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ThensheswaggeredintoJohnsy’sroomwithherdrawingboard,whistlingragtime.
Johnsylay,scarcelymakingarippleunderthebedclothes,withherfacetowardthewindow. Suestoppedwhistling,thinkingshewasasleep.
Shearrangedherboardandbeganapen-and-inkdrawingtoillustrateamagazinestory. YoungartistsmustpavetheirwaytoArtbydrawingpicturesformagazinestoriesthatyoungauthorswritetopavetheirwaytoLiterature.
AsSuewassketchingapairofeleganthorseshowridingtrousersandamonocleonthefigureofthehero,anIdahocowboy,sheheardalowsound,severaltimesrepeated. Shewentquicklytothebedside.
Johnsy’seyeswereopenwide. Shewaslookingoutthewindowandcounting—countingbackward.
"Twelve,"shesaid,andalittlelater"eleven;"andthen"ten,"and"nine;"andthen"eight"and"seven,"almosttogether.
Suelookedsolicitouslyoutthewindow. Whatwastheretocount? Therewasonlyabare,drearyyardtobeseen,andtheblanksideofthebrickhousetwentyfeetaway. Anold,oldivyvine,gnarledanddecayedattheroots,climbedhalfwayupthebrickwall. Thecoldbreathofautumnhadstrickenitsleavesfromthevineuntilitsskeletonbranchesclung,almostbare,tothecrumblingbricks.
"Whatisit,dear? "askedSue.
"Six,"saidJohnsy,inalmostawhisper.
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