Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-17
W. B. MAXWELL, =
Author OF
1.-THE GUARDED FLAME"

almost religious consideration. This wa:
Tho brick archway that led into his ow'
yar1. He had let the deserted yard t.
smith nTS the dairVmaQ. who was an un
satisfactory. unsuhstantial sort o. tenant
Mr. ElUadrn saw with displeasure tn;
a,rtr state If tn" paving. the injuriou;
. IT, atneDt Of the wood n gates and iron
hing IS: then. dsmissing annoyance from
his n1~nd studied the wall with the arch.
It Aau h"an built by his father-with hi:
own hands. Dick Crunden had admired
t as a boy and he admired it still. fol
What it was-an enduring sp cimen o
/ Ron st, painstaking. highly skilled brick
.aNiHg. With a curious tenderness ant
frii@ he traced the neat lap of the goot
English bond. alternate rows of stretch
eTs and headers, till you reached the fins
gagged work of the arch itself. the Gloss
Joints ahl the beautiful rubbed bricks
+ He, too in his time had set the line ant
used the uOwel-learning his trade from
the bottom. although his father was {
/ prosperous employer-and IL could under
stand and appreciate all the great excel
lence of this monument.
| AS he walked on again, he would thinl
of the grandson of the arch-builuer-o
the boy Dick who had failed him. Fol
him work had been made so easy. and ye
he would not work Bring him back
father for my sake"
No, let him have his lesson" Hedge
| hog Crundcn could hear the ple2Gin&
voice. could see the pale, tear-statned fac
o his loved lost wife. She was by his
side now, he walking hand-in-ha no
with a ghost, when MIR. Sholto of Hill
R:sn gave him patronizng nd. n
touched his hat automatically, uttered a
mann"r!aSs. absent minded srUnt in ac-
knowiedgn2rn3 of the How do. Crund2n
With any txcuS., however 1i;nsy. he
would cli3h tn" stairs to tn ii-st-ii0oi
otIic c, Mr. Bowling. and enjoy Cniet
chat with tnat clever architect ana god
F':-C Mason. Today he found his excuse
in thu fact that the ground-i0or shop
hitherto occupied by young French. tn
halter was empty with To let" bills in
the windows.
well / am surprised" said Mr.. CrGn-
dcn-"him coming to grief after opening
with all that flourish OF trumDets.
thought young French had money behind
him."
Not penny. so 1t seems" said Mr.
Bowling. Il haven't got to the bottom OF
it yet
Rogers lost any rent?''
The half quarter-no more. Rogers
took alarm from something that came To
his ears: thought Master French was go
ing to do a bolt. So he pops in a dis
traint, and that. you may say. burst the
bubble. Jones paid it off; bought the
whole stock, and they b-ean moving it
away to High street / o clock yesterday.
He was an arrogant young ass said
Mr.. Crunden. French was; but / GER
tainly thought he had money behind him.
What. l wonder" said Mr.. Downing,
is who I'm going to have under me next.
wasn't too fond of the hats, but 1t may
be chooses and bacon this time
why don't you take the shop yourself?
Use it for your drawing clerk and put all
your framed plans on the wall"
Il only wish | was justified said Mr..
Bowling, opening his hands in a depre-
eating gesture Things are very lifeless
i,,c} Full II lot
Then they discussed the rest of the shop.
Rogers. the landlord. always expected to
get his sixty pounds a year because of
the choice position. close to High street,
close to the market, close to everything.
Sixty per annum needs a bit of making.
Mr. Crunden. asst times go"
Mr. Downing was a thin man of about
fifty. with a shining bald forehead, prom
fnent, but mild eyes. and a struggling
reddish beard He and Crunden We're Old
allies, who had done much business to-
gether. 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 restricted area with the
greatest possible number of snug little
villas. Now. although there was no bust
ness hanging to it, he was always glad
of visit from Mr. Crunden, and never
failed to greet him cordially.
Il believe you're right, Mr.. bowling
as to the slackness. 1 can't remember
you don't require to worry yourself"
We'll" said Mr.. Bowling. Il suppose
L mustn't complain. I've much to be
thankful for. But, you know, like to
keep moving. I like to be earning, not
resting. 1 like to feel independent
Mr. Downing would never starve. Mrs.
Bowling, large and richly dressed lady,
had modest competence of her own. As
the town generally understood she was
far from desiring that Mr.. Bowling should
feel too independent. She had wooed and
won him somewhat late in life; on her
side, at least. it was love match; she
believed him to be a dangerously attrac-
tive man. and on more than one occasion
had allowed the world to note that he pos
sessed in her a jealous guardian as well
as a faithful helpmate.
Even now, while the two old friends sat
talking. she reminded Mr.. bowling Of her
loving concern for him.
Excuse me-" he said. when the tele-
phone bell rang. A message from home,
l think Then, as he stood by the irstru-
meut he added CALAMITY; "A great COM
.ort being connected with ones home
Mr. Crunden dalicately withdrew to the
window and looked down into the quiet
sleepy street
Is that YOU, my dear" asked Nh
Bowling. with the receiver TO his ear.
n" he continued very blandly-..I fear
that is impossible Yes dreadful1y
pressed today. In the thick of my
work. ! doubt # / can Ct through
II before s o'clock but l shall stick to it
and Try Ia Join you by S O'Clock. :"
Just so. Goodbye, my dear" and Mr..
bowling briskly rang off.
Mr trUud-n, while he looked out of
The window WAS family smiling bat VIII n
he turned again and picked zip his hat he
was quito grave.
NO. no." said Mr. bowling Don't