the ragged trousered philanthropists-第21章

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　of　the　turps　will　go　away　in　about　a　hour's　time。'

‘Thanks；'　said　Sweater。

Philpot　looked　at　him　wistfully；　but　Sweater　evidently　did　not　understand；　and　began　looking　about　the　room。

‘I　see　they've　put　a　new　piece　of　skirting　here；'　he　observed。

‘Yes；　sir；'　said　Newman；　who　came　into　the　room　just　then　to　get　the　turps。　　‘The　old　piece　was　all　to　bits　with　dry…rot。'

‘I　feel　as　if　I　'ad　a　touch　of　the　dry…rot　meself；　don't　you？'　said　Philpot　to　Newman；　who　smiled　feebly　and　cast　a　sidelong　glance　at　Sweater；　who　did　not　appear　to　notice　the　significance　of　the　remark；　but　walked　out　of　the　room　and　began　climbing　up　to　the　next　floor；　where　Harlow　and　Sawkins　were　working。

‘Well；　there's　a　bleeder　for　yer！'　said　Philpot　with　indignation。　‘After　all　the　trouble　I　took　to　clean　'is　coat！　　Not　a　bloody　stiver！　Well；　it　takes　the　cake；　don't　it？'

‘I　told　you　'ow　it　would　be；　didn't　I？'　replied　Newman。

‘P'raps　I　didn't　make　it　plain　enough；'　said　Philpot；　thoughtfully。　‘We　must　try　to　get　some　of　our　own　back　somehow；　you　know。'

Going　out　on　the　landing　he　called　softly　upstairs。

‘I　say；　Harlow。'

‘Hallo；'　said　that　individual；　looking　over　the　banisters。

‘'Ow　are　yer　getting　on　up　there？'

‘Oh；　all　right；　you　know。'

‘Pretty　dry　job；　ain't　it？'　Philpot　continued；　raising　his　voice　a　little　and　winking　at　Harlow。

‘Yes；　it　is；　rather；'　replied　Harlow　with　a　grin。

‘I　think　this　would　be　a　very　good　time　to　take　up　the　collection；　don't　you？'

‘Yes；　it　wouldn't　be　a　bad　idear。'

‘Well；　I'll　put　me　cap　on　the　stairs；'　said　Philpot；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word。　　‘You　never　knows　yer　luck。　　Things　is　gettin'　a　bit　serious　on　this　floor；　you　know；　my　mate's　fainted　away　once　already！'

Philpot　now　went　back　to　his　room　to　await　developments：　but　as　Sweater　made　no　sign；　he　returned　to　the　landing　and　again　hailed　Harlow。

‘I　always　reckon　a　man　can　work　all　the　better　after　'e's　'ad　a　drink：　you　can　seem　to　get　over　more　of　it；　like。'

‘Oh；　that's　true　enough；'　responded　Harlow。　　‘I've　often　noticed　it　meself。'

Sweater　came　out　of　the　front　bedroom　and　passed　into　one　of　the　back　rooms　without　any　notice　of　either　of　the　men。

‘I'm　afraid　it's　a　frost；　mate；'　Harlow　whispered；　and　Philpot；　shaking　his　head　sadly；　returned　to　work；　but　in　a　little　while　he　came　out　again　and　once　more　accosted　Harlow。

‘I　knowed　a　case　once；'　he　said　in　a　melancholy　tone；　‘where　a　chap　died　…　of　thirst　…　on　a　job　just　like　this；　and　at　the　inquest　the　doctor　said　as　'arf　a　pint　would　'a　saved　'im！'

‘It　must　'ave　been　a　norrible　death；'　remarked　Harlow。

‘'Orrible　ain't　the　work　for　it；　mate；'　replied　Philpot；　mournfully。　‘It　was　something　chronic！'

After　this　final　heartrending　appeal　to　Sweater's　humanity　they　returned　to　work；　satisfied　that；　whatever　the　result　of　their　efforts；　they　had　done　their　best。　　They　had　placed　the　matter　fully　and　fairly　before　him：　nothing　more　could　be　said：　the　issue　now　rested　entirely　with　him。

But　it　was　all　in　vain。　　Sweater　either　did　not　or　would　not　understand；　and　when　he　came　downstairs　he　took　no　notice　whatever　of　the　cap　which　Philpot　had　placed　so　conspicuously　in　the　centre　of　the　landing　floor。



Chapter　9

Who　is　to　Pay？


Sweater　reached　the　hall　almost　at　the　same　moment　that　Rushton　entered　by　the　front　door。　　They　greeted　each　other　in　a　friendly　way　and　after　a　few　remarks　concerning　the　work　that　was　being　done；　they　went　into　the　drawing…room　where　Owen　and　Easton　were　and　Rushton　said：

‘What　about　this　room？　　Have　you　made　up　your　mind　what　you're　going　to　have　done　to　it？'

