"It's just a club," began Lafe, "only good to keep a body happy. Now, me--well, I'm happy in spite a-havin' no legs; Jinnie there, she's happy in spite a-havin' no folks. Her and me's happy in spite a everything." Bobbie stood alongside Lafe's bench, one busy set of fingers picking rhythmically at the cobbler's coat, the other having sought and found his hand. "I want to be in the club, cobbler," he whispered. Mr. Grandoken stooped and kissed the quivering face. "An' you'll be happy in spite a havin' no eyes?" he questioned. The little boy, pressing his cheek against the man's arm, cooed in delight. "And happy in spite of not finding your mother right yet?" interjected Jinnie. "Yes, yes, 'cause I _am_ happy. I got my beautiful Peggy, ain't I? And don't she make me a hull lot of fine soup, and ain't I got Lafe, Happy Pete----" "You got me, too, Bobbie," Jinnie reminded him gently. Bobbie acquiesced by a quick bend of his head, and Lafe grasped his hand. "Now you're a member of the 'Happy in Spite', Bob," said he smiling. "This club is what I call a growin' affair. Four members----" "Everybody's in," burst forth Jinnie. "Except Peggy," sighed Lafe. "Some day something'll bring her in, too." CHAPTER XVI JINNIE'S EAR GETS A TWEAK Bobbie had been at the Grandoken home scarcely a week before Jinnie again got into difficulty. One morning, wide-awake, beside the blind boy, she happened to glance toward the door. There stood Peg, her face distorted by rage, staring at her with terrible eyes. Jinnie sat up in a twinkling. "What is it, Peggy, dear?" she faltered. "What have I done now?" Without reply, Peggy marched to the bed and took the girl by the ear. In this way she pulled her to the floor, walking her ahead of her to the kitchen. "I don't know what I've done, Peggy," repeated Jinnie, meekly. "I'll show you. You'll know, all right, miss! Now if you've eyes, squint down there!" She was pointing to the floor, and as the room was rather dark, Jinnie at first could discern nothing. Then as her eyes became accustomed to the shadows, she saw---- "Oh, what is it, Peggy? Oh, my! Oh, my!" Peggy gave her a rough little shake. "I'll tell you what, Jinnie Grandoken, without any more ado. Well, they're cats, just plain everyday cats! Another batch of Miss Milly Ann's kits, if y' want to know. They can't stay in this house, miss, an' when I say a thing, I mean it! My word's law in this shanty!" She was still holding the girl's ear, and suddenly gave it another tweak. Jinnie pulled this tender member from Peggy's fingers with a delighted little chuckle. "Peggy darling, aren't they sweet? Oh, Peggy----" "Ain't they sweet?" mimicked Peggy. "They're just sweet 'nough to get chucked out. Now, you get dressed, an' take 'em somewhere. D' you hear?"