The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-06
PAINTERS PIE.
TRy Edward B. Clark

little fiat darning. Tommy Sparks, aged
four, had been allowed to go alone to
play in the great yard that lies between
the apartment building and the swell
private residence which faces the drive
Mr.. Sparks was at his office, and all the
young Sparkses, barring Tommy, were
at school. From Mrs. Sparks vantage
point in the little bay window she could
catch occasional glimpses of painter
in the big yard next door, who was NOV
ing along slowly from stone to stone
painting the foundation of the house OF
their rich neighbor Subdued sort OF
red color Mrs. Sparks was dreamlly
wondering why the foundation, whlcn
had been pretty in its natural hue, need-
ed painting at all, when Tommy Sparks
toddled in through the doorway Leading
from the kitchen. Tommy had come
up from the yard the back way. Tommy
had some streaks Of red running dag
onally down from each corner or MS
mouth. and his linen dress was spotted
in places with the same color. ~
mother, what on earth have you been
eating?"
Tommy climbed into chair. swung
his legs in his infantile way and SAID
Mamma, painters pie good"
Mrs Sparks gave one hurried. hor-
rffied glance Through the window at the
red paint which was being daubed on
the neighbours house and then turned
Tommy.
'Tommy'-her voice was a pleading
wail-"did you eat the painters stuff
out of the pai1?"
Yes, out of pail; painters pie good,
answered Tommy.
Mrs. Sparks shrieked. The maid
rushed in from the kitchen. Get the
doctor the druggist and Mr.. Sparks"
paint and sugar of lead and everything.
Go, girl, go!" Susan rushed through
the door, sent the corner druggist flying
up to the house, ordered the clerk to
on a chase for the doctor.
In the meantime Mrs. Sparks was
moaning over Tommy, who was taking
the unusual commotion which he had
year-olds. He insisted on occasionally
reiterating that painters pie was
good" and at each reiteration the moth
er'S heart sank.
The druggist rushed in. Tommy has
eaten paint. Heaven alone knows how
much. 1t must have had sugar of lead
in it, and that's sweet and that's why
he ate it,
The druggist grabbed up Tommy,
half threw him on to a lounge and then
turned to the mother.
Control yourself, Mrs. Sparks. Lite
depends on instant action. Get me salt,
potash and soft soap" Luckily Mrs
Sparks had all three articles in the
house, and she rushed to the kitchen
and brought them back. Tommy as yet
showed no sign of collapse. The drug
gist put two tablespoonfuls of salt in
half a glass of lukewarm water and
forced Tommy to swallow it, sputter-
ing. This dose was followed up with a
heroic one of potash, and then Tommy
was made to swallow a large coffee cup
full of soft soap. With the soap down
and TOmmy's eyes hanging out of his
head and well down over his cheek
bones, the druggist turned the young
ster over on his stomach on the couch
and shook him.
The only thing about Tommy that
didn't rebel at this treatment was his
stomach. That held on to its unaccus-
toned load with a pertinacity worthy
of something better. At this juncture
the painter appeared on the scene. He
admitted to the fearful Mrs. Sparks
that he had left his paint pot on the
ground where Tommy could have found
1t for about five minutes while he went
around the corner to get glass of beer.
At this minute the doctor fell in at
the door on the heels of the maid. He
approved the druggists treatment and
added to it a large dose of ipecac. I'm
der this last added horror Tommy's
Like the younger hopeful in ''Helen's
Babies he played whale, and, while
he didn't cast I'D Jonah. he cast up
pretty near everything else.
While Tommy was in the throes Mr..
Sparks arrived, ashy Tipped and shak-
en-. The doctor turned to him. 81 trust,
Mr.. Sparks. that If we can keep him
at it for ten minutes more we may save
his life" Tommy kept at it.
The painter, who had retreated before
the stricken countenance of Mrs.
Sparks, now reappeared. He was car
rying in one hand a dinner pail, which
he held upside down to show those as
sembled that it was absolutely empty.
when 1 came to work this morn
ing" said the painter, 81 had three
pieces of berry pie in this pail. amt
got any now, a fact 1 just discovered.
I guess maybe the youngster knows
where it went"
Tommy, just out of a paroxysm,
turned his head and caught sight of the
empty dinner pail. Painters pies
good" he murmured.
Mrs. Sparks sank into a chair laugh
ing and crying Historically A grin ap-
peared on Mr. Sparks face. The doctor
and the druggist looked Disguised Mr..
Sparks gave the painter a dollar. go
to a restaurant and get square meal"
he said.
Henry" said Mrs. Sparks, still in a
struggle between two emotions, what
shall we do with that boy?"
well" answered Henry as he sur
veyed Tommy and his surroundings,
at think from the cleaning these two
professional gentlemen have just given
him, that If We could turn him inside
out he'd make a good advertisement
for some brand Of soap.'-Chicago
Record-Herald.
City Ticket Office