The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-06-10
CHAPTER TWo-contInued.

Il
Israel Sneed. the plumber, was
working with his men on job at Mill
lerton. but he took on the plumbing
for the Bling house extension, at prices
above all precedent, to be done as
soon MS he could get to II on his re-
turn. TIE butcher and grocer had Inn
proved the opportunity 10 raise their
prices, for Bling never questioned q
bill. He set the pace. Prices stuck
where he put the peg. So, unwilling
~. the millionaire Ind created condi-
fions Of life that were extremely diff
flcult.
Since prices had gone up the vii
lare Of BingyiIle Ind been running
down at the heel. II had been OF best
and IN the min. d rather shiftless
and inert community The weather
had worn the paint of many houses
before their owners had seen the need
Of repaintlng. Not until the rain
drummed on the floor was the average,
drowsy intellect Of Bingyille reused to
action on the roof. II must be said,
however, TINT every one was busy,
every day, except Hiram Blenkinsop,
who often INDUCED In ante norton
slumbers IN abe graveyard or went out
ON the river with his dog Christmas,
his bottle and his fishing rod. The
people were selling goods, or teamlng,
or working In the two hotels or the
machine shop or the electric light
plant or the mill, or keeping the hay
of the lawns, or building, or teaching
IN the schools The gardens We're
largely dependent on The spasmodic
Industry az sehooiboys and old men.
SO ii win be seen that the work of the
community had little lfreet on the sup.
ply Of things necessary 70 life. In
deed, general habit OF extravaganza
had been growing In the village, Peo.
ple were not so careful of food, fuel
and clothing as they had been.
ri was a wet summer In Blngville
The day after the rains began, Pro.
fessor Renfrew called at the house Of
the sniffy Snodgrass 1.-THE nouvear
richie and opuient carpenter. He sal
reading the morning paper with q new
diamond ring on the third finger Of his
left hand.
"My roof IS leaking badly and i
win have 10 be fixed at once, the pro
fessor announced.
s.Tm sorry. / can't do q thing fol
you now" said Snodgrass. sI've so
so much to do, don't know whlcl
way to turn
"But you're not working this rain.
day, are Your" the professor asked
"No. and / don't propose 10 work Il
this rain for anybody; II did I'd q,
my own roof. To tell You the truth,
don't have to work at ALL ! cnlculat
that I've got all the money ! need SC
when II rains. intend 10 rest and &c
acquainted with my family"
He was firm but In no way disagree
able about II.
Some Of the half-dozen men who, !
like trouble. called on him for hel
that day were inclined to resent hi
declaration Of independence aud hi
devotion 10 leisure, but really NJ
Snodgrass wns weil within his rights,
III was a more serious matter whe
Judge Crooker's plumbing leaked an
flooded bis kitchen and cellar. Isra,
sneed was IN Miilerton every day an
working overtime more or less II
refused to put hand on the judge
pipes. He was sorry but he couldn
make d horse Of himself and even
he could the time was past when /
had TO do III Judge Croker brougl
plumber from Hazelmead. ski
miles IN a motorcar, and had 10 pa
seventy dollars for time, labor al
materials. This mechanic declare
that there was too much pressure I
the pipes. judgment OF whose a
euraey we have abundant proof IN u
history Of the next week or SOL New
had there been such a bursting
pipes and flooding Of cellars TIL
little lake up in the hills which SD
piled the water Of BingYille seemed
have got the common notion Of moyil
into the village. A dozen cellars we
turned into swimming pools. Mode
improvements were going out OF coi
mission A committee went to Haz'
mead and after a weeks pleading Z
q pair OF young and fnexperiene
plumbers 10 come TO Bingsilie.
sThey must 'a' plugged 'em wi
gold" said Deacon Hosley when I
hau srriySa