le Randy went over to the other place to put the house in condition
for occupancy.

While Randy was at work Jack came to see him, and insisted upon lending
a helping hand. Randy had brought over some of his father's tools and
also some nails, and he purchased at the lumber yard a few boards and
other pieces he thought he needed.

When he once got at it, it was astonishing how well our hero used the
tools, making several repairs that would have done credit to a regular
carpenter. The broken window was replaced, and the missing door found
and rehung, and several clapboards nailed fast. Then Randy mended the
porch, and put a score of shingles on the roof. This done, the chimney
was cleaned out and also the cistern, and the well was also overhauled.
In the meantime Jack pulled out a lot of weeds and trained a wild
honeysuckle over the porch. At the end of four days the place looked
quite well.

"It's a hundred per cent. better than it was," declared Jack. "It
didn't look like anything before."

"I'll get a can of paint to-morrow and paint the door and the window
frames," said Randy, and this was done. He also whitewashed the
kitchen, and kalsomined the other rooms, so that the interior of the
cottage was sweet and clean.

When Mrs. Thompson saw the change which had been wrought she was
delighted.

"I declare, it looks as well, if not better, than the cottage we are
in," she cried. "And the outlook toward the river is ever so much
nicer."

"Just wait until I have the garden in shape," said Randy. "You won't
know the spot."

"What a pity we did not know of this place before."

"Mother, I think we ought to buy it if we can."

"Perhaps we shall, Randy, before the five years are up."

At length came the day to move. A local truckman who knew Mr. Thompson
well moved them for nothing.

"You can do some odd jobs for me some time," said the truckman to Louis
Thompson.

"Thank you, I will--when I am able," answered the sufferer.

A good deal of the pain had left Mr. Thompson, but he was weak, and to
start to regular work was out of the question. Another friend took him
to his new cottage in a carriage. He gazed at the old place in wonder.

"Well, it certainly is improved!" he ejaculated. "We shall get along
here very well."

The moving was done early in the morning and by nightfall Randy and his
mother had the cottage in tolerable order. The stove was set up and
found to draw good, and the water from the well ta