The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-06

TALE OF WHITE PAINT
BY CARL klLooRE.

/
"Now, for the love Of Nike" said
Slater In . resigned tone. remember
it's white paint-and keep out Of I'll"
He glared at the three young Stat
tiers and included Mrs.. Slater in his
general glance. You know" he added
In her direction . little denantly. that
you are just ~ impetuous and thought.
less - the children! Some Of you win
be sure to fall against the woodwork
or try to shsorb . bucket Of stun b.
fore the woodwork Is finished! don't
see why the painters had to choose
Saturday, when the children are homo
from SCHOOL,"
Wen be careful. John" promised
Mrs. Slater. "Oh-wait till I got
some turpentine and take 1t OIL"
Slater. clad In his broad-shouldered.
fuzsy winter overcoat, had attempted
to pass through the den door to the
hall and the door jamb affectionately
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 10
time you learned to exercise . little
respect toward your elders! Marcia,
I should think you would endeavor to
bring up your children in = manner
that"
''It's all OF. now. john" interrupted
Mrs. Slater. Il think II you will 60
through the front door sideways-good
gracious, you've whisked the tails Of
your coat against the parlor door!"
"Yeow!" yelled Johnny Slater, Jr..
and Owed for the swing door into the
kitchen.
Look at that!" cried Slater, point.
Ing majestically toward Johnny's exit.
IT that door had been white instead
Of oak and II it had Just been painted
Johnny would have struck 1t 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
smearsi"
II hope not" said Mrs. Slater. anx.
iously. "0ood-by. dear-oh!"
In turning to kiss her Slater had
rested his gloved hand on the front
door lamb. The glove that Slater
tore from his hand and hurled violent.
ly % he went down the front r.eps
hit one Of the parlor windows and left
smear.
With the exception Of the baby's feat
Of licking OF one 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 .
triumphant success. Mrs.. Slater vel.
coined her husbands early return
from the once with . tolerably clear
conscience He was restrainedly calm
about the episode Of the baby and the
kind painter had painted out the evi.
dences Of Johnny's misdeed and no.
body bad stepped Into . bucket 81
paint ~ he had prophesied.
Il Will say that ! an SURPRISED, u
Slater ooufded kindly. "Yoa must
have tied up the children al cay and
had extra good luck yourself. Well
yoa 80 what . Mt&ls foretheuSht viii
DOL"
A little later there came ysll from
TIE bathroom. whittier Slater had
gone - shave before no and his wife
should start for the card club. why
didn't. you tell me they had painted
up here?" he demanded. II hadn't any
idea they had got upstairs yet! II
won't wash or my hands,"
Mrs. Slater secured most OF the
paint from Skaters hands and soothed
him % best she could. He was still
mutinous when they departed and his
; fingers showed q grimy gray which re
fused to come of.
Lovely looking mitts for playing
cards!" said Slater with reproach
III you'd only use your head . little
and warn people!"
They got homo late and Slater wal
tired. ITS good to get home!" he
groaned. I'm dead to the world"
With Q long sigh Of relief. he tossed
his overcoat over the stair railing
where II chung affectionately to the
/ spindles. He himself sank down or
the seat built In at the foot Of the
\ stairs. Mrs. Skaters shrek when she
turned around and saw him expressed
some horror. but more malicious tri
. umph. Slater pulled his dress sui,
painfully loose from the stair seat and
grabbed his coat. which also stuck.
I'm going to tend to the furnace
and 60 to bed" he growled. and
stalked down into the basement, mer
cifully spared the tragedy Of seeing
the rear view Of his evening clothes
He was absent some time and when
he came up he was In his stocking
feet
You needn't ask where my shoes
are" he snapped to Mrs. Slater. who
paused In her gingerly progress VI
the paint-wet stairs. Because they're
In the furnace! And" Slater ended
savasely a. her lips opened In threat
ened speech, they're In the furnace
because stepped into . pail Of white
paint the painter left on purpose right
in my wayi Darn your old paint. any
howl"
Real lhs.
Many Dansons know the luxury Of
. skin hafA--A plunge in the pool OF
the wave, nnhAmpered by clothing