Arizona republican., 1912-07-23
TRAGEDY OF A
 HOUSEHOLDER
Strange Tale of the Gas Mans Glee, or "He
 Laugh Best Who Laughs Last; Like All Melo-
 Dramas It Ended Happily

The poor gas man gets it all the time but once in a while he has an inning and this time it was his turn to laugh The story does not come from either the gas man or the other fellow but from a third party who heard about it and realized that it was too good to keep. The eXplana- tion is offered in order that neither may feel hard against the other and it will be no use for either to inquire as to who has been peddling it for that is a professional secret. And the story is vouched for.
 Alr. Blank, who lives upon one of the avenues recently installed an au- t0matic water heating plant in his home. one of the sort where the pipes are always filled with hot water, con stantly circulating over a little gas flame. Whenever a gallon of hot water is drawn off a gallon of cold water takes it's place and is promptly heated It costs something to install that kind of q system but once it is in the outlay for gas is reputed to be very small and the convenience of the hot water is surpassing great.
 After using the new equipment a month Mir Blank received bill from the gas company That was not sur prising for he had intended to pay for his gas. but when he saw the amount of it. he went up in the air When he came down again he went to the gas company and told them that all he wanted was just the bill for heating his hot Water-that he had never of fered to buy the COmpanys surplus product nor was he under any Obliga- tiOn to keep up the cOmpanys bank account Calming down a little he said he knew there must be some mistake, that the meter was doubtless out of order or there must be a leak, where upon he requested that an efficient man be sent to the house to look things over
 It was done and the inspector re- ported that he had examined the sys- tenn carefully and could detect no eVi- dence of leakage in any quarter Also he had tested the meter and found it to be working with mathematical accuracy. As a scientific mechanic he averred that beyond all peradven- ture the cOmpany's claim for gas was a just one. He admitted that the bill was enormous but facts are stubborn things and however disagreeable they must be faced
 Formal report was made to Mir Blank who declared the service an outrage. He said it was not possible for his family to use that much hot water in a month if they devoted themselves constantly to bathing and washing dishes. He said he might pay the bill but would have to study over it a while and meantime he would look around to see if he could sell his house for enough money tC settle up with the gas man and tht company that installed the plant
 A few days later he met the man. ager of the gas company and told hin he had been down to the office an( paid his bill. breaking the news witl a sickly sort of a smile indicating tha he was keeping something back. 'The bill was all right. I guess. but it vii not be so big next month" he con tinued.
 Then he explained that that morn ing the man who waters the gras approached him and said, MT Blank what do you suppose is the matte with the water in the pipes, it is al ways hot and today it seems to b almost scalding" MT Blank coul' not answer from any previous knoWl edge of the hydrant water but it onl took him one second to solve the mys tery of both the water and the ga bill Then he telephoned for
 plumber and had the lawn hydran system detached from the house plan He said he thought the lawn woul
 &I,o fl7n .iran break. even if the water had the leas little bit of ice in it.
 paac1,as 9 cents a mound at the ranc