The Mena weekly star., 1907-05-09
DINCLEY'S !" GREAT I6EA." ]"

serial he was SD uellBHteu lndt ne went right down and bought Mrs ningIey new set of mission furniture She had been limiting for it for a year and when the furniture man arrived che was so excited that she fairly danced in and out of the rooms, study ing effects and trying different ar. rsngements. Dingley, however, had forgotten all about 1t by that time and was deeply immersed in the plot of his new serial. A great idea" had inst come to him. So he shut himself mn in his den, told his wife to Ego ahead and fix things anyway she liked and sat down to work out the story.
 He had scarcely written three words when there was timid knock on his door.
 "Oh. Richard" cried Mrs. Dingley softly. do come and tell me whether von think the divan looks all right in this corner or if it would be better over by the window
 In the goodness of his heart Ding. lev could not quench her joy; so he mt down his pen and sallied forth to give his expert opinion.
 "Oh, the thing looks good enough ,here." he said absent-mindedly. Say, Kitty, what do you think of heroine with snow white hair? Wouldn't that be a sumner; and"
 q don't know" broke in Mrs. Ding. ley, thoughtfully, whether 1t would be in the way there or not. We cer- tajnly need something to fill in that space. but it is too much in the shadow now to show the grain of the wood, and over by the window it would"
 "Oh. well,'' repeated Dingley, "change 1t round to suit yourself"
 Don't you take any interest,"" sighed Mrs. Dingley, grossly.
 "Of course, of course, but ="
 Well, then, help me to move it over by the window and we'll try it there Now, that does look better, doesn't it?"
 Lots better" agreed Dingley, get ing his breath again. Now I'll go back and write"
 Wait a minute" cried Mrs Dingley q want you to put the shelves in the book case I don't understand all those dinky little screws and things" For 20 minutes Dingley labored with the boards and props and tried to keep his mind on the story. Then he went back to his den again.
 Richard, dear" called Mrs Dingley, just as he had gotten settled and swung into the great idea once more. I've decided to move the divan back again. It really takes up all the space in that window and there's no room for any plants, and besides 1t shuts out the light"
 Wearily Dingley rose and once more applied himself to the task of moving the heavy diyan. Then, the chairs had to be all replaced and the book case showed over into the space between the windows. After that, Mrs. Ding. Icy could not be happy until some of the pictures were changed around, lowered or shortened and rehung It took 15 minutes to decide just whether each picture was straight or not, while Dingley stood on shaky foot-ladder and Mrs. Dingley stood off and squint. ed one eye to get the effect.
 Once more Dingley. tired and dis. trait this time, shut himself in his den. And once more the voice of his wife called him back 10 earth again. Dearest" Git was the pleading voice of Mrs. Dingfey. again.. would you mind-could I disturb you-just once more?"
 Dingley swore softly under his breath
 What in thunder is 1t now?" he growled. Don't you know that If I'm not allowed to write this thing I can't pay for the bloomin' furniture?"
 VI know, dear" Mrs. Dingley's voice was almost fearful, but this is most important, reallyl"
 Dingley ierked open the door of his den.
 Well" he demanded, what do you want? Speak, and be quick about It." Now, don't be cross" said Mrs. Dlngley, pouting. But just look how dreadful the whole thing looks against mat wall paper. It won't do at all"
 We'll, do you want me to paper the Wall2 roared Dingley.
 No. But I've decided to change things about little. and I just wanted you to move it all into the other room. Dont you really think it would look better?"
 Dngley laid down his pen, popped ms paper into a drawer, took off his coat and spent the rest of the day moving, When. the next day, he re. turned to his serial his great idea" had lied. The famous magazine bought 'ue thing he wrote. but it was so com monplace that they have never or uered another, and the Dingleys face ue Proposition of living with that uhssiUn furniture for the rest of their lives.
 but Mrs Dingley insisted that her nuspand is a genius, and that it is sl the bad taste of editors and jeal- ousy and spite on their part that keeps plhgiey down" He would be fa- uious If he only got half a chance. "ho Dingley thinks so. too.
 
 No Need of Scratching.
 Other afflictions may be more painful,