Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-05-10

life, prolonged by his own skill far beyond
the ordinary human span, to the amelio-
ration OF the condition OF the human
race"
I'm afraid l have come TO you on a
FOOLS errand," said the patient uneasily.
No man who consults me-" said the
doctor, sis guilty OF an unwise act. !
read your thoughts, young man" he con
tinued severely; "my eagle eye detects
the working or your brain. You are dis
conteuted with your stature. Say, is il
not so.'
The patient nodded.
care you ready TO submit 70 the treat
men:, young man? Have you every CON
fdence in me?n
1--WE every confidence, doctor" replied
MacTsggart unasily, but l heard that
your fees vsre high, and | thought, per-
haps, MS I'm only an ayt student, you
might consent TO make little reduction
Young man. said the physician in an
indignant tone, do not tribe. The pal
try houorarium 1 exact is bat to cover
the cost Of the balsamjc drugs used ia the
treatment of such cases; they have been
procured form the deserts of central sia,
after the expenditure of much time,
blood and treasure; but be assured,
young man, that the trihe wruug from
your parsimonious clutch wilt be immed-
lately distributed by me TO the deserving
poor
"Aud you won't take any lesss' said
MacTaggart, as he stretched out his
reluctant hand and deposited five guueas
upon the physicians table. as The pro-
cess very painful, doctorY' he said.
There are two means of achieving the
object" said the physician, who took
no notice of the fee. the one is purely
siderable physical pain has naturally to
be endured. The other course, which is
equally et1icaoious and quite painless, Is
by means of a medicated bate, but no
more than four inches increase in height
can be obtained"
Il shall be perfectly satisfied, doctor,
with four inches VERY good young
man, very good. You know your own
business best. Retire behind that screen,
divest yourself of your apparel; in a few
moments all will be prepared. So power
full are the effects of the drugs that your
clothing were 10 exposed to the potent
vapors, would be utterly destroyed.
Strip, young man. said the doctor
emphatically, and he pointed to the
screen.
Mr.. MacTaggart retired behind the
screen and did as he was bid, and the
venerable behefactor of the human race
disappeared into the bathroom, The
frat thing that Dacre did was to empty
his bottle of turpentine into the beth,
and then turned on the hot water till the
bath was nearly full.
Are you prepared, young manY be
cried in a loud voice as be re-eutered the
recep tiOn-room.
I'm quite ready, air." said MIR. Mac
Taggart, from behind the screen, 81 can
smell the potent odors of the drugs, even
here"
Don't trine, boy cried the Ameri-
can physician; "taKe your watch with
you and proceed TO the bath. You will
find it very hot, and the odor OF the
Eastern halsams is pungent; but do not
let that deter You; enter il as speedy as
possible, for the hotter the bath the more
rapid is the os.eous change. Remain ex
tended in that bath ana perfectly still,
and every five minutes by your watch,
and not more frequently on any account,
let your head disappear beneath the
balsRmic film with which the surface of
the water Is covered. Do not speak and
breathe only through your nose. |
win warn you when the process is com
plete"
Mr.. MacTsggart entered the bath
room, watch in hand. The odor of the
Oriental balsams made HIM eneezo VIC
& 10. old as
and was covered by thick oleaginOus
film. But young Mr.. MacTaggart had
paid his five guineas, aud was detcrmin-
ed to have his moneys worth. After a
little time he entered the bath.
Every five minutes his head disappear
ed beneath the streaming oily surface.
In the meantime Cecil Dacre was not
idle. He rang the bell Pippa and her
mother appeared; the one carried lit
tie charcoal barrier and fat-iron, the
other a very small work bag and big
pair of scissors. They laughed immod
as they sat to work upon the
clothes Of the young Scotchman. Three
inches were cut Of ffom the trousers
legs, the sleeves of his coat and Of the
shirt; Pippa's mother worked with will
with her needles to refGshiOn the extrem
titles of the garments, and as she finish
ed each, Pippa herself carefully pressed
the newly made seams with a hot Nat
iron. Then the physician dismissed his
two assistants, he flung open the bath
room door and addressed the bather.
Come forth, young man." he said.
''You entered that bath a miserable and
puuy specimen q humanity; you will
leave it in all human probability, we'll
grown youth, Of prepossessiDg appear
ance.'
Mr. MacTaggart did as he was bid de
dried himself to the best of his ability,
but the balmy odors Of the balsams Of the
East still chung to his hair. No sooner
was he dressed and had emerged from be-
hind the screen, than the mock doctor ad-
dressed him.
young man." said he, and bis voice was
choked by emotion behold
the result of the wondrous bath Of Box
hara. There is considerable change
think he said solemnly.
Mr. MacTaggart had evidently grown
out OF his clothes; his arms and legs pro-
truded in portento1s manner.
"Dou't thank me, continued the Amer.
lean physician hurriedly cont thank roe,