Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Day by day the popularity of Crunden
was waxing. The lower his fortunes fell
the higher he rose in public favor. All
prated Of his success; confeunding him
perhaps with the omnipotent London
and Suburban, not remembering which
we're his houses and which the company's,
only caring for the fact that a new town
had sprung into life on the Hill. and
that trade was booming. But to Crun-
den. it seemed that fate was hooking him.
was driving him on to ruin amid chorus
of ironical praise.
There is something in the wind said
Mr.. Hope Of the Advertiser. You saw
my article on Municipal Dignity?-well, a
whisper In your ear, Mr.. Crunden. 1t
has been mooted-to invite you to act as
mayor"
Cannon said Mr. Crunden.
'The project has been mooted." said
Mr.. Hope. with great Importance. cit is
men of your stamp that we want-men of
wealth who can entertain-and worthily
uphold the municipal dignity. Our may
ors have been poor little men Of late
we want big men like yourself"
"Oh, that's just CANNON. I'm not even
on the council
TITS unusual" said Mr.. Hope pom
pously, ito go outside the council for
mayor, but it has been done again and
again-as in the case of these lords and
the large townsville Duke of Norfolk
the Marquis of Bute-and many other
noblemen possessing urban territory"
Mr.. Crunden told Jack of this CONVEX
sation, and sadly confessed that the pos
sibility of such an honor would once have
been very welcome.
1T is a thing that would have liked,
sir-been very proud of-once, But if
they offered to make me pope now-it
would come too late Who's that
passed the window? Not that Padfield
again?"
Day after day at Kings Cottage they
were worried with visitors. People vast
ed the workers time-in silly politeness,
or because Of their own stupid affairs.
And ever since Mrs. Dowlings explosive
entrance the nerves or Crunden and his
clerk had been shaky; they dreaded call
ers and started at the sound of bell or
knocker.
Mr.. Charles PaL.ield was of late much
dreaded timewaster. He worried Lizzie
by attention whenever she met him out
walking. Which way you going. Miss
Crunden? / don't mind which way I
go. What? Going home? Then I'll walk
with you-and look in on old Jack" And
Mr.. Padfield vacuously leering, would
pay most insipid and undesired compli-
ments.
How well you're looking, hiss Crun-
den. never saw you looking so we'll
How fast you walk. D'you ever go to the
theater? Why couldn't we get up
theater party-eh?"
One could only suppose that Mr.. Pad
field, looking about him vacantly, had de-
cided that Miss Crunden was, in the old
phrase, well worth following up. ne
her in public places, and even followed
her into the shelter and privacy of home.
Hello, Jack. 1 must be goin'! Just
escorted Miss Crunden. How re you get
ting on-rakin' in the dollars, Ell? Why
don't you build hotel, and cut out the
White Hart? Got a cigarette-have you.
Very we'll, won't smoke in here.
must be off,
Without telling Mr. Padfeld to go it
was almost impossible to make him go
although he was always promising to do
So
Jack was extraordinarily busy-myste-
riously occupied from morning till night,
thoughtful, absent-minded. He was in
fact attempting task of the most ambi-
tious character. He had said to Crun-
den: 1T sounds rather cheek sir. but
may try to make a scheme nova get
ting-out scheme? 1 don't want to speak
of it to old Bowling. But let me see if
can make it s-lid and then put it before
you-and him. 1 don't suppose there'll
be anything in it-and yet can't help
thinking l see daylight"
do you, sir? 1 doubt it-but try. Yes,
try what you like, SO long as you don't
let folks guess how we stand"
''Give me a week." said Jack. Give
a Wppk-claar from tOdav-and TIL
port progress. I promise I won't do any
harm, if l don't do any good
More letters came for Mr.. Vincent now
than for Mr.. Crunden. In this week it
principal. He hurried hither and thither,
round and round the town, up to
London before breakfast, back in Med
ford before dinner. He sat at his
desk for long hours. covered his table
with prodigious masses of papers
plans, lists, schedules-that Mrs. Price
and the maid were forbidden to touch;
as he sat writing he would not answer
when you spoke to him; when you
thought he was at last coming to a meal,
dashed out of the house. He had thought
for nothing beyond his new work. Wis.,
itors now made him verw irritable; the
Crundens left him unmolested, but WISH
tors seemed to conspire to stop him in his
mysterious efforts.
Mother dear, I'm so busy, forgive me-"
Lady Vincent had come to the cottage,
but he would not get out of his chair to
talk with his mamma. He would scarcely
look around. "I'll dine with you next
week-any day you like. Forgive me for
the moment" and he went on working
Her ladyship. awestruck by such I'M
renting and stupendous labor, talked to
Lizzie in the adjoining room.
us he always like that now?" asked
Lady Vincent solicitousy.
"A Almost said Ia &c
father; and he cannot bear being inter
rupted. Father says it will only go on
for week"
"A week! But that is long time. His
health may break down in a week. Do
urge him to be careful. This working at
such high pressure must be dangerous
IT was going to tell him. Lady Vim
cent added, that we are in the yery
greatest anxiety about our poor Cousin
Harriet. There has been startling change
in her condition and the doctors take the
gravest view. My husband expects a
summons from Bournemouth
That was all, Miss Crunden-don't worry
Jack about it. / will not sadden him with
our sad thoughts while he is working in
this manner"
The visit of his mamma was the first
slight interruption Jack suffered that day;
but there were worse Interruptions before
the day was over. Indeed, his work was
almost at a standstill: it was nearly a
whole day stolen from the covenanted
week.
Miss Lizzie" said Mrs. Price. in the
hall after Lady Vincent had gone, there's
somebodyiin there with him. I believe
it's that Mr.. Padfield again. 1t is too
bad. Can't you go in and take him