The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-08-11
The House on tie Hill
BY M. QUAD.

went 10 the Town ana bought the nMl
and built a frame house there. When
the house was almost completed he
died. 1t was decaying wreck when
along came Mr.. Bushwick from No
one knew where and bought the prop.
erty for $780, AS soon as he had the
deed he offered It to any vilIager for
$500 and was laughed at as weak In
the top story.
Falling to effect a sale, Mr. Bushwick
had the house put IN repair ana an
nounced that he intended TO live there.
He also announced that he should use
Iit as an observatory. or course the
villagers knew what an observatory
was. When Mr.. Bushwlck's telescope
and tripod arrived and were set up on
the varanda he permitted The villagers
to have a look--not at the heavens.
but at the earth. They could almost
see the housefiies In the town be-
meath their feet.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Bushwick
when all was ready, ''the price Of this
property is $500. 1t will increase 500
Iper week untll sold"
or course he was looney, but so long
as he appeared harmless the people
would only laugh at him. The first
one to make discovery was Mr..
Graham. He was an old man, and he
hand an cd wife. They were always
wrangling, more or less. When they
had wrangled about SO long each time
he would box her ears. Two days az
i er the observatory" had been estab-
lished and 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 cufY. A moment
'ater he happened to look up on the
hill and saw that the telescope was
TRAINED upon him. II there was any
doubt that Mr. Bushwick had seen that
cum inflicted it was dispelled by the
waving of a small white flag.
Elder Thompson was a good man, s
ssry good man, as all elders should be
and are. He was sitting in his back
yard under en- apple tree. thinking
how good and peaceful and nice Il
was 10 be real good. when a humble
lee came along and lifted him once
for his mothers sake. After coming
down froin his high jump the elder
broke down young cherry tree, tore
down panel OF the fence and ran his
dog into the fouse. II was no more
than good man should do. but wheE
he looked up end saw that accusing
telescope and white flag he felt hurt
md conscience stricken.
A dozen other things Of the kind
harpeLcd during TIE first week. and
tnen tine citizens decided that an oh.
servatory was unlawful. They co.,
suited lawyer. and he smiled At them.
He told them the town could be sur
'Hnded by chservatories and not con-
nict with any law. Then It was
thought best to make up a shake purse
and buy Mr.. Bushwick out.
Gentlemen. said the telescope man
when fhav arrrrachci him on the sun.
Jet. ''the price OF this property is
$500. Take II or leave H."
But you have no right to be spying
on our homes" was retorted.
There Is no spying ! am simply
surveying fhe earth before me. n
any OF you happen to come within my
range OF vision I cannot help II. do
not think shall write book on what
! see. may. but no not think So
4 The citizens refused 10 pay the sum
named and went down the Hill 10 their
homes. while Mr.. Bushwick returned
10 his post and his. telescope. One o.
the residents OF the village was an old
maid named Miss saunderson. She
had home OF her own. She was fond
Of strolling m her garden. A Mr.. Bloc.
som. 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 II or she would quote
something TO him, but on a certain az
ternoon he forgot the warning and was
repeating "sherdan's Ride 10 Miss
saunderson when there came wife
cub and cataclysm. The telescope
took II all In. The white flag waved
ioyonsly Dozens Of people saw u
wave and went hunting for the cause
and there was some more 10 tain
about Two or three days later com
mittee climbed the hin with $500 In rs
hind pocket and tod Mr.. Bushwick q
I take Il and get out
"Gentlemen. I am sorry II you have
J. been put 10 any trouble" he kindly re
lplled: "but the figures on the property
Il 5000. You see. sort OF real estate
boom has set in."
The committee hemmed and hawed
and refused 10 pay. Two days after
that the report spread that the obser
vatory man was going to have a might
AZ well as day Eiass--a glass thai
would almost see through a pine door
Then there was a hustle. Three mel
. fook up the task Of collecting. oh. no:
: they were not afraid OF the day gias:
; or the night glass or any other kind
J OF glass. but IL would be great i'm
. provcment 20 the landscape TO remove
! the house on the hin and set out some
. pine trees there. When ther went NJ
TO see Mr.. Bushwick again he wanted
} $500. but seeing Il was them and see
3 ling they wanted TO better the land