The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-11
HLLRLSE
(ContInued.)

(Continued.)
 Meanwhile Mir. Crunden, walking about the town as was his wont. had contrived to fill in the hours without suffering from ennui. He looked at the same objects every day, and yet they always interested him.
 There was the Town Hall which had cost him his seat on the Council, It was a monstrO6sly pretentious edthce; a fine example of that style of architec- ture which is technically known as "streaky bacon"--red brick to repre- sent the lean. white stone for the fat and Hedgehog Crunden' looked at It almost every day with unntterabie, wide- reaching contempt Sevenpence in the pound added to the rates for that!
 There were all the houses-scattered and in compact rows--which he had built for others, or for himself as speculation. to be sold as soon as hn- ished to anyone who would buy. He looked at them long and hard, and each had its story--its intensely in- teresting story---to tell him. He had been lucky in nearly all his ventures; but some houses had gone off quickly while others had hung on hand, keep ing him awake at night before he got rid of them. Now he was clear Of brick and mortar Investments. all his money safe out of such precarious property, with only good. well-secured ground rents and sound stocks and shares to lie thinking about when ne could not sleep.
 N He used to stand at corners steadily examining the state of repair of build ings in which he had never held a .stake---estimating rentals, or framing schedules of dilapidations, and specih- cations for putting "the same" In tenantable condition. Thus, mentally busy. he would loiter at the end of terrace that might we'll serve as lesson to all ambitious builders. This River View, as 1t was called, had been put up by old Selby, once the success fui rival of the Crundens. Fifteen soi- idly built houses which from the hrst were a dismal failure. Nothing would make people live in River View. Ten out of the fifteen houses were empty; agents boards hung out like white flags of surrender and dtsgraces tne town boys broke all the windows; the heavens spending their fury on roof and gutters, filled the areas with wa ter; and old Selby, a white-haired, | shaky scarecrow in threadbare black | clothes passed .his days imploring mortgages for grace, arranging over 1 drafts with bankers, praying friends and chance acquaintances for loan | to keen up the fire insurance etc., etc, | | full River View there was something | that Richard Crunden never passed | without an almost religious considera- | tion This was the brick archway that | led into his own yard. He had let the | deserted yard to Smithers, the dairy | man, whot was an unsatisfactory, un- | substantial sort of tenant. MT Crun- | den saw with displeasure the dirty I state of the paving. the injurious treat ment of the wooden gates and iron hinges; then, dismissing annoyance | from his mind, studied the wall with ! the arch.
 It had been built by his father--with | his own hands. Dick Crunden had ad- | mired 1t as boy, and he admired 1t | still. for what 1t was--an enduring | specimen of honest, painstaking, nign- | ly skilled bricklaying. With a curi- | ous tenderness and pride he traced the neat lap of the good English bond, all l ternate rows of stretchers and headers | till you reached the fine gauged work | of the arch itself, the close joints, and l the beautiful rubbed bricks. He, too, 1 in his time had set the line and used | the trowel--learning his trade. from the bottom, although his father was prosperous employer--and he could understand and appreciate all the great excellence of this monument. As he walked on again, he would | think of the grandson of the arch builder--of the boy Dick who had failed him. For him work had been made so easy. and yet he would not work. Bring him back father for my salxe.''
 'No, let him have his lesson" Hedgehog Crunden could hear the pleading voice. could see the pale tear stained face of his loved lost wife, She was by his side now, he was walk ing hand in hand with ghost, when MT. shoIto of Hill Rise gave him a patronising nod; and he touched his hat automatically, uttered mannerless, absent-minded grunt in acknowledge ment of the "How do. Crunden."
 With any excuse, however fiimsy. nc would climb the stairs to the first floor office of Mir. Bowling, and enjoy quiet chat with that clever architect and good freemason. Today he found his excuse in the fact that the ground floor shop, hitherto occupied by young French the natter. was empty, with "To let' bills in the windows.
 well, am surprised" said Crunden him coming to grief after opening