The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-11
By ". B. MAXWELL, Z Author of ssThe Guarded FlanesS
 The Ragged Mese<ngerS
o.pynsAs seu. by W. B x..-.u. an HsAt. reserved.
uHumHRmHnMMmuHHmuHmn EXPERIMENTATION

with all that flourish of trumpets.. thought young French had money be. hind him."
 Not a penny. so 1t seems" said MT. Bowling. T haven't got to the bottom of it yet--
 Rogers lost any rent7" "The half quarter--no more. Rogers took alarm from something that came to his ears; thought Master French was going to do a bolt. So he pops in distraint. and that you may say, burst the bubble. Jones paid 1t offi bought the whole stock, and they began .moy- ing 1t away to High streets4 o'clock yeSterday." .He was an arrogant young ass" said MT. Crunden, French was; but certainly thought he had money behind him"
 'is who I'm going to have under me next. I wasn't too fond of the hats, but 1t may be cheeses and bacon this | time."
 'why don't you take the shop your self? Use 1t for your drawing-clerk, and put all your framed plans on the T only wish was justified" said Mir. Bowling. opening his hands in | deprecating gesture. Things are very lifeless just now--dreadfuiiy lit-
 Then they discussed the rest of the shop Rogers, the landlord. always ex- pected to get his sixty pounds year because of the choice position. cloEe to High Street close to the market@ciose | to everything.
 "sixty per annum needs q bit of | making, MT. Crunden, as times go.' MT Bowling was thin man Of about | 50, with shining bald forehead. prom inent. but mild eyes. and straggIing r reddish beard. He and crunden were | old allies who had done much business | together. He regretted the happy | days when Crunden used to come in warm from the purchase of some odd little "cat-cornered" field, and, putting their heads together, they would work out scheme for covering the rastrict- | ed area with the greatest possible number of snug little villas. Now, al- though there was no business hanging to 1t. he was always glad of visit from MT. Crunden and never failed to greet him cordially.
 T believe you're right. Mir. Bowling --as to the slackness. I can't remen1- Der the place so stagnant. But. for all that. you don't require to worry yourself"
 well" said MT. Bowling. q sup- pose mustn't complain. I've much to be thankful for. But you know. I
 like to feel independent" Mir. Bowling would never starvs. Mrs Bowling. a large and richly dressed lady, had modest compstalce of her own. As the town generally
 understood, she was far from desiring that Mr. Bowling. should feel too inde- pendent She had wooed and won him somewhat-late in life; on her side. at
 least. it was 2 love match: she believed him to be a dangerously attractive man, and on more than one occasion
 had allowed the world to note that he possessed in her a jealous guardian as well as faithful helpmate.
 Even now, while the two old friends sat talking, she reminded Mir. Bowling of her loving concern for him.
 Excuse me-" he said, when the teie- ! phone bell rang. "A message from home I think" Then. as he stood by the instrument. he added galiantiy: "A great comfort being connected with one's home"
 Mir. crunden delicateiy withdrew to
 the window and looked down into the quiet sleepy street.
 'Ts that you. my dear?" asked MT.
 Bowling. with the receiver to his ear. o."--he continued very biandly, T fear that is impossible. Yes. dreadfuIiy pressed today In inc thick of my work doubt if can get through 1t before 8 o'clock. but I shall stick to it and try to join you by 8 o'clock Just so. Good-bye. dear" and Mir. Bowling i brisAiy rang of.
 Mir. Crunden, while he looked out of | window, was faintly smiling; but when 1 he turned again and picked up his hat l he was quite grave.
 'No, mo-" said MT. Bowling. Don't run away. What were we talking 1 about? Sit down if you're not in hurry. There was something on the l tip of my tongue-but. for the mos ment, it's gone. It'll come back. It'n come back presently"
 CHAPTER W.
 Slowly Lizzie Crunden was losing | her natural gaiety of disposition.
 She loved her father she loved her home; but outside of Kings Cottage she had neither friends nor compan-
 ions. Not one girl friend to confide l In to lean on tn use aa a aafe reservoir