The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-11
Chapter xIn.-continued.
eve are not afraid" said Mr.. Do,

we are not atrald, SAID Mr. Dow
ling, at last thoroughly nettled. "of the
law OF the land. That is exactly what
Mr.. Crunden intends to appeal to, IL
you don't pay up precious quick now.
49,. It isn't as II you hadn't the
means to pay" said Mr.. Bowling es-
citedly.
II won't pay one penny" said Mrs.
Granville
Would you believe IT. All Of 1t was
true-what Mr.. Bowling said. Old Mr.
lGarrett--who had himself been a 50.
licitor--told poor dear old Mrs. Gran
Vile that the law of the land would
not help her. Mr.. Garrett advised her
to offer f?00. and they would probably
split the difference and accept f225.
And In the end she paid that man two
hundred and twenty-five golden pounds.
Would you credit it?"
Nothing could we'll exceed the UNI
popularity OF Mr.. Crunden He was the
enemy OF the whole people. town and
hill were united in their feeling to-
wards him. 1T was so unnecessary
said Mr.. Bowling. speaking OF the out
break. Unpopular we must have
been-Just at flrst-because OF what
we had In hand. And l knew you'd
made up your mind to tell them plain.
Nly what we proposed doing But I
never did think you'd let ny like that
at the whole world. 1t was SO unnec-
essary. 1t makes everything difficult
that ought to have been easy. Look
at the delay In getting plans passed
by the Council. They didn': dare
throw out the plans for those cottages,
because they Were Identical with what
they'd passed for me twice before
but they stopped us a fortnight and
more. Next time. you see-when It's
house plans. I tell you that speech
will cost us dear before It's forgot
ten"
II don't care d. said Crunden.
II let 'em have IT straight for once.
4 don't grudge the cost"
No citizen would speak to him will
lingly--unless 1t was old Selby: and
even he snarled and glared at first
when he encountered the owner OF Hill
Rise. The old man was staring at the
map on one OF the big boards when
Crunden came by on his way to the
new road.
We'll, Mr.. Selby. you see our plan.
Go in and have a look round-if you
care to-,
Eyes. see. Mighty fine task
you've got"
wish me luck, Mr.. selby."
wish We luck" and the old man
glared and his hands shook from an
ger. wish ye to empty my last houses
to I'LL yours! Yes-take my last ten
ants from me-and leave me and me
young wife to starve--and wish ye
luck"
said Crunden. More likely do 'em
good by bringing new people into the
place.
Then Mr.. selby ceased to snarl.
There. young crunden." he said pres
emily. y bear We no malice. You or an
other-it's all one"
After this. Mr.. selby would often
come pottering about tho estate watch.
Ing the road makers and the bricklay-
ers. busly at work; or, climbing over
the post-and-rail fences. he would
make circuit OF the meadows. and as
he stood on the higher ground at a
very little distance. any one might have
mistaken him for dismal shabby
ing, by the late owner. He talked
now to Crunden in friendly spirit.
young Crunden. what ye going to
do with that shanty up ,there-the
Tennis Clubhouse? 'Tis but she'd
though they ca'alled 1t the house. I'm
thinking might make We bid for 1t
lii yed let me break 1t up on credit
-. Not yours to sell? All we'll. So.
I've been having a crack with your
CleIh' 11e te1is NE " 1e uo!1S SEa
andly-your cottages mostly let be-
fore ye're plate Highland more appli-
cations for your building plots than ye
can find time to answer. Is that a
f,l'act2"
I'm doing all right. thank you. Mr..
Selby!"
"Al,-I know. I know. Your clerk
tells the tale you tell him. Quite
right But it's a mighty big task
ye've taken up
Not a bit too big" said Crunden
resolutely.
No townsman. except old Selby. ac-
.ccsted him with friendly greeting. Bod
greeting the town gave him whenever
he showed himself. Mud was thrown
at him by gutter boys, who threw and
fled; stones sometimes came after the
mud; men shook their fists at him
as soon as his sturdy back was turned
followed him. "'Edge'og Crunden.
'Edge'og. earn. yold 'edge'og."
Never, since Medford was incorpo-
rated as borough. had any citizen
been so unpopular. And the hostile
feeling seemed week by week to wax
rather than to wane. With November
and Guy Fawkes day, came what ever
after was locally known as the Riot.
There were guys in replica that year.
guying, and they made Of him three or
four copies. One OF these guys borne
the. streets at the workmen's
hour. gathered all mischievous|
.ldlers and hootlng boys until the guy
headed long procession. Then, as Q
bright, idea. it occurred to the guy
attendants TO carry 1T with the pro- pro,
cession UP the new road. round and
about the estate. and burn the eftigy.
OF Hedgehog Crunden on his own land
at full noon. Other.coples could walt.
be- burnt on the open com-,
mon with Ftirework accompaniment, but
successful copy must be sac
lrlficed with sunlight in this happy
manner, While the procession turned
lntosHill Rise you could hear the
shouting as far Off as the railway sta
ton, 80
4 But at the top Of the first section OF
the new road, MI Crundsnis clerk
barred the way, addressed the mob, or
ldered them to the right abopt-and
then. passing from words to blows,
fought with the leaders,, beat one lead
or. so sorely that the procession turned
and riotously went back the way IT
had Gomez That WAS tho first mart of