Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
CHAPTER Xxx.

on-with little success. Jack was indeed
putting his back into it; admitted now
fully TO the confidence of his employer,
he could render himself far more useful
than hitherto. AS he had said, Mr.. Crun-
denis ship was Certainly not sinking; but
the order had been given to shorten
SAIL" That Is always wise order when
there is doubtful weather about; but no
one need take alarm wnen 1t Is heard.
1t is not for instance, such an order as
"All hands to the pumps" When that
comes through the speaking trumpet even
the rats may be excused Tor feellng nerv-
Gus. MIR. Crunden, then, as precau-
tionary measure was trying to close the
yard. = All the cottages were finished; ne
was keeping only the smallest possible
staff for the completion of the last and
innermost of the decoy houses. \. men that
was done. the gates beneath the old arch
way would be shut and padlocked-unless
dirty Stevens. the dairyman, cared to
come back, as tenant.
Meanwhile, with less to do at the yard
in practical work, Jack threw himself
upon The financial and purely business
side Of affairs. He went here and there
about the country, seeking substantial
adventures and flouting men of straw;
he had devised plans for obtaining pub
licity on the cheapest terms-advertising
boardings to be erected, space let to cover
cost, other space exchange for Crunden
advertisements all over England; he had
composed a parhphlet-printed by Mr..
Mees-describing The charms and ameni.
ties Of Medford. and the unb1ilt-on para
disc offered to- the world by Crunden;
he had importantl interviews every day,
and as Crunden's representative opened
negotiations for mortgages with dozen
-Le4don firms and entered particulars of
groAkrf>rents and heaseholds for sale on
the AooAs of a hundred agents. In all
diredA1hs-at ho1ae and abroad1he dis
rIo.- a M a-otln oil cd which W
recognized and admitted by his employer.
Meyer Was man better served by a clerk
foftwenty shillings a week and his food.
S0saetfmes old Crunden thought of it
and of how sotely he would have missed
his clerk. For one thing. he was SO cheer
!, ful-kept one<insheart. Courage and hope
Acame from /nim IN every Ozark hour. And
ozark ha,fys were many in this long win
Mrs. Price when she heard that there
was. after all. to be no change of clerks.
aa uttered the nveliest protestations of
pleasure. She hastened to obtain from he
mn1ter confirmation of the good news
"And I'm sorry. sir. that 1 spoke rude.
j could have bit my tongue OF after
ward for what / said-but at the time
don't think knew what / was saying"
EDont mention it." said Crunden. IT
understand what lay behind any remarks
you-slet fall" and he we a grunt
You're uncommonly fond of-Mr. JACKIE"
"Of curse 1 am said Mrs. Price.
w no lEOuIO Nelp DelOR iona OF
Not Mr.. Crunden. He had tried hard
to help it-and had failed. This young
mans voice was music, his smile SUM-
shine to him. Absurd, ridiculous! Old
Crunden struggled valiantly against yield
ing to such preposterous sentiments-as
II to yield had been a base weakness. 1t
had seemed to him like the evil spell
of the Hill itself-now ruined, broken and
trampled down-rising again to enthrall
ones mind and confuse ones senses. Do
what you would to the lord of the Hill,
he could bring you to his feet-force you
to bow before him as hereditary i'm
memorial overload. By playing with the
snobbish cravings that Turk in even the
stoutest breast, he could twist one to the
Bonded knee. With condescending man
ner and fattering assumption of gracious
ness. he could persuade you TO renounce
your right to be grim and stern and
harsh to him.
Nc 1t was not that. Crunden cared
nothing for the condensation harped upon
by Bowling. He was fond of Jack now,
as forty-three Years ago in the builder s
yard where his father had sent him to
Earn the trade, he had been fond of his
hate-the good. strong mate with whom
he worked shoulder to shoulder. who
could whistle and smile and clap you on
the back, and make the toughest lob seem
smooth and easy because you were doing
1t with him. This young man was like
that. And he thought of all the words
that were sweet as music. LAS between
the pleasant sound-words proved true
now by deeds. His al would not ieave
him in the lurch-would stay with him
against self-interest: deaf to the clink of
gold. blind to the prospect of ease, his pal
must stand by him though all the world
were beckonint.
As between good pals. Perhaps. Crun.
den thought, in all his long life he had
never been understood so well as by his
good pal Jack. His rough outer case
seemed no barrier, his coarse bristles
struck no fear-to Jack; to all the care
less crowd a hedgehog; .but to Jack. a
pal Wonderful to think of-with graft
tude yelling warm from the heart be-
meath the hedgehogs ugly coat.
And he thought OF the historic fight or
Guy Fawkes' day-had thought of 1t quite
as often as Mrs Price, though he never
by any chance spoke of IL. And why:
He couldn't trust himself to speak Nigh,
let fall with his remarks something else
"a few tears. II had happened in soil.
tary thought; sudden moisture in the
eyes demanding grunts and bandana
Can a hedgehog weep? Thinking Of Il
now. as he tramped across his empty
fields he brought a clenched fist with
loud smack into the horny palm of hi,
other hand. Take that" he growled
land that-and that! That'll teach yor
to mock my pal for hedgehog"
A son could not have done more for 6
loved father. Jack was what he woult
have wished his own son to be-in al
things. And he thought OF the great Si
John and envied him. intensely enviet
him: not for the rank, the prestige. the
respect Of bowling men, which even pow