The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-02
ADONIs, M. D.

"I forbid you my house, do you hear
sir?" screamed Mr.. Chickjove, purple
with rage and stamping like cockatoo
"Well, but since Mrs. Chickiove sem
for me "-pleaded Jack Halliday.
"Mrs. Chickjove is silly young
woman, with whose feelings you have
presumed to trifle, roared her husband,
fourishing his umbrella from the door
step. "Now, sir, be off; I've had
enough of this. My patience has been
driven to extremities.
GAS you please" said Jack. "My
visit was professional bat, since you
refuse to let me see your wife, who is
Ill and who has summoned me, be good
enough to give her this box of pills"
The pills spurred Mr.. Chickjove tc
evaporation. He took the box out Of
the young doctors hands, threw it or
the ground, stamped upon it, pressed
his heels on the pills as they rolled
about, and concluded this little per-
formance with an exulting yell. "There
sir so much for your physic! I scorn
it and you, too! Aha!" saying which
Mr.. Chickjove opened his housedoor
with a:latchkey, wagged his head fierce
" at DR.. Halliday from the threshold,
and then went in, banging the door with
such violence that it made all the
window-panes rattle. The doctor re-
NAMED outside
He shrugged his shoulders and strode
away down the street. One might
have expected him to exhibit some
excitement at the manner in which he
had lust been treated but he seemed
to have his reasons for preserving q
complete equanimity. A few minutes
pensive walk brought him to side
street of fashionable appearance, which
he entered, and at the third house rang
the bell. els Mrs. Marrable at homeT
asked he of the smart maid who answer
ed his summons. eyes, sir" said the
damsel; but she put a forefnger to hel
lips, and with q mysterious look
whispered: "Hush, sir !; he's come"
"Who's Gomez" inquired Halliday,
astonished.
"Missus' brother, sir; and oh, my,
what a row he's madel Yes, sir; please
to step in. These last words were spoken
aloud and with considerable furry, fol
the maid had espied tall, numbering
figure darkening the end of the passage,
The figure stared with all its might al
the doctor. The doctor acccsted il
blandly; but wave of the hand mo-
toned him to step into the parlor, ano
there he was confronted by massive,
square, jawed person, six feet tall and
b:oad in proportion, who, in deep bass
voice that seemed to come up like 8
miners from the shaft of pit, said
"My name is Guckin, and I want to
know what is the matter with my sister p
"Rea1ly, Mr.. Guckin, there is not
much; a slight cold-vapors."
"Then why have you paid her fifty.
six visits in the course of five weeks?''
"I can hardly tell" stammered Halli-
day, uneasily; "ladies are sometimes
anxious about themselves, you know.
The least thing alarms them"
Enough; I know your game, my
man." interrupted MIR. Guckin, appre
hending the doctor by the cuff as if be
were q prisoner, and staring into his
face with an evil glare. "You've heard
of Palmer, the Rugeley poisoner, haven't
you? and Smethurst. another doctor
and Castaign, and Lapommeraie,
Frenchmen, doctors and poisoners, too
and of that physician lately hanged at
Edinburgh for poisoning his wife, eh
You'll swing, too, if you don't mind.
You've laid your plans for marrying my
sister; but as she's too old and ugly for
you to love, you just think you'll under
mine her health first, so that she may
die as soon as possible after the mar
riage, and leave you her money. Well,
we'll, just try it. Go up stairs and see
Mrs. Marrable now, if you like; but,
mind. my eye is on you"
"You can't think that, after what you
have just said, I should consent ever to
step into this house again ?" calculated
Jack Halliday, as he disengaged him
self, with q burning spot on either
cheek.
"All right; that means that you are
going, doesn't it2 Or is it only Bit
Of show-off?"
"It means that I am going this min
ute, and-and I'm ashamed of you, Mr..
Guckin. Good night"
$50 to the deuce |" said Mr.. Guckin
and he, too, having shown the young
doctor into the street, slammed the door
with quite unnecessary noise.
This time Jack Halliday did look G
little upset. He bit the corners OF his
whiskers, pulled down his Wristbands
and appeared anxious to do battle with
somebody; but presently the humorous
aspects Of the situation broke abruptly
upon him, and he laughed. His ster
was elastic and steady-by no means o.
a would-be poisoner-as he trudged Of
to pay the last visit on his list before
going home to tea. 1t was seven O'Clock
Of winter evening, and the lamps .i1
that suburban district of London where
our scenes are laid had been farine
these two hours. DR.. Halliday made
knocking at the door of house with 6
pretty garden in front, was admitted with
out any fuss. Here his reception was cor
dial. A fox. dog frisked out, barking 6
welcome and wagging. his tail; some
children came romping down the pas
sage to be kissed. and it was under the
lead of these little people, the one pull
ing him by the hand, another holding
on to his coat skirts, and third climb.
ing on to his back, that the doctor made
his entrance into parlor where hap
py family party were mustered. The
owner of the house was Mr.. Daisop, 6
little, jovial business man, husband oi
q jolly wife, and father of flock ol
children.
He sat near the fire reading a news
paper, with couple of rosy brats crow
ing at his knees, and two more sprawl
ing on the hearth-rug. Half.a-dozer
boys and girls, between ten and sixteen
were gathered round the table playing
Lotto, and the eldest daughter, cheefu
girl of twenty, was working beside he,
mother, and casting occasional glancet
toward sofa, where lay the beauty ot
the family, sweet, golden haired gir
of eighteen. Before the doctors entry
the beauty had been laughing at somt
joke of her brothers, but seeing Halli
day, q gIeam Lit up her eyes, a faint blush
overspread her cheeks, and she let he1