The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-24
A BAD STREAK.
Mcswat Undertakes to Paint IIis Kitchen
Floor.


Floor.
"I'll paint that Kitchen floor myself.
Lobelia." said Mr.. McSwat with decision.
There's no sense in paying n man half q
dollar an hour and four prices fer the
paint he uscs and then getting tho stovs
and woodwork ali smcared with i all
the house filed with tho smell cf s,.ls
tobacco smoke when can do it just as
well and save S3. I'm going TO tackle
that Job myself"
|. Fir. McSwat bought some floor paint.
varrish and turpenisne, and at 0 o'clock
that evening he carried the loose furni-
ture ont of Tie kitchen. mixed his paint
by stirring in q liberal quantity of tur-
pentire and announced himself IN readi-
ness TO begin the artistic work OF the
evening.
Beginning at the portion of the floor
near tho rear door OF thoroom he smear
ed the paintimpartiallyi in all directions.
"Ivc got moro Of il done already" he
said, stopping to rest n little at the end
Of 10 minutes brisk exercise, "than a
professional painter would have done in
half an hour."
Seems to me IL looks cloudy" ven-
turcd Ars. McSwat. eying the painted
portion critically.
That's because II dries unequally,"
he replied. ut dries faster in somo
places than others. 1t will ali look
alike after it IS thoroughly dried. What
yuu see is only the reflection from the
lamp over there on the window SILL"
He dipped the brush in the paint
again. slapped it to and fro on the floor,
and in short time the surface was en-
tirely smeared.
"Now," he said, rising to his feet, "as
soon as it's dry Ill put on the varnish."
How long will it take to dryy" in
quired his wife.
"Only little WHILE" he answered,
touching the floor gingerly in several
places with his finger. You noticed
that put in plenty OF turpentine. didn't
You? The secret of mixing paint so it
will dry soon." he continued, wiping tho
brush carelessly or a rag in order to clean
it for the next operation, sis to put in
plenty of turpentine. Bring me the var
nish, Lobclia. Thanks"
II can't help thinking. Biliger," said
Mrs. McSwat apprehensively, THAT the
floor is darker in some places than others.
IL looks streaked."
"What you don't know about painting
floor, madam" he retortcd would
build viaduct from hero to the moon.
Those streaks are merely an optical
illusion due to the reflection of the rays
of that lamp over there. Is that plain
enough for your comprehension"
II thought You said awhile ago they
were caused by the unequal drying
$50 far as tho drying is concerned"
said Mr.. McSwat, touching the floor
again with his finger, "that will take
care of itself. You can't fool me on dry
ing All ask is plenty of turpentine.
In Ave minutes more that floor will be
as dry as the catalogue of a Goldfish ex-
hibit."
Tie thinned the varnish, waited few
minutes, examined the floor again and
pronounced it dry. Then he went across
to the other side Of the room and began
applying the varnish with much vigor,
moving gradually backward on his hands
and knees as before. When the floor
was about half covered with varnish, he
Strengthened mp in order to take the
kinks out Of his spine and looked back
over his shoulder at tho unvarnisl.ed
portion. For the FIRST time he saw it
without any reflection from tho lamp in
the window. and there was something in
the aspect of that floor that did not please
him.
He bent down and examined it closely.
Then he looked ut tho brush, wiped it
with some care on another and examined
the rag.
"Lobelia," he said, "what have you
been using this brush for?'
81 haven't used it for anything, Bill.
ger" she answered, ''for weeks ard
weeks. The last time had occasion 70
use it put q littlo backing on the l1itch-
en- stove with It,"
lyon did, did you?" he exclaimed in
an awful vo.cc. Polished the stove
with it, hey?'
mo. indeed. | didn't, Billigcr. pol
ished it with an old broom. / simply
put it on with the brush"
"You simply pat it on with tho brush,
did your roared Billiger. THAT was
all. was it?"
"Yes II was Bridgct's afternoon out
and
..De yen know what you've done,
madain?" he broke in fcrceiy. You've
wasted Gn hour and half Of my time,
broken my back and ruined a good kitch-
EN- floor
IL told you it looked streaked when
you
"Oh, ycs!" no howled. throwing the
brush on the floor. "You told me it
looked streahea, did you? Who cares
what you told me. madam he vocifer-
ated, kicking the can OF varnish violent
ly with his foot. und-but there are sa-
cred conferences and eventful moments