‘Yes；'　replied　Sweater；　‘but　I'll　tell　you　about　that　afterwards。　What　I'm　anxious　about　is　the　drains。　　Have　you　brought　the　plans？'

‘Yes。'

‘What's　it　going　to　cost？'

‘Just　wait　a　minute；'　said　Rushton；　with　a　slight　gesture　calling　Sweater's　attention　to　the　presence　of　the　two　workmen。　　Sweater　understood。

‘You　might　leave　that　for　a　few　minutes；　will　you？'　Rushton　continued；　addressing　Owen　and　Easton。　　‘Go　and　get　on　with　something　else　for　a　little　while。'

When　they　were　alone；　Rushton　closed　the　door　and　remarked：　‘It's　always　as　well　not　to　let　these　fellows　know　more　than　is　necessary。'

Sweater　agreed。

‘Now　this　'ere　drain　work　is　really　two　separate　jobs；'　said　Rushton。　‘First；　the　drains　of　the　house：　that　is；　the　part　of　the　work　that'　actually　on　your　ground。　　When　that's　done；　there　will　'ave　to　be　a　pipe　carried　right　along　under　this　private　road　to　the　main　road　to　connect　the　drains　of　the　house　with　the　town　main。　　You　follow　me？'

‘Perfectly。　　What's　it　going　to　cost　for　the　lot？'

‘For　the　drains　of　the　house；　？5。0。0。　and　for　the　connecting　pipe　？0。0。0。　　？5。0。0。　for　the　lot。'

‘Um！　　That　the　lower　you　can　do　it　for；　eh？'

‘That's　the　lowest。　　I've　figured　it　out　most　carefully；　the　time　and　materials；　and　that's　practically　all　I'm　charging　you。'

The　truth　of　the　matter　was　that　Rushton　had　had　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　estimating　the　cost　of　this　work：　he　had　not　the　necessary　knowledge　to　do　so。　　Hunter　had　drawn　the　plans；　calculated　the　cost　and　prepared　the　estimate。

‘I've　been　thinking　over　this　business　lately；'　said　Sweater；　looking　at　Rushton　with　a　cunning　leer。　　‘I　don't　see　why　I　should　have　to　pay　for　the　connecting　pipe。　　The　Corporation　ought　to　pay　for　that。　　What　do　you　say？'

Rushton　laughed。　　‘I　don't　see　why　not；'　he　replied。

‘I　think　we　could　arrange　it　all　right；　don't　you？'　Sweater　went　on。　‘Anyhow；　the　work　will　have　to　be　done；　so　you'd　better　let　'em　get　on　with　it。　　？5。0。0。　covers　both　jobs；　you　say？'

‘Yes。'

‘Oh；　all　right；　you　get　on　with　it　and　we'll　see　what　can　be　done　with　the　Corporation　later　on。'

‘I　don't　suppose　we'll　find　'em　very　difficult　to　deal　with；'　said　Rushton　with　a　grin；　and　Sweater　smiled　agreement。

As　they　were　passing　through　the　hall　they　met　Hunter；　who　had　just　arrived。　　He　was　rather　surprised　to　see　them；　as　he　knew　nothing　of　their　appointment。　　He　wished　them　‘Good　morning'　in　an　awkward　hesitating　undertone　as　if　he　were　doubtful　how　his　greeting　would　be　received。　　Sweater　nodded　slightly；　but　Rushton　ignored　him　altogether　and　Nimrod　passed　on　looking　and　feeling　like　a　disreputable　cur　that　had　just　been　kicked。

As　Sweater　and　Rushton　walked　together　about　the　house；　Hunter　hovered　about　them　at　a　respectable　distance；　hoping　that　presently　some　notice　might　be　taken　of　him。　　His　dismal　countenance　became　even　longer　than　usual　when　he　observed　that　they　were　about　to　leave　the　house　without　appearing　even　to　know　that　he　was　there。　　However；　just　as　they　were　going　out；　Rushton　paused　on　the　threshold　and　called　him：

‘Mr　Hunter！'

‘Yes；　sir。'

Nimrod　ran　to　him　like　a　dog　taken　notice　of　by　his　master：　if　he　had　possessed　a　tail；　it　is　probable　that　he　would　have　wagged　it。　Rushton　gave　him　the　plans　with　an　intimation　that　the　work　was　to　be　proceeded　with。

For　some　time　after　they　were　gone；　Hunter　crawled　silently　about　the　house；　in　and　out　of　the　rooms；　up　and　down　the　corridors　　and　the　staircases。　　After　a　while　he　went　into　the　room　where　Newman　was　and　stood　quietly　watching　him　for　about　ten　minutes　as　he　worked。　　The　man　was　painting　the　skirting；　and　just　then　he　came　to　a　part　that　was　split　in　several　places；　so　he　took　his　knife　and　began　to　fill　the　cracks　with　putty。　　He　was　so　nervous　under　Hunter's　scrutiny　that　his　hand　trembled　to　such　an　extent　that　it　took　him　about　twice　as　long　as　it　should　have　done；　and　Hunter　told　him　so　with　brutal　directness。

