The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-08-27

TALE OF WHITE PAINT
~ CARL klLooRE.

~ SS-SI8 go ~ sNss - Y
: BY CARL klLooRR.
Nov. for the love Of Mika..s said
Slater In q resigned tone. remember
It's white paint-and keep out q sttl"
He glared at the three young Stat
tiers and included Mrs. Slater IN his
general glance. you know" he added
In her direction q little defantly. that
you are just as simpetuous and thought
less 90 the children! Some Of you will
be sure to fall against the woodwork
OF try to absorb q bucket Of stun be-
fore the woodwork Is finished! I don't
see why the painters had to, choose
Saturday, when the children are homo
from SCHOOL,
We'll be careful, John" promised
Mrs. Slater. "Oh-wait till / get.
some %turpentine and take It OIL"
Slater, clad in his broad-shouldered,
fussy winter o%vercoat, had. attempted.
to pass through the den door to the;
hall and the door jamb ai~fectionately
brushed his right arm, leaving q white
.smudge. Tee heel" mistakenly said
Sally Slater, aged nine.
SALLY" barked her father For
that you get no dessert tonight! It is.
time you learned to exercise q little
respect toward your elders! Marcia,
I should think you would endeayor to
bring I'D your children In a manner
that"
Its all of, now, John" interrupted
Mrs. Slater. II think IL you will go
through the front door sideways-good
gracious. you've whisked the tails. Of
your coat against the parlor }door!!"
"Yte-ow!" yelled Johnny Slater, Jr..
and Owed for the swing door into the
Kitchen.
Look at that!' cried Slater. point.
Ing ma1estically toward Johnny's exit.
IF that door had been white instead
Of oak and II it had Just been painted
Johnny would have struck it with both
hands just the same! That's what I
mean by your carelessness! I expect
that when I get home tonight the
whole place will be marked up with
smears!"
Il hope not" said Mrs. Slater, anx-
lously. "Good-by, dear-o-h!"
In turning to kiss her Slater had
rested his gloved hand OF the front
door jamb. The glove that Slater
tore from his hand and hurled violent
ly as he went down the front steps
hit one Of the parlor windows and left
q smear.
With the exception Of the baby's feat
Of licking of n of the freshly done
spindles Of the staircase and the catas-
trophe which befell Johnny, Jr., who
lost his balance and grabbed the door
to save himself. the painting was a
triumphant success. Mrs. Slater vel.
coined her husbands early return
from the Office with O tolerably clear
conscience. He was restrainedly calm
about the episode of the baby and the
kind painter had painted out the evil
dences Of Johnny's misdeed and no,
body had stepped into q bucket q
paint, as he had prophesied.
II will say that / am surprised
Slater confided kindly. you must
have tied up the children all day and
had extra good luck yourself. Well
you e what q little forethought will
dot"
A little later there came a yell from
the bathroom, whittier Slater had
gone to shave before he and his wife
should start for the card club. "Whj
didn't you tell me they had painted
up here?" he demanded. Il hadn't any
idea they had got upstairs yet! i
won't wash of my hands,"
Mrs. Slater secured most Of tn,
paint from Skaters hands and soothet
him as best she could. He was still
mutinous when they departed and hi.
fingers showed a grimy gray which re
fused to come off. I
Lovely looking mitts for playing
cards!" said Slater with reproach
IF you'd only use your head q littl,
and warn people!"
They got home late and Slater wa
tired. Its good to get home!" b,
groaned. I'm dead to the world!"
With q long sigh Of relief. he tosse.
his overcoat over the stair railing
where it chung affectionately to tn
spindles. He himself sank down OF
the seat built in at the foot Of tn
o<o}rc Mr, 0lotfac,o obr;oly uhop oh.
turned around and saw him espresso,
some horror, but more malicious tri
umph. Slater pulled his dress sui
painfully loose from the stair seat an,
grabbed his coat, which also stuck.
.I'm going to tend to the furnac
and 60 to bed,". he growled, an.
stalked down into the basement, mel
cifully spared the tragedy OF seeinI
the rear view of his evening clothes
49, 49,