The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-05-29
ElRS. JUDSON PROFlTED
WHEN HER uEcE LORD APPLIED
SHELLAc TO THE STAIRS.
Further Proof, It Any Was Needed
That Man as Help at House.
Cleaning Time Has His Dis
tinct Limitations.

Mr.. Judson laid aside his evening
paper and looked about the neat liv-
ing room, House cleaning's about
over, isn't it, Martha?" he asked.
Almost" responded his wife;
there's the kitchen to clean, and the
cellar to be whitewashed, and the
front stairs ought to be freshened up
What would you use on them, Viii
liam?"
'Shellac," said Mr.. Judson, with
prompt interest; that will dry quick
ly, and as we have no back stairs,
that's an important point I'll bring
home the stuff tomorrow night, and do
it before | go to bed. You can go UP
first. and stay, SO that the stairs won't
have to be used, and by morning
they'll be as good as new"
Accordingly, the next evening Mr.
Judson sent his wife off to bed at ten
promptly. although he did not leave
his reading until silence reigned up
stairs. Then he donned a big apron
and got out his brushes and shellac.
Just as we'll to wait until there's no
one round to make suggestions" he
mused; women never understand how
much better a man can work by him
self"
Mr.. Judson was a deliberate and
conscientious worker. sighting no de-
,ail, and IN an hour or so the flight
of stairs glistened in all its Original
freshness. Mr.. Judson surveyed it
proudly from the lower hall. Then his
Jaw dropped.
Thunder" he muttered, disgusted
ly. Il ought to have begun at the bot
tom and worked up!"
But out of momentary mental
chaos he clutched at the important
fact. He must go up backward, and
as he went, varnish over each foot
| mark On the stair below Mr.. Judson
was portly and his sense of humor was
not keen. AS he backed cautiously up
| the sticky stairs at midnight, can and
| brush in hand, stopping to touch up
| each abandoned step. with due regard
| to his blue gingham draperies, he be-
| gan to breathe hard: but at last he
reached the top, and locking down,
congratulated himself that no one
need know of his blunder. How beau
| tifully the surface shone!
Then it slowly penetrated his con
seriousness that enc reason for the
| pleasing illumination was the gas il
the lower hall. the two burners Of
which had beeh TUNED high to lighi
his earlier labors MI. Judson hes
tated- thought CT the eas bill remem
i bered that the front door was MOI
locked, and restrained himself With &
| sternness of seif-control that Jared
his nerve cente.3. There was onl,
one thing % do and he descended-c1
t1ptoes. He left his large sticky slip
| pers at the foot OF the stairs, to save
the hall carpet, locked the front door
| turned out the gas resumed his slip
pers, and began his second occasional
celebrating each footstep by the un
| certain light of the upper-hail gas. J.
was not quick job; the distance to
| celebrated spot in Ireland seemed t.
| Mr.. .Iudson insignificant in compari
son, although he made no audible com
ment until he stepped on his blue
Bingham tail and sat down unexpect
eddy on the top step. Then, forgetting
caution he expressed himself in louc
and irr:tated tones.
| A substantial vision in pink flannel
| cite appeared at the bedroom door be
| hind him; but realizing that baromet
| ric pressure was nigh, 1t retired as
silently as it had come, with superb
wifely tact before he had time to de
tach himself from the step and apply
the final brushwork to his master
piece.
AT breakfast Mrs. Judson's praise
was unstinted, although she casually
| deplored the traces of varnish on the
| apron and slippers.
YES" Mr.. Judson admitted, with
out looking up from the morning pa
per. I'm afraid did spill little. By
| the way, Martha, isn't it about time
for you to think Of new hat?"-
Youths COMPANION