The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-07-12
BARGAIN IN PAINT
BY LAWRENCE BRONSON.


II was an innocent-looking quart
can of malachite green prepared paint.
Mrs. Jandivere had bought II down
town. attracted partly by the show
card of glossy squares. ostensibly col
ored by the Rub-er-Steei 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. II was a
clear saving of three cents and for an
additional two cents she was able to
buy quite a nice little paint brush.
Really II was like getting q paint
brush for nothing.
''What are you going to do with
lit" he asked.
There are many things ] can do
with It. 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
nun Sduy VIC OOn Wuht thC Twill
smelling of paint I don't believe you'll
get painter at this season at days
notice. They're all too busy"
"Why. I'm going to do 1t myself"
said Mrs. Jandivere. what did you
suppose? That's what this paint is
for. It's all ready mixed and child
can apply 1t. 1t says so In the cir
cular. 1t dries In ten hours so there
won't he any trouble about the SMELL"
slave II your own way" said jan
divere. resignedly.
swell. how did the painting go?" he
inquired when he came home the fol-
lowing evening. 81 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 II out.
They must have given me bad paint
1t won't color at ALL"
"Won't color?"
mot particle except now and then.
1t just sort OF smears. And hasn't
il peculiar odor? Does all paint
smell like that?"
1t 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"
"Yes. but you have to stir II, you
know. The paint settles to the bot
tom and leaves just the Oil on top.
See here"
He knelt down-and stirred the mix
ture so energetically that he splashed
some Of II on his wife's silk waist.
She cried ont in horror:
II told you you'd get splashed," he
said. "Why didn't you put on some
thing sensibe?"
~ did," she said. Indignantly. 81
wore an old gray short skirt and a
dressing jacket I'd put In the rag bag
and never got a drop on them. But
look at you'll You're kneeling in lit
tie puddle of 1t yourself. And your
nice new suitP
The paint-defiled garments were put
OF and laid aside to go to the clean
er's and the Jandiveres went down to
dinner. There were 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 supposef"
IL know what. II was the can
opener. opened the paint can with
that and forgot to speak to her about
it. That's just what II ia"
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
ran all over the floor. Jandivere went
up TO look at It,.
THAT'S So" he said. you'll have
TO put on two or three coats"
~ don't believe | can" said the
lady. tearfully. And 1t doesn't look
as smooth and glossy as 1t did on the
card. either"
We'll. III get a man tO-Hello!
You've splashed the wallpaper, see !"
IL couldn't help It," said Mrs. Ja1-
divere. THE brush just would splat-
ter. Well. we rather needed a, new
paper, anyway, didn't we. dear?"