The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-01-11
BARGAIN IN PAINT
By LAWRENCE BRONSON.

Mrs Jandivere had bought 1t down.
town, attracted partly by the show
card of glossy squares, ostensibly col"
ored by the Rub-erSteel pigments,
and partly by the fact that the can,
which under ordinary circumstances
would have cost fifty cents, was
marked down for this day only to
forty-seven cents. Jandivere smiled
when Mrs. Jandivere said, 1t was Il
clear saving of three cents aud for an
additional two cents she was able to
buy quite a nice little paint brush.
Really it was like getting paint
brush for nothing.
What are you going to do with
it?" he asked.
There are many things l can do
with 1t. | thought the woodwork in
the spare room would look well in that
shade Of green"
"Well, you'll have TO wait awhile,
then. Brother Robert will be here on
Thursday and we don't want the room
smelling of paint. don't believe you'll
get a painter at this season at Il days
notice. They're all too busy"
why, I'm going to do it myself"
said Mrs. Jandivere. what did you
suppose? That's what this paint is
for. It's all ready mixed and a child
can apply it. 1t says so in the cir
cular. 1t dries in ten hours, so there
won't be any trouble about the smell"
"Have it your own way" said Jan
divere, resignedly.
"Well, how did the painting go?" he
lowing evening. II needn't ask,
though" he added, after a look at her
face.
II wish you'd come upstairs and
look at it," said his wife with sob
In her voice. 81 can't make it out.
They must have given me bad paint.
1t won't color at all"
"Wont COLOR"
Not particle except now and then.
1t just sort of smears. And hasn't
it peculiar odor? Does all paint
smell like thatf"
at does smell panty" said Jan
divere, as he went upstairs. why,
you haven't mixed your paint, have
your" he continued as he looked upon
the glistening woodwork.
MIXED it? Why, it's supposed to be
already mixed"
eyes, but you have to stir it, you
know. The paint settles to the bot
tom and leaves just the oil on top.
See here"
He knet down-and stirred the mix
ture so energetically that he splashed
some of 1t on his wife's silk waist.
She cried out in horror:
II told you you'd get splashed," he
said. "Why didn't you put on some
thing sensibleW
II did," she said, Indignantly. 81
wore an old gray short skirt and n
dressing jacket I'd put in the rag bag
and never got a drop on them. But
look at you You're kneellng in lit
tie puddle of it yourself. And your
nice new suit!"
The paintdeiled garments were put
off and laid aside to go to the clean
ers and the Jandiveres went down to
dinner. There We're peas with the
lamb chops--the canned article. Jan
divere was fond of peas ordinarily,
but at the first mouthful he laid down
his fork and a spasm Of disgust
crossed his face.
"They taste of paint" he said.
Nonsense! It's your Imagination.
Well, they do, don't they? Now, what
do you suppose"
II know what. 1t was the can
opener. | opened the paint can with
that and l forgot to speak to her about
it. That's just what it is"
The next evening Mrs. Jandivere
had to report a large blister in the
palm of her right hand and that the
paint didn't seem to cover the old
woodwork, which was cherry, except
where it was put on so thick that 1t
ran all over the floor. Jandiyere went
up to look at it.
"rhats So" he said. you'll have
to put on two or three coats"
81 don't believe / can" said the
lady, tearfully. And 1t doesn't look
as smooth and glossy as it did on the
card, either"
We'll, I'll get a man to--Hello!
You've splashed the wallpaper see ~
81 couldn't help it." said Mrs. Jan
divere. "The brush just would splat-
ter. Well, we rather needed a new
paper, anyway didn't we, dear?"
Jandivere surveyed the prospect in
gloomy silence, with his hands in his
pockets. Then he left the room and
no further allusion was made to the
paint that evening.
The next night. however, Jandivere,
entered the library before the gas was
lighted, sat down In malachite green
wicker chair. Mrs. Jandivere explained
that her blister had panied her so
much she had done nothing more to
the room, but had compromised on dec
Grating the chair, which she intended
as surprise.
at was u SURPRISE" conceded Jan.
divere, sarcastically. Then he added
in tones of wrath, "Where Is that
paint"
He ran upstairs to the spare room,
three steps at time, before his wife
could answer. He found the paint.
His foot came into contact with the
can before he was aware of It and
malachlte green was added to the col
ors In the Daghestan rug
That was the last thing the paint