Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-01-29

/ 1ty, but followed as ne was told 10 90.
Notwithstanding his announcement
that he had no time to waste, Meade
turned with his quick, nervous stride
down the side street. at right angles
to the direction in which he had been
hurrying, and wheeled into the hall
way Of an old, rickety, frame build
ing Up one flight OF stairs he stalked
into an office where. near the window,
q big rough table, Uttered with paper
and drawing materials, was tilted upon
rude trestles. A cheerful wood FIRE
was burning in an old-fashioned stove;
but there was no one in the room. and
Meade plunged into the next Office
through the communicating door,
which was open.
This was a lawyers Office. II one
might Judge from the yellow-backed
books which filed three cases, and
here sat two men with their feet on
opposite sides of fiat-top desk, chat
ting lazily.
Where's Harper?" Meade briskly
demanded.
He's out Of town, Brandy" drawled
the lean-faced man at the far side OF
the desk. 'Harper's gone to mortgage
his immortal soul for another new ma
chine, and I'm keeping up his fire so
this room won't be SO beastly cold
when he opens our door tomorrow
morning"
"Harper's an ass; tell him | said
sol" Meade retorted, and turned back
into the architects office.
He found Conrad, his hands clasped
behind him, inspecting the materials
upon the table with greedy eyes.
Nice pickle you've got me into"
fused Meade. Il suppose | have to
stand around now till you earn your
breakfast: and my times worth
money. Where are my plans. won
der?"
With ruthless hand he began to
open and scatter about the office sew
eral small rolls Of tough manila-pa-
per drawings until he found the ones
for which he had been searching. They
were the first and second story plans
Of moderate-sized house, arranged
s.&c by side upon one sheet; and this
he spread upon the table In front of
Conrad.
There" he said; see what you can
do toward designing an outside for
that house; just rough. free-hand
sketch"
In spite Of the draftsman's apparent
deliberateness. they had not long to
wait; for presently he put pencil to
the block of paper and, with deft. sure
sketched, in perfect perspective, a
house fitting the plans that he had
seen; its roof simple to avoid snow
pockets, its caves and porches wide
to afford shade in summer, its lines
simple and squat for the fiat grounds.
The ornamentation, massed against
broad, plain surfaces, was exquisite
In its suggested detail and placed
with consummate art. Meade, as the
last strokes were put down, could
scarcely wait.
Look at that!" he exclaimed in
triumph to his friends. Harper
couldn't make drawing like that in
two years.
As young Conrad added a chimney
and lined In the wide porch-steps,
Meade was for jerking the sketch
from under his fingers, but the artist
held up his right hand solemnly.
You shout wait" he calmly com.
manded; and, with few deft lines,
suggested a sidewalk, a lawn, some
trees and clouds; then, having drawn
a waving line about 1t to circumscribe
the plane of his picture, he detached
the sheet from the block and handed
1t over, with the pencil upon it.
The three bent over it in profound
respect.
That is certainly some house." pro-
nounced Hyde.
Il don't know how to say lovely"
drawled Eastman, but I'm willing to
pronounce that mighty decent de-
sign"
Decent" repeated Meade. ITS
great!"