Hal was going in the same direction, and it affected him like the music of a military band; he too wanted to throw his head up and square his shoulders and keep step. And then other people, seeing the grin on his face, would turn and watch, and grin also. But Jerry walked on gravely, unaware of this circus in the rear. They went into a house; and Hal, having nothing to do but enjoy life, stood waiting for them to come out. They returned in the same procession, only now the man had a sack of something on his shoulder, while the little chap had a smaller load poised in imitation. So Hal grinned again, and when they were opposite him, he said, “Hello.” “Hello,” said Jerry, and stopped. Then, seeing Hal’s grin, he grinned back; and Hal looked at the little chap and grinned, and the little chap grinned back. Jerry, seeing what Hal was grinning at, grinned more than ever; so there stood all three in the middle of the road, grinning at one another for no apparent reason. “Gee, but that’s a great kid!” said Hal. “Gee, you bet!” said Jerry; and he set down his sack. If some one desired to admire the kid, he was willing to stop any length of time. “Yours?” asked Hal. “You bet!” said Jerry, again. “Hello, Buster!” said Hal. “Hello yourself!” said the kid. One could see in a moment that he had been in the “melting-pot.” “What’s your name?” asked Hal. “Jerry,” was the reply. “And what’s his name?” Hal nodded towards the man-- “Big Jerry.” “Got any more like you at home?” “One more,” said Big Jerry. “Baby.” “He ain’t like me,” said Little Jerry. “He’s little.” “And you’re big?” said Hal. “He can’t walk!” “Neither can you walk!” laughed Hal, and caught him up and slung him onto his shoulder. “Come on, we’ll ride!” So Big Jerry took up his sack again, and they started off; only this time it was Hal who fell behind and kept step, squaring his shoulders and flinging out his heels. Little Jerry caught onto the joke, and giggled and kicked his sturdy legs with delight. Big Jerry would look round, not knowing what the joke was, but enjoying it just the same. They came to the three-room cabin which was Both Jerrys’ home; and Mrs. Jerry came to the door, a black-eyed Sicilian girl, who did not look old enough to have even one baby. They had another bout of grinning, at the end of which Big Jerry said, “You come in?” “Sure,” said Hal. “You stay supper,” added the other. “Got spaghetti.” “Gee!” said Hal. “All right, let me stay, and pay for it.” “Hell, no!” said Jerry. “You no pay!” “No! No pay!” cried Mrs. Jerry, shaking her pretty head energetically. “All right,” said Hal, quickly, seeing that he might hurt their feelings. “I’ll stay if you’re sure you have enough.” “Sure, plenty!” said Jerry. “Hey, Rosa?” “Sure, plenty!” said Mrs. Jerry. “Then I’ll stay,” said Hal. “You like spaghetti, Kid?” “Jesus!” cried Little Jerry.