Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-12-17
nls HOUSE cor AWAY.
Tho Temporary myrtery Of Chicas'
workinRman's Residence.

The Temporary MyHtery OF Chtca2o
workineman's Residence.
When Pete kissed his wife good-by IN
the morning his little frame house
rested on rollers. The house-mover's
gang was hitching clanxing chains 70
the heavy square timbers, and the
brown horse with detected droop TO
his long head was ready to circle around
the capstan and haul Pete's cottage in
to the street.
"Don't you worry bit, Mary said
Pete, ms he picked up his dinner pail.
"Thc house mover told me that not an
inch Of plaster would fall. So long, III
pick you up six blocks south tonight"
"Sure thing" replied the house mover
20 Pete's inquiry. This is a dead easy
job You'll find your house in the mid
die OF the street six blocks down there
tonight and your wife and kids all
o. X"
Pete was an iron molder, and the foun-
dry where he worked was good hours
walk from home. He went to his bench
In n cheerful mood. The elevated rail.
road company had paid him good stifi
price for his lot, and had offered 10 move
his house free of expense 10 him. Pete
took the money ana bought lot cheap
in a new street, half mile nearer the
foundry, two blocks from a school, and
with a church Just around the corner.
Taking IT all in all, Pete considered he
had made good bargain.
During The day Pete's thoughts were
on the little white cottage, with its clean
muslin sash curtains and light-green
shutters, slowly travelling down the
street. lie could almost see Mary anx-
iously noting progress through the win
dows, and the children. wild with the
novelty, racing and tearing around.
Every molder on the floor knew that
Pete's house was on the move. They
discussed the matter while grouped
around the cupola waiting for the iron
TO run. They were fun of suggestions,
and Pete received the benefit of the con-
centrated advice Of so sympathetic men.
The foreman once had passed through
the house-moving experience and, as
he was the foreman and rs his house
was a two-story brick, his advice was
regarded as weighty and his sugges-
tions treasured as words of great value.
After Pete had filed and eDlptied his
ladle n dozen times and had washed up
he started merrily TO find his home
When he arrived at the corner where he
expected TO meet his cottage, none ap.
peared. Pete looked north and south
through the dusk, but as far as he could
see the street was clear. A policeman
happened along.
SAY, officer" exclaimed Pete, "have
you seen n one-story frame cottage go
by here to-day2"
The policeman stared at Pete for
second, then replied gruffly: "What'er
you givin' me?"
That's straight" said Pete, with en-.
ergy. They're moving my house. II
ought TO be here, but IL amt"
The policeman grew sympathetic az
once. I've seen no house moyin', but
there's some red lights over there two
blocks. Mebbe it's your house"
Pete hurried for the red lights. II
was n house perched on rollers in the
middle Of the street, but il was not his
houHEs AAN uNtI AlAt AlllAntEEf
chains, and skids TO the front door, for
the steps had been amputated.
A woman with hand lamp answered
the knock.
Have you seen a one-story frame cot
tage, white, with green shutters, and
little woman with brown hair go by this
way?" asked Pete, hurriedly.
H.. II 1.
NO" said she. Were movin', too
My man hasn't got home yet. Maybe
he's hunting for me, too" and she gig.
gled, Historically.
Pete gave her no comfort, but sprang
10 the ground. Near the house was
grocery, and there Pete inquired for his
house. No one had seen IL.
"Pshaw!" seid Pete. Its a light
house, and those house-movers have got
IL on the lot"
He almost ran 20 the new site and
found IL vacant. He had spent an hour
searching for the white cottage and
Mary. He had asked so persons II they
had seen a white, one-story cottage on
a tour, and now he seated himself on
the edge of the sidewalk in front of the
new lot he had bought and tried TO pull
himself together. He could not under.
stand IL. He could think of no other
path over which the house might travel.
Suddenly a new idea struck him.
THE fire department has made them
pull the house into a vacant lot so as not
TO block the street. I'll start from the
beginning, and II / don't find IL tonight
Pllsleep in the woodshed. They haven't
moved that, anyway. Only Mary will
be worried"
In quarter of an hour he was on the
old familiar sidewalk. AS he hurried
along he closely examined every house
on both sides Of the street. Absorbed
in this, he forgot his whereabouts, and
he choked and gulped in surprise when
he suddenly looked into the windows OF
his own white cottage and saw Mary
with her nose fattened against the
glass watching for him. The house had
not been moved foot.
Something broke" explained Mary,
helping Pete to a heaping plateful oi
liver and bacon, "and the man will be
back tomorrow. ."-Chicago Record.
LOVE KNOWS NO RANK.
Many Noblemen Have Zone to the serv-
ants Hall for wives.
4