Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-07
THE HOUSE
ON THE HILL
BY M QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M QUAD

hill Is there yet. but there Is no house
on 1t. Twenty years ago a stranger
went to the town and bought the hill
ana built a frame house there. When
the house was about completed he
died. 1t was decaying wreck when
along came a Mr. Bushwick from no
one knew where and bought the prop
erty Tor 500. AS soon as he had the
deed he offered 1t to any villager for
$500 and was laughed ut as weak I'm
the top story.
Failing to effect sale. Mr.. Bushwick
had the house put In repair and an
nounced that he intended to live there
lie also announced that he should use
1t as an observatory. OF course the
villagers knew what an observatory
was. When Mr.. Bushwick's telescope
and tripod arrived and were set up on
the veranda he permitted the villagers
to have a look-not at the heavens. but
at the earth. They could almost see
the houseflies in the town beneath
their feet.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Bushwick
when all was ready, 1.-The price of this
property is $500. 1t will increase 500
per week until sold"
VI course he was loony, but so long
as he appeared harmless the people
would only laugh ut him. The first
one to make a discovery was q Mr..
Graham. lie was an old man, and he
had an old wife. They were always
mad wrangled about so long each time
he would box her ears. Two days aft
er the observatory" had been estab-
nshedand as the old couple sat on the
piazza Of their house wrangle took
place. After bit the husband looked
around. and. seeing no one passing.
he administered cuff. A moment
later he happened to look up on the
hill and saw that the telescope was
trained upon him. If there was any
doubt that Mr.. Bushwick had seen that
cum INFLICTED 1t was dispelled by the
waving OF small white flag.
Elder Thompson was n good man.
very good man. as all elders should be
and are. He was sitting In his back
yard under an apple tree. thinking
how good and peaceful and nice il
was to be real good. when humble
Dee came along aud lifted him once
Tor his mothers sake After coming
down from his high jump the elder
broke down young cherry tree. tore
down panel of the fence and ran his
dog into the house. 1t was no more
tnan good man should do. but when
he looked up and saw that accusing
telescope and white flag he felt hurt
and conscience stricken.
A dozen other things OF the kind
happened during the first week. and
then the citizens decided that an OBJ
servatory was unlawful. They con-
suited n lawyer, and he smiled at them.
he told them the town could he sur
rounded by observatorics and not con-
hict with any law. Then il was
thought best to make up II shake purse
and buy Mr.. Bushwick out.
Gentlemen. said thc telescope man
when they approached him on the sub
1ect, the price of this property is
5000. Take it or leave it,"
But you have no right TO he spying
on our homes" was retortcd.
There is no spying am simply
surveying the earth before me. If any
or you happen TO come within my
range of vision I cnnnot help IL. do
not think | shall write a book on what
/ see. may, but do not think So"
The citizens refused to pay the sum
named and went down the hill to their
homes. while Mr. Bushwick returned
to his post and his telescope. One of
the residents Of the village was nm old
maid named Miss Sauudersop. She
had n home OF her own. She was fond
of strolling I'm her garden. A Mr.. Bios
son. who lived next door. was fond of
leaning over the line fence and quot
ing poetry TO her. His wife had warn
ed him TO stop It or she would quote
something TO him. but on certain aft
ernoon he forgot the warning and was
repeating "Shcridan's Ride" TO Miss
Saunderson when there came wife,
a club and cataclysm. The telescope
took 1t all in. The white flag waved
Joyously Dozens OF people saw il
wave and went hunting for the cause.
and there was some more 10 talk
about. Two or three days later com
mitteo climbed the hill with $500 in its
hind pocket and told Mr.. Bushwick TO
take It and get out
Gentlemen, / am sorry II you have
been put to any trouble" he kindly re-
piled, but the figure on the property
Is 5000. You see. sort OF real estate
boom has set in"
The committee hcmmed and hawed
and refused TO pay Two days after
that the report spread that the observ-
atory man was going 70 have a night
as well as day glass-a glass that
would almost see through pine door.
Then there was hustle. Three men
took up the task Of collecting Oh. no;
they were not afraid OF the day glass
or the night glass or any other kind
OF glass, but Il would be a great i'm.
provemcnt 10 the landscape TO remove
the house on the hill and set out some
pine trees there When they went ND
TO SOC Mr. Ruohvfciy n coin H., ,,,..oa