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ht it there for safety … to take care of till he could find the owner。 The people to whom it belonged thought the thing had been lost or stolen in transit； and afterwards one of the workmen who had assisted to pack and remove the furniture was dismissed from his employment on suspicion of having had something to do with its disappearance。 No one ever thought of Rushton in connection with the matter； so after about a month he had it taken to his own dwelling and hung up in the hall near the carved oak marble…topped console table that he had sneaked last summer from 596 Grand Parade。
And there it hangs unto this day： and close behind it； supported by cords of crimson silk； is a beautiful bevelled…edged card about a foot square； and upon this card is written； in letters of gold： ‘Christ is the head of this house； the unseen Guest at every meal； the silent Listener to every conversation。'
And on the other side of the barometer is another card of the same kind and size which says： ‘As for me and my house we will serve the Lord。'
From another place they stole two large brass chandeliers。 This house had been empty for a very long time； and its owner … who did not reside in the town … wished to sell it。 The agent； to improve the chances of a sale； decided to have the house overhauled and redecorated。 Rushton & Co。's tender being the lowest； they got the work。 The chandeliers in the drawing…room and the dining…room were of massive brass； but they were all blackened and tarnished。 Misery suggested to the agent that they could be cleaned and relacquered； which would make them equal to new： in fact； they would be better than new ones； for such things as these were not made now； and for once Misery was telling the truth。 The agent agreed and the work was done： it was an extra； of course； and as the firm got twice as much for the job as they paid for having it done； they were almost satisfied。
When this and all the other work was finished they sent in their account and were paid。
Some months afterwards the house was sold； and Nimrod interviewed the new proprietor with the object of securing the order for any work that he might want done。 He was successful。 The papers on the walls of several of the rooms were not to the new owner's taste； and； of course； the woodwork would have to be re…painted to harmonize with the new paper。 There was a lot of other work besides this： a new conservatory to build； a more modern bath and heating apparatus to be put in； and the electric light to be installed； the new people having an objection to the use of gas。
The specifications were prepared by an architect； and Rushton secured the work。 When the chandeliers were taken down； the men； instructed by Misery； put them on a handcart； and covered them over with sacks and dust…sheets and took them to the front shop； where they were placed for sale with the other stock。
When all the work at the house was finished； it occurred to Rushton and Nimrod that when the architect came to examine and pass the work before giving them the certificate that would enable them to present their account； he might remember the chandeliers and inquire what had become of them。 So they were again placed on the handcart； covered with sacks and dust…sheets； taken back to the house and put up in the loft under the roof so that； if he asked for them； there they were。
The architect came； looked ever the house； passed the work； and gave his certificate； he never mentioned or thought of the chandeliers。 The owner of the house was present and asked for Rushton's bill； for which he at once gave them a cheque and Rushton and Misery almost grovelled and wallowed on the ground before him。 Throughout the whole interview the architect and the ‘gentleman' had kept their hats on； but Rushton and Nimrod had been respectfully uncovered all the time； and as they followed the other two about the house their bearing had been expressive of the most abject servility。
When the architect and the owner were gone the two chandeliers were taken down again from under the roof； and put upon a handcart； covered over with sacks and dust…sheets and taken back to the shop and again placed for sale with the other stock。
These are only a few of the petty thefts committed by these people。 To give anything approaching a full account of all the rest would require a separate volume。
As a result of all the hurrying and scamping； every now and again the men found that they had worked themselves out of a job。
Several times during the summer the firm had scarcely anything to do； and nearly everybody had to stand off for a few days or weeks。
When Newman got his first start in the early part of the year he had only been working for about a fortnight when … with several others … he was ‘stood off'。 Fortunately； however； the day after he left Rushtons； he was lucky enough to get a start for another firm； Driver and Botchit； where he worked for nearly a month； and then he was again given a job at Rushton's； who happened to be busy again。
He did not have to lose much time； for he ‘finished up' for Driver and Botchit on a Thursday night and on the Friday he interviewed Misery； who told him they were about to commence a fresh ‘jab' on the following Monday morning at six o'clock； and that he could start with them。 So this time Newman was only out of work the Friday and Saturday； which was another stroke of luck； because it often happens that a man has to lose a week or more after ‘finishing up' for one firm before he gets another ‘job'。
All through the summer Crass continued to be the general ‘colour…man'； most of his time being spent at the shop mixing up colours for all the different ‘jobs'。 He also acted as a sort of lieutenant to Hunter； who； as the reader has already been informed； was not a practical painter。 When there was a price to be given for some painting work； Misery sometimes took Crass with him to look over it and help him to estimate the amount of time and material it would take。 Crass was thus in a position of more than ordinary importance； not only being superior to the ‘hands'； but also ranking above the other sub…foremen who had charge of the ‘jobs'。
It was Crass and these sub…foremen who were to blame for most of the scamping and driving； because if it had not been for them neither Rushton nor Hunter would have known how to scheme the work。
Of course； Hunter and Rushton wanted to drive and scamp； but not being practical men they would not have known how if it had not been for Crass and the others； who put them up to all the tricks of the trade。
Crass knew that when the men stayed till half past seven they were in the habit of ceasing work for a few minutes to eat a mouthful of grub about six o'clock； so he suggested to Misery that as it was not possible to stop this； it would be a good plan to make the men stop work altogether from half past five till six； and lose half an hour's pay； and to make up the time； instead of leaving off at seven…thirty； they could work till eight。
Misery had known of and winked at the former practice； for he knew that the men could not work all that time without something to eat； but Crass's suggestion seemed a mu