Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-06-21

he dropped out of sight or went into
the library to smoke his pipe when
they called, instead of discussing ma
terials, specifications and labor with
| them.
During last summer Miss Strain
went to her fathers summer home
down Long island, and it was druing
her stay there that she received three
proposals. Each of the young men
knew Of the intentions of the others,
and they were vastly jealous of each
other, but the girl showed no prefer
ence.
Her answer to the proposals was
unique. She did not refuse or accept
any of them. She simply stated that
| she admired and esteemed them all,
| that she loved no one, and that she in
tended to marry the one of them that
built the prettiest and best home for
her. She stated that on May l., 1906,
| she would inspect the home offered to
her by her lovers, and If satisfied with
| the arrangements, the decorations, the
general surroundings, and the archi-
| tectural beauties Of one house above
the others she would accept it-and
| its owner.
| Got Busy at Once.
She wanted home, and she stipu-
| lated that the cost of the home, ex-
elusive Of the lot and furnishings,
should not exceed $1,000, and that the
total cost should be less than $4,000,
and that not more than half of the
cost price should be secured by mort
gage.
Building operations in Brooklyn i'm
mediately doomed. Shaw purchased a
lot on Utica avenue, near Eastern
parkway; Ryder bought land in Pros
pect park south; and Pettingill, who
owned lot near Bedford park at
once broke ground.
The three young architects burned
midnight electric lights drawing the
plans and specifications, creating ideal
homes, and each pushed the work on
his house as rapidly as possible.
There was much figuring Of costs,
much planning for convenience, beau
ty and utility to create a harmonious
whole-for each hoped that the girl
would fall in love with his house.
Pettingill elected to build an eight
room brick and stone house, with
wide stone front porch facing the
lawn, and harmonizing with the quiet,
shaded street. His entire id was
for comfort and utility without waste
of space. He devoted more time to
the kitchen than to anything else, and
1t was ideal, with an inserted ice box.
capable of being filled from the out
side, with excellent laundry facilities.
The depth of his walls gave oppor-
tunity for cozy window seats in the
bedrooms.
AS for Ryder, he erected a cottagy
looking house, half of cement, with
wide porches and many hooks and
angles. II was set down among the
trees and was surrounded by large
grounds, and at the rear was a tiny
building for an automobile. 1t had a
wide open fireplace in the library.
The library, reception hall, stairway
and the dining room were done In
dark oak, the dining room having
loaded windows, opening out upon a
trellised veranda overlooking the
lawn. He furnished it in mission
style And all the five bedrooms up
stairs were in white woodwork, the
floors hardwood, and the walls in the
favorite colors of his bride to be-for
when he looked over the house he
considered her as good as won. He
did not see how any girl could resist
1t.
Shaw adapted his house to the
neighborhood, and erected a preten-
tious place of the modified colonial
style. His dining room and library
arrangements were much like those
OF Ryder He added a den for him