ny men and teams for a house
excavation in the most exclusive part of the city. So far they had been
building in the cheaper districts a cheap type of house for those who,
having little capital, are the easier deprived of what they have. The
shift in operations caused Linder to lift his eyebrows.

Transley laughed boyishly and clapped a palm on his shoulder.

"I may as well make you wise, Linder," he said. "We're going to build a
house for Mr. and Mrs. Transley."

"MISSUS?" Linder echoed, incredulously.

"That's the good word," Transley confirmed. "Never expected it to happen
to me, but it did, all of a sudden. You want to look out; maybe it's
catching."

Transley was evidently in prime humor. Linder had, indeed, noted this
good humor for some time, but had attributed it to the very successful
operations in which his employer had been engaged. He pulled himself
together enough to offer a somewhat confused congratulation.

"And may I ask who is to be the fortunate young lady?" he ventured.

"You may," said Transley, "but if you could see the length of your nose
it wouldn't be necessary. Linder, you're the best foreman I ever had,
just because you don't ever think of anything else. When you pass on
there'll be no heaven for you unless they give you charge of a bunch of
men and teams where you can raise a sweat and make money for the boss.
If you weren't like that you would have anticipated what I've told
you--or perhaps made a play for Zen yourself."

"Zen? You don't mean Y.D.'s daughter?"

"If I don't mean Y.D.'s daughter I don't mean anybody, and you can take
that from me. You bet it's Zen. Say, Linder, I didn't think I could
go silly over a girl, but I'm plumb locoed. I bought the biggest old
sparkler in this town and sent it out with Y.D., if he didn't lose it
through the lining of his vest--he handled it like it might have been a
box of pills--bad pills, Linder--and I've got an architect figuring how
much expense he can put on a house--he gets a commission on the cost,
you see--and one of these nights I'm going to buy you a dinner that'll
keep you fed till Christmas. I never knew before that silliness and
happiness go together, but they do. I'm glad I've got a sober old
foreman--that's all that keeps the business going."

And after Transley had turned away Linder had scratched his head and
said "By thunder.... Linder, when you wake up you'll be dead.... After
her practically saying 'The water's fine.'... W