The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-21
HLLRLSE
(Continued. CHATTER XXIII

CHAPTER 1XIn
 It was nearly noon on peauuIN, morning towards the end or Aprll. sna Jack was inspecting the work at the laat of the decoy houses. A week ago Crunden had slipped in stepping orr . ladder and had wrenched the mus. cles of one leg. Since then ne nao been confined to Kings Cottage. nurs- ing the injured leg under the dtrec- tions of pr. Blake; and Jack. as depu- ty, had been in charge of yard. estate everything. Y really finished soon; the first fioor was practically completed and paint CT was giving last touches; grates were befn1 set on the basement floor; two plasterers were doing something In the kitchen; carpenters were busy outside the house on gates and fences. There were in all eight men on the Jop ; and the foreman showed JACK now iit- tie remained now to do.
 ssThose Yank doors," said the fore. man, pointing to an empty doorway, fare moro trouble than they're worth. We, could make them in our own shop in less time than it takes to fit them. I've sent two back to the yard again can't get them to hang and swing like they should"
 Then the foreman left Jack as depu- ty foreman, and went off to the Joiners' shop at the yard. ,,,
 sif you don't mind staying till twelve, sir. It only wants a quarter to- Here's my whistle--if you'll kind- ly blow up at twelve sharp.
 Jack took the foreman's whistle, promised to give the signal at hfgh noon for the. men to knock off work; and then, sitting on pile of fence boards outside the house, waited patiently.
 It was warm in the bright sunlight. and the gentle breeze was sweet anu fresh; the gaiety of spring was m ,ne air; all the landscape looked as new and clean as the decoy-house ftseir' From the open windows came the cheerful voices of the men, the tapping of the carpenters hammer. the swisn, ing sound of the plasterer's brush ana high over head there was a chatter oI birds on the wing. Presently, when ne looked up, he saw the birds were swal- lows. These spring visitors had re- turned then. It was the first tune he had seen them this year. ana TOT a little while he watched them cling ing to the newly painted cornice, cius- tering on the glittering new tiles circling round the unsmoked chimney pots, crying to one another in surprise and delight, as though MT. Crunden's house had been built for them. and they had just arrived to take possess sion of it. Then. patiently waiting for noon, Jack watched a far-off solitary figure crossing the grass by the new road. It was child or woman com ing up the slope It was young woman in straw hat. His eyes frightened as he recognized her; 1t was Lizzie Crunden, coming to seek him, no doubt bearing some message from her father
 Lizzie had not been sent; she had come of her own accord. She wanted Jack at the cottage. to cheer up father. MT. Crunden. she said, was dreadfully depressed and rather fretful. He had been upset by some letter; he wanted to be out and about. and it was diff ficult to prevent him from disobeying pr Biake's orders; she thought Jack might be able to calm him and to cheer him. Jack talked to her first of Mir Crunden. then of the swallows, then of the glorious spring day and, talk ing forgot to blow. up. 6.tsS .s
 q say, Guv-nors Mister Vim cent--piease' ',4 A carpenter was look ing out of a window; plasterer. brush in hand. was on the threshold: the two men at the fence were watching him anxiously q say, Guv'nor, ain't 1t dinner time--time to knock off?''-
 Hastily Jack pulled out his watch. lifted his whistle, and blew up. And