l in such matters--had evidently sent more paper than
was necessary. By getting rid of these two rolls, Slyme would be able
to make it appear that he had hung two rolls more than was really the
case. He had broken the rolls so as to be able to take them away from
the house without being detected, and he had hidden them up the chimney
until he got an opportunity of so doing. Harlow had just arrived at
this solution of the problem when, hearing the lower flight of stairs
creaking, he peeped over and observed Misery crawling up. He had come
to see if anyone had stopped work before the proper time. Passing the
two workmen without speaking, he ascended to the next floor, and
entered the room where Slyme was.

'You'd better not do this room yet,' said Hunter. 'There's to be a new
grate and mantelpiece put in.'

He crossed over to the fireplace and stood looking at it thoughtfully
for a few minutes.

'It's not a bad little grate, you know, is it?' he remarked. 'We'll be
able to use it somewhere or other.'

'Yes; it's all right,' said Slyme, whose heart was beating like a
steam-hammer.

'Do for a front room in a cottage,' continued Misery, stooping down to
examine it more closely. 'There's nothing broke that I can see.'

He put his hand against the register and vainly tried to push it open.
'H'm, there's something wrong 'ere,' he remarked, pushing harder.

'Most likely a brick or some plaster fallen down,' gasped Slyme, coming
to Misery's assistance. 'Shall I try to open it?'

'Don't trouble,' replied Nimrod, rising to his feet. 'It's most likely
what you say. I'll see that the new grate is sent up after dinner.
Bundy can fix it this afternoon and then you can go on papering as soon
as you like.'

With this, Misery went out of the room, downstairs and away from the
house, and Slyme wiped the sweat from his forehead with his
handkerchief. Then he knelt down and, opening the register, he took
out the broken rolls of paper and hid them up the chimney of the next
room. While he was doing this the sound of Crass's whistle shrilled
through the house.

'Thank Gord!' exclaimed Philpot fervently as he laid his brushes on the
top of his pot and joined in the general rush to the kitchen. The
scene here is already familiar to the reader. For seats, the two pairs
of steps laid on their sides parallel to each other, about eight feet
apart and at right angles to the fireplace, with the long plank placed
across; and t