Thanks everyone. I'm all fixed up. Tim, I bled the brakes again and did follow the proper sequence and did have a helper this time, and did have the hose end submerged in waste fluid. It seems to me that if one pump of the pedal doesn't clear all the bubbles, I should close the bleeder valve before releasing the pedal to keep the air from getting sucked back into the line. Then open the valve again before the next pedal push. Seems logical. Hope I didn't waste my time. In any case, I have brakes!
I guess I do have a leak, and it seems that brake fluid doesn't leave an oily stain, because it's glycol based. So not seeing a stain on the floor or cardboard doesn't mean I don't have a leak, I assume.
