The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-10-08
ZEN of the Y. D.

within about my buildings. / DO not Dc
as other people do, which Is the I'M
pardonable sin. To Under 1 am Jest
er, to Murdoch fanatic, to our friend
the real estate dealer a fool; 1 even
noticed my honest carpenter trying to
ask me something about shell shock
Well-they're my whims, and 1 get an
immense amount of satisfaction out
of them"
The days that followed were the
happiest Grant had known since child
hood. The carpenter, 4 thin, twisted
man, bowed with much labor at the
bench, and answering to the name
Peter, sold his services by the day and
manifested sympathy amounting to
an indulgence toward the whims of his
employer. So long as the wages were
sure Peter cared not whether the
house, was finished this year or next
or MT at all. He enjoyed Grants
cooking in the temporary workshed
they had built; he enjoyed Grants
stories Of funny incidents Of the war
which would crop out at unexpected
moments, and which were always
GOOD for a new pipe and a few min
utes' rest; he even essayed certain
flights Of his own, which showed that
Peter was q creature not entirely
without humor. He developed an ap-
probation of scenery; he would stand
for long intervals gazing across the
valley. Grant was not deceived by
these little devices, but he never took
Peter to task for his lettering. IF
the old dodger isn't quite paying his
way now, no doubt he has more than
paid 1t many times In the past" he
unused. This is an occasion upon
which to temper justice with mercy"
But 1t was in the planning and build
ing Of the house he found his real de-
light. He laid 1t out on very modest
lines, as became the amount Of money
be a single-story bungalow, with
veranda round the south and west.
The liying-room ran across the south
side; into Its east wall he built a
capacious fireplace, with narrow Sits
Of windows to right and left, and In
the western wall were deep French
windows commanding the magic Of the
view across the valley. The dining
room, too, faced to the west, with
more French windows to let in sun
and soul. The kitchen was to the east,
and of the kitchen lay Grants bed
room, facing also to the east, as be-
comes a man who rises early for his
days labor. And then facing the
west, and opening of the dining-room.
was what he was pleased to call his
whim-room.
The idea of the whim-room came
upon him as he was working out plans
on the smooth side Of board, and
thinking about things in general, and
good deal about Phyllis Bruce, who
had just arrived from the East, and |
wondering II he should ever run acpG
zen Transley. 1t struck him all
sudden, as had the Big Idea
night when he was on his way h
from Murdoch's house. He wo
1t out surreptitiously, not allo
even old Peter to see 1t until he
made It into his plan, and theI
described 1t just as the whim-r
But it was to be by all means the
room in the house; special fnii
and flooring lumber were to be bd
for it; the fireplace had to be do
a peculiarly delicate tile; the F
windows must be high and
and of the most brilliant tran
ency.
The ring Of the saw, the trill o
plane, the thwack of the han
were very pleasant music In his
Day by day he watched his dive
grow with the infinite Joy Of crea
and night after night he crept
Peter into the workshed and slep
sleep of man tired and conte
In the long summer evenings the
light hung like a champagne Gu
over the mountains even after
time, and Grant had to cut ho
he wall Of the shed that he n
watch the dying colors Of the day
rom crimson to purple to blue on
assets of cloud-wraith floating In
western sky. At times Under
Iurdoch would visit him to re
progress on the Big Idea, and
hree would sit on bench in the
'uit house, sweet with the fragr
# new sawdust, and smoke plad
While they determined matters Of
cy or administration.
Grant was almost sorry when
ouse was finished. There's so I'd
1ore enjoyment in doing things
4 merely possessing them after the
one" he philosophical to Under
hink that must be the secret Of
ocular fascination Of the West
last, with all It's culture and cow
noes and beauty, can never wi
cart which has once known
Vest. That is because in the Eas]
ne obvious things are done. but
le West they are still to do"
"You should worry" said Lin
on still have the blowing"
Eyes. and as soon as the stabl