The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-29
MIR. TABB PRACTICES ECONOMY.

10 stain anu VdIulSu dlI LuC uOOIS'
He's to do the work for $Io."
"Huh !" snorted her husband.
"Ten dollars for staining the floors,
heh? When we could just as we'll
do it ourselves. That's the sort of
thing that keeps me poor. If you
hadn't been in such a hurry to sign
the lease for this fiat I'd have made
the landlord do it. ;"
"Now, Thomas, you know perfect
ly we'll that
Maria, I'm determined to stop
the useless waste of money in this
household. Just as lesson in econ
omy, which l have small hopes you'll
profit by, I'll stain these floors my
SELF"
every we'll, Thomas,' said Mrs.
Tabb, with resignation. Only if it
doesn't turn out we'll you must re-
member I warned you."
That evening Mr.. Tabb came home
to dinner with large bundle under
his arm. Heunwrapped it and proud
ly displayed his purchases to his wife.
"Iu this can, madam" he said, "is
the combination filler and stainer.
In this other can is the varnish. Here
is the brush. The whole outfit cost
only 81. Within the next forty
eight hours your hardwood floors will
be the admiration and envy of all your
neighbors. &"
"I'm sure 1 hope so, Thomas"
said Mrs. Tabb.
"Now, we'll begin on the sitting
room," said Mr.. Tabb, when dinner
was over. "The first thing to do is
to take everything out of the room,
so that 1 may have free field.
"Just help me with this library ia
ble," he went on. Mrs. Tabb took
hold of one end of the table and her
husband lifted so suddenly and so
strongly on the other end that the
student lamp tipped and fell to the
floor with crash.
"Now what in the world did you
want to do that for 7" demanded Mr..
Tabb, savagely. THAT always the
way when woman tries to do any
thing"
"That lamp shade cost $3.50,
Thomas" said his wife. "We ought
to add that to the dollar you paid
for"
Nothing of the sort, Maria. That
lamp shade always was a perfect nui-
sance, anyhow. I'm glad it's gone.
Besides, if it hadn't been for your
carelessness it wouldn't have been
broken, anyhow"
''Mrs. Tabb smiled with the calm
ness of woman who foresees that her
revenge is close at hand.
Having removed his coat, vest,
collar and cuffs, Mr.. Tabb got down
on his knees and started to daub the
stain on the floor, beginning at the
door and working toward the front
window. Mrs. Tabb sat down on a
stool in the hall outside and watched
her husband at his work.
"I don't think you are putting it
on thick enough, Thomas" she said,
finally.
els that so?" he said. II tell you
it takes woman to act as general
superintendent of the earth. Perhaps
you'd better get down here and put
the stain on yourself.
every we'll, Thomas" said Mrs.
Tabb, rising with dignity. 'If you
feel that way about it, shall gointo
the other room"
And she went.
For half an hour Mr.. Tabb labored
vigorously on the floor. Once his
elbow tipped over the can of stain.
He caught it quickly, but not before
some of its contents had spilled over
the corner of a Turkish rug. He
wiped off as much of the sticky stuff
as he could with his hand, and as he
threw the soiled rug out into the din
ing room he had hopes that his wife
wouldn't notice the accident. Then
hisnose itched, and before he thought,
he had rubbed his nose and eyes with
the sticky hand. In the process
some of the stain got on his glasses
and he found thereafter that 1t was
hard work to see just what he was
doing. Presently also sharp pain
struck through the hand he was using
in the work, and on examination
he discovered that blister had de-
veloped where the handle of the paint
brush rubbed against his thumb.
Just then Mrs. Tabb came rushing
into the hall in a state of great ex-
citement. She gave one glance at her
husband. He was on his knees in
the far corner of the room, by the
window, entirely surrounded by an
ocean of wet floor. She gave vent to
frightened ooh -
"Why, Thomas" she cried, chow
in the world are you going to get out 7
never thought about your beginning
at the wrong end of the room, and
that fresh stain will show every foot
print"
For a moment Mr.. Tabb was in de-
spair as he realized for the first time
that every way to retreat was cut of.
Then, as his eyes fell on the window,
he frightened perceptibly.
Chow do you supposed" he asked
triumphantly. "Do you think I in
tend to sleep here in this corner all
night? Can'tyou trust your husband
to figure way of getting out! Just
you watch me and I'll teach you a
few things"
Mr.. Tabb rose and opened the side
window. Yes, the thing looked as If
it might be done. Two feet below
the window heavy stone ledge ran
about the building. Six feet away
was the corner, and at half that dis
tance heavy water pipe ran down.
Four feet from the corner, on the
other side, the front balcony began.
It should be easy to make the trip.
With his feet on the stone ledge
outside and his body projecting
through the window, Mr.. Tabb ap'
piled the last few daubs of paint tc
the floor.
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