New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
A WOMAN BUILDS A HOUSE.
II.
THE MYSTERY OF A LIEN"
SORROWS OF AN HONEST cARpENrER-rHE Pc
cuLrAR ACTIONS OF MR.. sLY-THE WOMAN

crLrAR ACTIONS OF MR.. sLY-THE WOMAN
BECOMES HER OWN CONTRACTOR.
Could have foreseen the various complications
and delays in the building Of my little mouse 'h"s
would arise from the departure OF Mr. Sharpe
might have consented to the erection OF tower or
ANYTHING else ne chose. l found most pcop'e !" 'e
village did almost anything under tue s'reso VI
building that No demanded. providing he did not
exact money Honest Jimmy Brown looked ao'
jectIy miserable the next morning he toio "o
nothing of the circumstances attending his 'paro-
rer'sv departure. | learned many months after
ward from q workman that Jimmy was beaten
out of his profits agin." AZ this time he propaoiy
cherished hope that his 'pardner mao Dec"
"sauar' for once He explained Sharpes absence
to me as follows: "You see, had contrac "
build a church tower down at Napoleonviile. The
folks never had no steeple. and they wanted one
Now. couldn't build tower any moro than cat
and Sharpe's gone down to about it, Yet Ill
spite of this explanation felt sure that sometnihs
was wrong His general look or depression anu
poverty was deepened. md his lowness OF sp'rt"
seemed to affect the work in the most unacccuh'-
able manner. The clapboardng put on tnat Jay
saggcd and I called his attention to 1t. he TOOK
out n spirit level. ITS all wrong. he said, atter
testing H. 1T Will have to be taken down Ihe
fact is" he continued, looking at the ne" man.
UPTON who had taken Sharpes place. mat MAJ"
began to work at the carpenters trade apeout TOUR
years ago. ana he KNOWS co"sioeia"'' 'S'" '~N''
than when he begun"
This was not n cheerful statement, but was leo
aftervard to believe it. The number Of wry angles
and boards out of plumb that this particular man
nailed into place and the manner IN WHICH, unoei
the most glaring evidence OF spirit leVeI nc
would argue that It didn't make no difference
were thoroughly exaspcrating.
you tend TO work and don't sing go many
hymns and maybe you will see straighter. was
the only reply of the boss carpenter.
Upton was just finishing stanza OF Moody ana
Sankey's last hymn when discovered that the ridse
pole of one OF the gables was inclined at an angle.
II had not called attention to 1t am certain 1t
would have been built that way. Mr.. Brown did not
seem to have any of proportion. and he was AZ
profoundly ignorant of his trade as his workman.
The fact became appallingly evident the longer he
worked alone. Under the shrewd hand or Sharpe
ne did very we'll. One day / overheard him ad-
dressing Upton: I'm very much afeard, he said
in a confidential tone. that Sharpe's played me
mean trick again and taken that money ! give
him.
81 should think you'd be used 10 II by this
time" the man answered grufny. "he allays does
MI Brown seemed para!yzed in Sharpes absence.
Though he repeatedly told me that there wa ant
more than months work. two months had gone
by and the HOUSE. seemed no nearer completion
had made up my mind by this time that must
take charge OF the masons and plumbers con-
tracts and get another boss 10 finish the interior OF
the house-if ever had a house.
1t was about this time that l received a curt,
businessikc note from the slater, saying he had
repeatediy asked brown for the amount OF his
bill which he in, I. and tho latter had put
him or with the tale that he ypected money from
He added the mysterious .nreat that he should
be compelled TO protect himself II his account
was settled soon. ! consulted n village matron
who had built to the meaning OF this threat.
why. they kin put lean you she an
bays boo If, fhosp any
money afore your work Is done and you have seen
all the bills
I was ashamed to tell her that the AMI
weary looks OF my 'boss' carpenter had worked
upon M sympathies. and that without being asked
for money had offered payments in advance about
as fast a. tho work was completed. simply taking
receipt on tho contract. l understood now that 1t
was a very Improper, unbusInesslike thing to do.
why. Sharpe gets all his money from him.. she
said. referring to Brown and what Sharpe don't
get old Sly gets on lumber claims l made Brown
bring me all his bills before gave him any money.
Hes perfectly honest man, and he won't keep
back any bills. Sly owns his house and about owns
him. Funny you amt seen Sly; he's generally
around In time Tor his money. He probably knows
you good "
There was something extremely terrifying IN the
information she finally gave me. that you could
easy pay for house twice and not own IT," and
that receipts were mo good" determined TO have
n talk with Brown | told him that had given
him money to pay the slater four months before
the day after the work was competed-because
considered him a man of honest reputation and
asked him what he had done with the money
will add that | respected him much more than
did before after this interview. He said plainly
that he had given the money 10 Sharpe, with the
rest OF the money advanced; but lie added that It
would be his loss. and that there was enough
coming TO pay the slater and the lumber bills and
everything else due. He said he would bring them
all 10 me- and that could pay them. and he would
give a receipt on the contract for the money
paid or ANY kind Of receipt wanted
/ asked him II the skaters BILL which was about
ore-third larger than he had contracted for. WAS
correct lie promptly said that he might have
made "A mistake, but that he would stand BY 1t.
and he did not propose to exact any, more than MS
contract" His unexpected manliness hShtened the
effect OF his stupidity and poverty lie aid not tell
me that he would come out of that contract poorer
than he went In. owing TO his "pardner's" defal:
cations. but he seemed bound. as matter OF
Il was about nine months after the house be-
gun that the exterior was completed. II was nearly
SM r Sr @i sy 'q foT lumber Covering the entire
time OF the work. II was sent To my residence IN
one one who would give me definite Information in re-
b sui, M many houses pronounced Mr. sys bill
fraud - ,.r...
can collect II he has not fled a lien against you.
no said. THAT twenty dollars Is on the last CON
trac, not yet completed Building laws vary N
every county The limit OF time when lien can be
filed against your property In county Is ninety
days. Some money must be held back 10 meet such
claims may he valid" He directed me TO have
the County Clerks office searched for lien or any
claim against the house, and he also told me that
form me. A public posting Of II on any obscure
tree. where could never see It, would be public
notice enough.
ordered the search Of the clerks ofice and paid
the fee for The work. Messrs. Sly & Co. had filed
no lien, and the comparatively small amount they
claimed the last contract was all they could
legally demand. They had trusted purely TO threats
In enforcing their claim had never spoken to any
of them and determined not to speak to them;
| | interviewed Brown again. He looked frightened
| when told him Of the letter and bill
ut amt yours; It's mine" he said. IT'S lumber
| that used some other jobs that amt PAID.