Part 27 (1/2)

”That's what I told Ersten,” stated Johnny. ”He's worried stiff about it! I think he'll move so you have a lighter workroom if you go back.”

”When he moves I come.”

”He won't move till you do.”

”Then there is nothing,” concluded Schnitt resignedly, and stooped over to pull another weed. ”Mama, maybe Mr. Gamble likes some of that wine Carrie's husband made the year he died.”

”Ja voll,” a.s.sented Mamma Schnitt heartily, and toddled away to get it.

”I'll fix it for you,” offered Johnny. ”You go to Ersten and say you will come back; then Ersten will get a new place before you start to work.”

Heinrich straightened up with alacrity this time, his face fairly s.h.i.+ning with pleasure.

”I do that much,” he agreed.

”Good!” approved Johnny. ”You want to be careful what you say, though, for Ersten is stubborn.”

”He is stubborn like a mule,” Schnitt pointed out with sober gravity.

”You must say you have come back to work in that place.”

”I'll never do it!” indignantly declared Heinrich, his face lengthening.

”Certainly not,” agreed Johnny hurriedly. ”You tell him you want a month to rest up your eyes.”

”I don't need it!” protested Heinrich.

”You only say that so you won't have to work in that shop, but, never mind, I'll fix it so he offers it,” patiently explained Johnny, and proceeded to make it perfectly plain. ”You say that you have come back to work. Don't say another word.”

”I have come back to work,” repeated Schnitt.

”Then Ersten will ask you: 'In this place?' You say: 'Yes.'”

Heinrich began to shake his head vigorously, but Johnny gave him no chance to refuse.

”You say: 'Yes'!” he emphatically insisted. ”Ersten will tell you to take a month off to rest your eyes.”

Again Heinrich started to shake his head, and again Johnny hurried on.

”You say: 'Thank you',” he directed; ”then you go away. Before your month is up, Ersten will send for you in a new shop!”

”Will he promise it?”

”No,” confessed Johnny. ”I promised it but Ersten will do it.”

Heinrich pondered the matter long and soberly.

”All right; I try it,” he agreed.

”Three cheers!” said Johnny with a huge sigh of relief. ”I'll be back after you in about an hour.” And he reluctantly paused long enough to drink some of the wine which Carrie's husband helped to make. It was probably good wine.