The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-01
CHAPTER xx.-continued

Don't mention It," said crunden.
Il understand what lay behind any re-
marks you let fall" and he gave a
grunt. you're uncommonly fond Of
Mr.. Jack?'
"Of course am" said Mrs. Price.
"who could help being fond of him?"
Not Mr.. Crunden. He had tried hard
to help it-and had failed. This young
mans voice was music, his smile sun
shine to him. Absurd. ridiculous! Old
Crunden struggled valiantly against
yielding to such preposterous senti-
ments-as II to yield had been base
weakness. It had seemed to him like
the evil spell of the Hill itself-now
ruined, broken, and trampled down
rising again to enthrall ones mind and
confuse ones senses. Do what you
would to the lord Of the Hill, he could
bring you to his feet-force you to
bow before him as hereditary imme-
mortal. overload. BY playing with the
snobbish cravings that Turk in even the
stoutest breast. he could twist one to
the Bonded knee. With condescendins
manner and f1attering assumption OF
graciousness. he could persuade you to
renounce your right to be grim and
stern and harsh to him.
No, it was not that. Crunden cared
nothing for the condescension harped
upon by Bowling. He was fond OF
Jack now, as forty-three years ago In
the builders yard where his father
had sent him to learn the trade, he
/ had been fond of his mate-the good
strong mate with whom he worked
shoulder to shoulder, who could wis.
tie and smile and clap you on the
back and make the toughest JOB seen
smooth and easy because you were
doing it with him. This young mar
was like that. And he thought OF al
the words that were sweet as music
.As between good pals" And the
solid truth behind the pleasant sound
words proved true now BY deeds. \. h ~
mi would not leave him In the lurct
would stay with him against self
Interest; deaf to the chink Of gold
blind to the prospect of ease, his pa
must stand by him though all the
world were beckoning.
AS between good pals. Perhaps
crunden thought, In all his long life
l,he had never been understood SO wei
as by his good pal, Jack. HIS roust
outer case seemed no barrier, his coarse
bristles struck no fear-to Jack: 7.
all the careless crowd, a heagehos :,
hut to Jack. pal. 81 Wonderful e
think of-with gratitude yelling warn
from the heart beneath the hedgehog
|5ugly coat.
And he thought Of it quite as Otter
as Mrs. Price, though he never BY any
chance spoke Of 1t. And why! re
couldn't trust himself to speak. Mich
let fall with his remarks sometime
else-a few tears. It had happenet
In solitary thought: sudden moisture
in the eyes demanding Erunts ant
bandana. Can a hedgehog weep.
Thinking OF 1t now. as he trampee
across his empty fields, ne hrought.
clenched nst with loud smack int
the horny palm OF his other mana
"Take that he growled land that
and that! That'll teach you TO mo ''F
nv nal for hedgehog.
IA son could not have done more
! for a loved father. Jack was what he
would have wished his own son to be pc,
i In nil things, And he thought Of the
great Sir John and envled him, IN
tensely envied him: not for the RANK
A the prestige, the respect OF hoW1ne
men which even poverty could no
take and, An fact, had not really taken
from him-but for the Il son son who eallee
4 him father. ra,,, -,
i sticking to the ship Although Jac r4F'.s
4 nresenco or absence was now, g g
course, as with tlrmness, even VIII
i 1eflance, she had Observation-Disclosures.