and from it
conducted his raids upon the tenants' kitchens with an impartiality
which, if it did not disarm, at least had stayed the hand of vengeance
so far.

That he gave great provocation not even his stanchest boy friend could
deny. His pursuit of information was persistent. The sight of Jocko
cracking stolen eggs on the stairs to see the yolk run out and then
investigating the empty shell with grave concern was cheering to the
children, but usually provoked a shower of execrations and
scrubbing-brushes from the despoiled households.

When the postman's call was heard in the hall, Jocko was on hand to
receive the mail. Once he did receive it, the impartial zeal with
which he distributed the letters to friend and foe brought forth more
scrubbing-brushes, and Jocko retired to his attic aerie, there to
ponder with Jim, his usual companion when in disgrace, the relation
of eggs and letters and scrubbing-brushes in a world that seemed all
awry to their simple minds.

The sense was heavy upon them this day as they sat silently brooding
on the stairs, Jim glum and hopeless, with his arms buried to the
elbow in his trousers pockets, Jocko, a world of care in his wrinkled
face, humped upon the step at his shoulder with limp tail. The rain
beat upon the roof in fitful showers, and the April storm rattled the
crazy shutters, adding to the depression of the two.

Jim broke the silence when a blast fiercer than the rest shook the old
house. "'Tain't right," he said dolefully, "I know it ain't, Jock!
There's Tom and Foley gone off an' 'listed, and them only four years
older nor me. What's four years?" This with a sniff of contempt.

Jocko gazed straight ahead. Four years of scrubbing-brushes and
stealthy grabs at his tail on the stairs! To Jocko they were a long,
long time.

"An' dad!" wailed Jim, unheeding. "I hear him tell Mr. Murphy himself
that he was a drummer-boy in the war, and he won't let me at them
dagoes!"

A slightly upward curl of Jocko's tail testified to his sympathy.

"I seen 'em march to de camp with their guns and drums." There was a
catch in Jim's voice now. "And Susie's feller was there in
soger-clo'es, Jock--soger-clo'es!"

Jim broke down in desolation and despair at the recollection. Jocko
hitched as close to him as the step would let him, and brought his
shaggy side against the boy's jacket in mute compassion. So they sat
in silence until suddenly Jim got up and strode across the floor
twice.