‘Never　mind　about　puttying　up　such　little　cracks　as　them！'　he　shouted。　‘Fill　'em　up　with　the　paint。　　　We　can't　afford　to　pay　you　for　messing　about　like　that！'

Newman　made　no　reply。

Misery　found　no　excuse　for　bullying　anyone　else；　because　they　were　all　tearing　into　it　for　all　they　were　worth。　　As　he　wandered　up　and　down　the　house　like　an　evil　spirit；　he　was　followed　by　the　furtively　unfriendly　glances　of　the　men；　who　cursed　him　in　their　hearts　as　he　passed。

He　sneaked　into　the　drawing…room　and　after　standing　with　a　malignant　expression；　silently　watching　Owen　and　Easton；　he　came　out　again　without　having　uttered　a　word。

Although　he　frequently　acted　in　this　manner；　yet　somehow　today　the　circumstance　worried　Owen　considerably。　　He　wondered　uneasily　what　it　meant；　and　began　to　feel　vaguely　apprehensive。　　Hunter's　silence　seemed　more　menacing　than　his　speech。



Chapter　10

The　Long　Hill


Bert　arrived　at　the　shop　and　with　as　little　delay　as　possible　loaded　up　the　handcart　with　all　the　things　he　had　been　sent　for　and　start　on　the　return　journey。　　He　got　on　all　right　in　the　town；　because　the　roads　were　level　and　smooth；　being　paved　with　wood　blocks。　　If　it　had　only　been　like　that　all　the　way　it　would　have　been　easy　enough；　although　he　was　a　small　boy　for　such　a　large　truck；　and　such　a　heavy　load。　　While　the　wood　road　lasted　the　principal　trouble　he　experienced　was　the　difficulty　of　seeing　where　he　was　going；　the　handcart　being　so　high　and　himself　so　short。　　The　pair　of　steps　on　the　cart　of　course　made　it　all　the　worse　in　that　respect。　　However；　by　taking　great　care　he　managed　to　get　through　the　town　all　right；　although　he　narrowly　escaped　colliding　with　several　vehicles；　including　two　or　three　motor　cars　and　an　electric　tram；　besides　nearly　knocking　over　an　old　woman　who　was　carrying　a　large　bundle　of　washing。　　From　time　to　time　he　saw　other　small　boys　of　his　acquaintance；　some　of　them　former　schoolmates。　Some　of　these　passed　by　carrying　heavy　loads　of　groceries　in　baskets；　and　others　with　wooden　trays　full　of　joints　of　meat。

Unfortunately；　the　wood　paving　ceased　at　the　very　place　where　the　ground　began　to　rise。　　Bert　now　found　himself　at　the　beginning　of　a　long　stretch　of　macadamized　road　which　rose　slightly　and　persistently　throughout　its　whole　length。　　Bert　had　pushed　a　cart　up　this　road　many　times　before　and　consequently　knew　the　best　method　of　tackling　it。　Experience　had　taught　him　that　a　full　frontal　attack　on　this　hill　was　liable　to　failure；　so　on　this　occasion　he　followed　his　usual　plan　of　making　diagonal　movements；　crossing　the　road　repeatedly　from　right　to　left　and　left　to　right；　after　the　fashion　of　a　sailing　ship　tacking　against　the　wind；　and　halting　about　every　twenty　yards　to　rest　and　take　breath。　　The　distance　he　was　to　go　was　regulated；　not　so　much　by　his　powers　of　endurance　as　by　the　various　objects　by　the　wayside　…　the　lamp…posts；　for　instance。　　During　each　rest　he　used　to　look　ahead　and　select　a　certain　lamp…post　or　street　corner　as　the　next　stopping…place；　and　when　he　start　again　he　used　to　make　the　most　strenuous　and　desperate　efforts　to　reach　it。

Generally　the　goal　he　selected　was　too　distant；　for　he　usually　overestimated　his　strength；　and　whenever　he　was　forced　to　give　in　he　ran　the　truck　against　the　kerb　and　stood　there　panting　for　breath　and　feeling　profoundly　disappointed　at　his　failure。

On　the　present　occasion；　during　one　of　these　rests；　it　flashed　upon　him　that　he　was　being　a　very　long　time：　he　would　have　to　buck　up　or　he　would　get　into　a　row：　he　was　not　even　half…way　up　the　road　yet！

Selecting　a　distant　lamp…post；　he　determined　to　reach　it　before　resting　again。

The　cart　had　a　single