Part 14 (1/2)

”I think that would be enough,” said Mr. Barlow. ”But I will have to nail boards over it to-night and get a big pane Monday.”

”But I do so want it put in to-day,” said Bobby. ”Mother is coming home on the four o'clock train.”

”So your mother's coming home, is she?” He saw the anxious look on Bobby's face.

”I will see what I can find,” he said.

Mr. Barlow's shop was piled full of all sorts of things for building houses. Besides his work bench and tool chests, there were piles of lumber, bundles of s.h.i.+ngles, odd window sashes and, in one corner, some window panes. He went to this corner and looked over the panes.

”No,” he said, ”there is nothing big enough.”

Bobby began to look here and there. Back of a pile of lumber, he found two window panes.

”Here, Mr. Barlow,” he called. ”Here are some big ones.”

”Well! well! I had forgotten them,” said Mr. Barlow. He came back there and measured them. ”Almost big enough,” he said, ”but not quite. I remember just the size of your big window. These lack three inches.

”I'm afraid you will have to wait, sonny,” he added.

Bobby tried to keep back the tears, but they would come; he was so disappointed. Mr. Barlow thought a moment.

”I'll tell you what I'll do,” said he. ”I had some big windows taken over to Mr. Martin's new house this morning. He is going to have two windows just the size of yours. If they are not yet put in, I think Mr.

Martin will let me take one for you and get him another next week.”

Bobby and the carpenter went over to Mr. Martin's house. They found that one of the big panes had already been put in, and the man was just going to start on the other.

”Wait a minute,” said Mr. Barlow. ”We may not want that one put in to-day.”

Then he said to Mr. Martin, ”Will you let me put that big pane into Mr.

Hill's window? I'll get another one for you on Monday.”

”Why not get Mr. Hill's on Monday?” asked Mr. Martin.

”Well, you see, Bobby broke their big window and his mother is coming home to-day,” said the carpenter.

”I see,” said Mr. Martin. ”Well, in that case, I'll help a little chap out.”

Mr. Barlow hitched up his horse and put the big pane of gla.s.s in the wagon. They reached the house with the big pane all safe.

While Mr. Barlow put it in, Bobby stood watching him and looking at the clock every once in a while. When it was all done, he handed the four dollars to Mr. Barlow.

”And thank you ever so much for coming to-day,” he said.

”It won't take as much as that,” said the carpenter. And he handed a dollar back to Bobby.

”What time did you say Mother was coming?” he asked.

”On the four o'clock train,” answered Bobby.