Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-04-22
CHAPTER rwo-contInued.

Israel Sneed, the plumber, was
working with his men on job at Mil
lerton, but he took on the plumbing
for the Bing 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 inn
proved the opportunity to raise their
prices, for Bing never questioned a
bill. He set the pace. Prices stuck
where he put the peg. So, unwilling
Iy, the millionaire had created condi-
lions of life that were extremely diff
ficult.
Since prices had gone up the vii
lage of Bingville had been running
down at the heel 1t had been at best
and, in the main, rather shiftless
and inert community. The weather
had worn the paint of many houses
before their owners had seen the need
Of repainting. Not until the rain
drummed on the floor was the average,
drowsy intellect of Bingville reused to-
action on the roof. It must be said,
however, that every. one was busy,
every day, except Hiram Blenkinsop,
who often INDUCED In ante norton
slumbers In &he graveyard or went out
on 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 keeping the hay
off the lawns, or building. or teaching
in the schools. The gardens were
largely dependent on the spasmodic
industry of schoolboys and old men.
So 1t will be seen that the work of the
community had little lffect on the sup
ply of things necessary to life. In
deed, general habit of extravaganza
had been growing in the village. Peo-
pie were 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 house of
the sniffy Snodgrass-the nouveau
richie and opulent 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 1t
viii have to be fixed at once" the pro-
fessor announced.
"Fm sorry, I can't do thing for
you now." said Snodgrass. i've got
50 much to do, don't know which
way to turn"
'.But you're not working this rainy
day, are your the professor asked.
mo, and don't propose to work in
this rain for anybody; IL l did I'd fix
my own roof. TO tell you the truth. l
don't have to work at all calculate
that I've got all the money need. So,
when 1t rains. intend to rest and get
acquainted with my family"
He was firm but in no way disagree
able about IL.
Some Of the half-dozen men who, In
like trouble, called on him for help
that day were inclined to resent his
declaration of independence and his
devotion to leisure, but really Mr..
Snodgrass was well within his rights.
It was more serious matter when
Judge Crooker's plumbing leaked and
flooded his kitchen and cellar. Israel
1uIEM WAB Ia 1AAACAloA GNCAE dAy anu
working overtime more or less. He
refused to put hand on the judges
pipes. He was sorry but he couldn't
make a horse of himself and even If
he could the time was past when ne
had to do 1t. Judge Croker brought
a plumber from Hazelmead, sixty
miles in a motorcar, and had to pay
seventy dollars for time labor and
materials. This mechanic declared
that there was too much pressure on
the pipes, a judgment OF whose ac-
curacy we have abundant proof in the
history Of the next week or so. Never
had there been such a bursting of
pipes and flooding Of cellars. That
little lake up IN the hills which sup
piled the water OF Bingville seemed to
nave got the common notion OF moving
into the village. A dozen cellars were
turned into swimming pools. Modern
improvements were going out of COM
mission A committee went to Hazel
mead and after a weeks pleading got
pair Of young and inexperienced
! plumbers to come to BingvllIe.
sThey must "a plugged em with
gold" said Deacon HOsley, when the
7 Nil sa.-s.xaS