The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-04-22
CHAPTER rwo-cOntlnuod.


Israel Sneed, the plumber, was
working with his men on a Job at MIL
lerton, but he took on the plumbing
for the Bling house extension, at prices
above all precedent, to be done as
soon as he could get to 1t on his re-
turn. The butcher and grocer had I'M
proved the opportunity to raise their
prices, for Blng never questioned
bill. He set the pace. Prices stuck
where he put the peg. So, unwilling
Ily, the millionaire had created condi-
lions Of life that were extremely diff
hcult.
Since prices had gone up the vii
lage Of Bingvllle had been running
down at the heel. 1t had been at best
and, in the main, a rather shiftless
and inert community. The weather
had worn the paint Off many houses
before their owners had seen the need
of repainting. Not until the rain
ldrummed on the floor was the average,
Idrowsy intellect of Blngville reused to
faction on the roof. 1t must be said,
however, that every one was busy,
every day, except Hiram Blenkinsop.
who often INDUCED IN ante norton
Islumbers in the graveyard or went out
lon the river with his dog Christmas,
his bottle and his fishing rod, The
people were selling goods, or teaming,
or working in the two hotels or the
machine shop or the electric light
plant or the mill, or k Jeplng the hay
loff the lawns, or building, or teaching
lin the schools. The gardens were
largely dependent on the spasmodlc
Industry Of schooIboys and old men.
$50 1t will be seen that the work of the
community had little effect on the sup
ply of things necessary to life. In
deed, a general habit of extravaganza
had been growing In the village. Peo-
Iple we're not so careful of food, fuel
and clothing as they had been.
It was a wet summer In BIngville.
THE day after the rains began, Pro-
fessOr Renfrew called at the louise of
the sniffy Snodgrass-the nOuveau
richie and opuleDt carpenter. he sat
reading the morning paper with a new
diamond ring on the third finger OF his
left hand.
my roof is leaking badly and It
will have to be fixed at once" the pro-
fessor announced.
'Tm sorry, can't do a thing for
you now" said Snodgrass. "Fve got
80 much to do, don't know which
way to turn"
"But you're not working this rainy
day, are you" the professor asked.
"No, and don't propose to work In
this rain for anybody; If l did I'd FIX
my own roof. To tell you the truth.
don't have to work at all calculate
that I've got all the money need. So,
when II rains, intend to rest and get
acquainted with my family"
He was firm but in no way disagree
able about 1t.
7 Some Of the half-dozen men who, IN
like trouble, called on him for help
that day we're inclined to resent his
declaration Of independence and his
devotion to leisure, but really Mr.
.Snodgrass was well within his rights.
il was a more serious matter when
Judge Crooker's plumbing leaked and
flooded bis kitchen and cellar. Israel
sneed was in MilIerton every day and
working overtime more or less. he
refused to put a hand on the judges
pipes. He was sorry but he couIdn'l
make q horse Of himself and even II
he could the time was past when he
had to do It Judge Croker brought
a plumber from Hazelmead, sixty
miles 10 a mOtorcar, and had TO pay
seventy dollars for time. labor anc
materials. This mechanic declared
that there was too much pressure on
the pipes, a Judgment OF whose &C
curacy we have abundant proof in the