r-r-r!
ree-ee-ee!"--and explosively, "Brt! brt! brt! _bing!_"

CHAPTER III

A FEAST AND AN EXCURSION

NINE free hours!--or, to be exact, eight, since the best part of one
would have to be devoted to the flat in order to avoid trouble. However,
Johnnie never did his work any sooner than he actually had to; and that
hour of labor should be, as always, the last of the nine, this for the
sake of obeying Big Tom at the latest possible time, of circumventing
his wishes, and thwarting and outwitting him, just to the degree that
safety permitted.

So! For eight hours Johnnie would live his dreams. And, oh, the things
he could do! the things!

But before he could begin the real business of the day, he had to put
Grandpa to sleep again. This was best accomplished through tiring the
little old man with a long, exciting train trip. "Oo, Grandpa!" cried
Johnnie. "Who wants to go ride-ride on the cars?"

"Cars! cars! cars!" shrilled Grandpa, his white-lashed, milky-blue eyes
dancing. At once, impatiently, he fell to tapping on the floor with his
cane, while, using his other hand, he swung the wheel chair in a circle.
Across his shrunken chest, from one side of the chair to the other, was
a strand of rope that kept him from tumbling out of his seat. To hasten
the promised departure, he began to throw his weight alternately against
the rope and th