"We have already more than once drawn the attention of the mayor and corporation to the disgracefully muddy state of our roads in winter-time. Now that our civic worthies have suffered in their own persons, and the town has been deprived for the first time in a hundred and forty years of its ancient and time-honoured ceremony, perhaps something will be done, or are we to wait until the present mayor’s tenure of office has expired?" A few months later Eves received from Templeton a long letter which gave him a good deal of pleasure. Templeton related that his invention, tested under more favourable conditions, had more than fulfilled his hopes. O’Reilly was enthusiastic about it, and had arranged to set up a small factory for him. But almost as agreeable was the news about the Mayor of Pudlington: "Noakes was never popular," Templeton wrote, "and the sorry figure he cut in certain episodes we know of brought him into ridicule, which is always fatal. It began to be whispered, too, that there was something shady in his transactions over contracts and canteens, and what not. Anyhow, one fine day he disappeared, and I hear that there are warrants out against him. I’m not vindictive, but I can’t say I shall be sorry if he is caught." "Just like old Bob," said Eves to himself. He sat down to dash off a reply: "I’m jolly glad, old man. ’There is a tide,’ etc. (Shakespeare). I always said you’d make your fortune, though I must own I never thought it would be through a mad road-sweeper. I’m going to be demobbed after all, so I’ll take on your advertising stunt as soon as you like. As to Noakes, I don’t care whether he’s caught or not. He was always a glorious rag, and I rather fancy he more or less inspired some of your bright ideas." THE END _Printed by_ MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED _Edinburgh_ * * * * * * * * *HERBERT STRANG* *COMPLETE LIST OF STORIES* ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE A GENTLEMAN AT ARMS A HERO OF LIÉGE AIR PATROL, THE AIR SCOUT, THE BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES BLUE RAIDER, THE BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE BRIGHT IDEAS BROWN OF MOUKDEN BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS CARRY ON CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE FIGHTING WITH FRENCH FLYING BOAT, THE FRANK FORESTER HUMPHREY BOLD JACK HARDY KING OF THE AIR KOBO LONG TRAIL, THE LORD OF THE SEAS MOTOR SCOUT, THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE ONE OF CLIVE’S HEROES PALM TREE ISLAND ROB THE RANGER ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS SAMBA SETTLERS AND SCOUTS SULTAN JIM SWIFT AND SURE THROUGH THE ENEMY’S LINES TOM BURNABY TOM WILLOUGHBY’S SCOUTS WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME