"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.

Ersten was in the cutting room when Johnny again arrived at the
store, and a clerk took his name up very dubiously. The clerk
returned, smiling with extreme graciousness, and informed the caller
that he was to walk straight back. Johnny found Ersten in spectacles
and apron, with a tape-line round his neck and a piece of chalk in
his hand, and wearing a very worried look, while all the workmen in
the room appeared subdued but highly nervous.