The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-12
"Dashing the paper to the floor

"Dashing the paper to the floor,
Charlie burst out.
"The old swindler, to cheat me out of
Is in that way. III come up with him,
though. See if I don't pay him off,"
So he contented himself with concocting
a scheme for vengence in secret.
Three years passed away before
Charlie Horton finished his studies and
returned home. Meanwhile he had
changed greatly, and from a smooth
faced STRIPPING, with the merest sugges-
ton of a mustache, he was now bearded
like the pard, and looked so different
that his own mother hardly knew him.
But he had not forgotten DR.. Johns nor
his promised revenge.
1t was Saturday night when the stage
coach set Charles Horton down at the
door of the village inn at Honeyhurst.
He gave a false name to the landlord,
and smoked a cigar with him after sup
per, and inquired about the village,
without that functioDary once suspect
ing his identity.
In the course of the conversation
Charlie asked who it was that lived in
that large house with a front garden
down the street. ,
"That's DR.. Johns; been here a good
many years; clever man. III introduce
you to him if you wish. The doctor
and 1 are pretty good friends" =.
"Well." slowly replied Charlie, as IT
considering, che ought to know his
danger, andit would be best to tell him.
It may not be too late yet"
IA 49, khor otorfaH down fnp street
toward the doctors residence. ~.
"What did you say was his manner"
asked Charlie, as they marched along.
"Dr. Johns"
"Johns johns" said Charlie,
thoughtfully: Il knew a fellow in
Paris-Charlie Horton by name-who
said he had studied with DIR. Johns, an
old man and somewhat of a character.
I wonder iss your doctor is the same
man?"
ITO be sure he is," replied the inn
keeper, 81 knew Charlie Horton we'll.
He went to France three or four years
ago. So you know him, do ye? Is he
there vet? The doctor will be doubly
glad to see you if you bring news from
Charlie. He thought a great deal OF
him."
By this time they had reached the
doctors Office, and he greeted the land
lord heartily, and looked inquiringly at
the stranger.
The landlord introduced Charlie as
DR.. Holmes, and added that he brought
news from Charlie Horton.
At this DR.. Johns was overjoyed,
urged the pseudo Holmes to come in, and
inquired afectionately about his old
pupil. -.
hour, when Charlie, looking the doctor
earnestly in the face, said:
"Dr. Johns, how is your health
now?"
First rate, sir-frst rate. Never felt
better in my lifem and he certainly
looked it.
"You don't find old age creeping on. do
you, sir?" bIandly inquired Charlie, but
still looking very ~intently into the doc
tors face.
well, a little stifish in the joints
now and then: but-bless you, sir-I
can ride as many miles and as many
hours as I ever could"
"Dr. Johns" said Charlie, very i'm
pressively, do you ever meet in your
practice people who look and feel the
perfect embodiment of health, and yet
whose constitutions are being sapped by
a fatal disease and they are not conscious
ofit?" .
swell yes, I have met such cases."
replied the doctor.
''And did you ever apply. them to
Yourself. siro" asked Charlie, in solemn
tones.
why, DR.. Holmes. what do you
mean? Do you think that my constitu-
ton is undermined by q secret disease?
Nonsense, man" and he laughed out
right. :,
Then Charlie began. He told the old
doctor all that he had told the landlord,
and much more. How he had many
such cases. He knew the doctor felt his
age, and he cleverly used. those symp-
toms, twisting them about, showing
that it was not age, and in two hours
time the doctor was SO thoroughly
frightened that he believed his end la
BILE to occur any moment, and besought
"Dr. Holmes to do whatever lay in his
power to give him relief. DR.. Holmes
promised to think it owe during the
night. DR.. Johns would not hear of his
returning to the inn, but insisted upon
his taking a bed at his house.
Charlie, with a grave face, finally
consented, but before going to bed he
advised the doctor to take an "a%nodyne,"
assured him that there was no immedi-
ate danger, and cleverly managed to slip
an emetic into the doctors glass Of
water, which he always took before re-
| firing, and he had done so with great
regularity for thirty years.
About the middle of the night the old
housekeeper called Charlie up in great
haste and terror. DR.. Johns was very
sick, and had asked her to call DR..
Holmes as soon as possible. Charlie
went to the bedroom and found him
tossing around and groaning at q great
rate. He felt now he had an attack ofthe
disease mentioned by Charlie, and be-
sought him to do what he could speed
lily. i
Charlie made an examination, looked
grave and shook his head:
bad. is it, DR.. Holiness" asked
Johns, family; tell me the worst, sir"
1T is 70 bad case, DR.. Johns" said
Charlie. Il can do only n thing, and
that is a costly n I can give you a
prescription, but it will cost you twenty
pounds. lam obliged to ask that for it,
Us I obtained it under peculiar circum-
stances. 1t may give yourelief. I have
seen it used with very good results"
Twenty %pounds?" asked the old
doctor, eagerly. "All right; I will
give it, sir. What is the prescription?
Here is the money"
Charlie wrote on a slip Of paper, folded
it up and handed it to the doctor. He
received it eagerly, opened it with
trembling hands, and, by the light of the
bedroom lamp, read:
Don't get the wrong pig by the ear.
CDR. CHARLES HORTON"
With one bound the doctor was out of
bed, but Or. Horton" had vanished.
Charlie" said DR.. Johns next day,
SIN getting old; you must come and
take my practice. Your twenty pounds
will help to give you a start
The doctor says he never got the
wrong pig" but once.
How the Sparrow was introduced.
One Of the most interesting papers in
Harper's relates. to- little bird that has