The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-01-07
THREE PINT BOTTLES.
RY a pnrno1r REronrER.

That the following advertisement would
insure a dozen applicants wherever pub
iished
" WANrED.-A genlIeman or means. who
intends making trip 10 Europe next month,
would Ike 10 engage the services of a smart
young man, to go along and render himself
useful in caring for the baggage, paying hote-
bills, etc. Salary, 500 per month and all exl
nenses paid. Apply to Charles Sherman,
Park avenue"
was type-setter in the Office of the
Boston News, a paper which went to
the sheriff years ago, and when the
above "ad was laid on my case to be
put in type, read it over three or four
times. I was working hard, and max
ing seven dollars per week. Seven dol
lars per week was good wages in those
old silver-dollar times, when first class
board could be had at two and a half,
and doeskin pants and French calf
boots were only four or five dollars a
pair. But here was a chance to make
twenty five dollars per week, clean
thing, and the work was all travel and
sightseeing. Why, man in my situa
ton would have been little short of q
! block head not TO have looked at the
matter just as did.
1t was O'Clock in the evening, and
| the advel tisement would appear In the
/ A4ADAA lAA 4onhGs ANhA ~ ONGA OlCG
more, set up the word E" wanted" and
then put down my stick and washed
up.
whats up?" inquired the foreman,
as he saw me washing my hands.
Nothing particular,-be back in
| half an hour, / replied, as I slipped on
my overcoat and started down stairs.
! OF course, had made up my mind
/ TO apply for the situation. I thought
might fill the bill, if he was not too ex-
acting, and if he refused me, would
be ne worse off than before.
Park avenue was long way out from
! the heart Of the city, and went by
stage. did not know Mr.. Sherman
| even by reputation, but the driver knew
where he lived, and that was enough.
! It was a March night, with consider
able snow, and my enthusiasm hal
cooled off considerably before the stage
| dropped me down in front OF a large,
| fine brick mansion, standing back g few
rods from the avenue. In going up the
path I noticed that the lawn was orna-
mented with statuary, and could see at
a glance that the gentleman was pos
sessed of wealth and good taste.
| There was no light below that ! could
discover, but couple of pulls at the
| bell brought woman, past the middle
| age, to the door, lamp in hand. TO my
| query as to whether Mr.. Sherman was
| in, she made no direct reply, but asked
if my business was important. It was,
I said but she replied that had better
come again in the morning Mr.. Sher-
man was in, but was not well. / was
| turning away when a gentleman came
| down the hall stairs, and said
Did the gentleman wish to see me,
Jane?"
81 did, sir" I replied, and he imme-
diately invited me into the parlor. The
lamp was turned up, we took seats, and
| then I stated my eTrand.
at you can pass the test, you shall
/ have the place he exclaimed, slap
ping his hands together, and breaking
me OF as I was giving him references.
" Ask me any question you wish, 4"
replied.
t'But il is a test of q different char.
Rcter," he continued. Come up &c
my room"
And We passed through the hall OF
our way up stairs, the woman standing
in tho library door, laid her hand upon
my arm and whispered something whict
did not catch. 1 thought it a great
piece of impertinence on her part, and
] HOuuGLGu II SIG WIS uOL HAL Vi
bit dazed. The room which we en-
tered was about twenty feet square
without carpet, chairs, pictures, or any
| furniture, except a table and row OF
shelves. There was smell similar Il
that encountered at the photographers
and 1 saw a dozen glass jars and a mum
ber of bottles on the shelves. On the
table was a galvanlc battery, having
two handles for one to take hold of,
like some of the machines seen on the
street corners of large cities.
"Beg pardon for bringing you into
such a cheerless place, said the man
locking the door and pooketing the key
but could not demonstrate my ideas
elsewhere"
made reply that was perfectly sat
isied, and he put his ear to one of the
panels of the door and listened to IearI
if the woman had followed us up stairs
"Do you know" he whispered, plac
ing his hands on my shoulders, "thai
the old woman down stairs intends Il
poison me ?"
Impossible she woAld not dare,
I replied.
ooh you don't know her Us we'll a,
do" he continued, arching his eye
brows. "Its a mere question OF time
or will be, if you can't aid me. She
can't poison my food, nor my tea, wine
nor coffee, but she has another way"
How-what p added, for the frs
time noticing something strange IN his
looks
You see, 1 don't live as other folks
do" he whispered, 4" am composed OI
cast-iron, and have to be very careful
what eat and drink. drink great
deal of spring water, because that pre-
vents me from rusting if my inside
should get rusty that would be the last
OF me !"
He was insane! I could detect it il
every look, now that his words had be
trayed the secret, and chill crept NJ
my back at the discovery. I felt for Z
moment as if nay legs were going out
from under me, but the man smiled and
appeared so pleasant and gentle that nay
nerve soon came back.
"She will poison one of my bottles
of spring water" he continued, reach
ing down three bottles from the shell
and placing them on the table. They
were all nearly full of clear water, and
all looked 80 exactly alike that one
could not be told from the other.
What poison do you suppose she
would use?" ne asked
Arsenic or strychnine, probably"
answered, feeling rather nervous.
Perfectly correct think you will
pass the test, he said. "NOw, here
are the two poisons, and shall put one
in this bottle and one in thRt"
He reached down two ounce packages
one labeled " stryohnine," and the other
arsenic" The name of the druggist
was pasted on each paper, with deaths
head and cross bones. He carefully
emptied the contents into the different
bottles, shook them up, and then asked
me 10 go to the other end of the room
l heard him handling the bottles, but
was not prepared for what followed
He came over to me after few min
ules. bringing the lamp and placing il
on the floor.
"Now, the real test is for you TO picl
out the bottle which has not been poi
soned !" he whispered, rubbing hi,
hands together.
j went forward TO the table, examined
each bottle. but there was nothing bl
which my Judgment could be guided
He had brushed them clean, and wOul,