The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-08
By ". B. MAxWELL,
c...,,.As se7. by W. .. Maxwell an rishts rssssvsA.
Author of sThe Guarded Fla4es' The Ragged MessengesS
 "vfvan," Ete.

brought his heeis together. took his hands from his pockets. and drew back his shoulders and stood straight and firm. That was the attitude. The memory of 1t made him smile.
 Poor Dick. when upbraided, used to sit siouching with his hands in his peck ets-never look you in the face, just stare at the ceiling. Afterwards he would sulk--never ask you in friendly way to let bygones be bygones. Crunden frowned again as he thought of It..
 "As between palsY' That was a thing poor Dick would never have said. But of course no meaning in 1t really. Cannon! Just your fine-gentieman trick of pleasant speech. Words chos- en with such skill sometimes that they are music to the ear and 'comfort'to the heart.
 AS between good pals!'
 Chapter XVIII
 The Marque sale had proved a dire fiasco--nearly five hundred pounds spent, and absolutely no result. For week or two Crunden suffered from depression of spirits, was silent and thoughtful at meals. absent minded and gloomy in the yard. Then he reused himself and began to, take energetic action. One day he told Bowling that he had determined to start building four decoy houses at once. It had been. originally intended to start with two decoys, but he now decided that he must double the num- Der. Dowling's plans were all ready; the houses would be of the very latest style-quaintTyet handsome, tricky and startling in exterior design but most comfortable and s.convenient inside. There would be fantastic porches. green tiles. bottle glass, hall doors of unvarnished oak studded with nails and spikes; there would be shower baths, electric bells. matches through which the food could slide into the ,dining-room instead of troubling the servants to. carry it fromsthe kitchen; there would. be run-mouldings from America, architraves,s skirtfngs, and chair rails from Sweden-in a word. they would be decoys so attractive that they could scarce fail to lure the shy birds. Builders are like the birds in this. that they like. to- begin building about Valentines day; and Crunden wanted. to get his houses we'll out of the ground by that date. With Dow ling, he carefully selected the best strategic sites-two on the. outside, one at the top of his. new-roads., and one still higher, beyond all roads, close to where the clubhouse used to stand.
  decoy. and would appear inaccessible until success made 1t. worth one's While to bring the roads up to it.
 One must be bold when hesitation and delay will be fatal. The great London and Suburban Land Trust were now giving attention to their Hill House estate. Their boards were up. and words on the boards showed clear ly what redoubtable neighbors and rivals this company would be. Money advanced on easy terms"--tiiat was the company's large-lettered message: -"Three-quarters of D chase may be left at low rate of interest,"
 Mir. Parrot, in conversation with Crunden, quoted 2 this announcement two days after the company's boards were first seen. MT, Parrot was the builder from Reigate who had taken six plots, and thereon was to build three more rows of cottages. He had signed his agreement, but he had done nothing further; he was, he said. finish ing his Reigate jobs--must finish there before he could begin here. q hope" said Crunden stern1y, T haven't got hold of man of straw"
 "Oh, mo-" said Parrot indignantly. ''Nothing of the sort. But never told you was made of money. And if you want to be off with the bargain, say so and you're welcome. I shall only have to walkfup the road to get ground --yes. and money, too"
 They won't give you ground for cottages, MT. Parrot"
 q ain't particular what build especially when I'm being financed on easy terms"
 Crunden concealed his discontent, af- fected to be satisfied with Parrots ex- cuses for dilatoriness. politely express