The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-22
A CLOSE CALL"


az remember of once having a very mar
row escape from death; and the recollection
is always forced strongly upon me when
ever am a trife i'll and feel the need of
medicine"
Thus said my companion as we drew our
chairs little nearer to the large round
stove that occupied the center Of the wait
ing room of a small station house at juno
tiOn on the - railroad.
1t was in midwinter, and q heavy fail of
snow that day had drifted into deep cut
a number of miles down the road, so that
the train we were both intending to take
was very much delayed. In fact, it was
scarcely possible TO say Just how long we
were doomed to wait in that little coop of
a station house. Luckily there was only
the two Of us, for any number would have
found poor accommodations, both as to
food-a little of which was furnished us by
the station man-and the seating and heat
ing capacity of the place.
1t was just growing night, and my COM
panion in affliction-who, by the why, had
travelled extensively and thus learned to
take unavoidable circumstances with a
very easy and philosophical spirit-had
lighted another cigar and thrown open the
stove door, in order, as he said, ''to put as
much life on the scene as possible
The fire burned briskly, and from the
open door there came a long, diVerging
gleam of light, which fell directly upon the
countenance Of my friend, seeming to deep
en- the burrows, yet at the same tiure cover
ing all with an appearance of composure.
! therefore assumed an easy posture
considering the hard, time worn chair oc-
cupied-and looking at the features of the
narrator l listened while he gave me this
experience:
had charge of the city trade that year
for the firm am still with, and was there
fore pretty well acquainted with all the
druggists and with many OF their clerks.
1t was at a time of the year when busi-
ness was unusually brisk, and found that
! sometimes had no small amount of extra
work TO do. For instance, upon this par
ticular occasion / had been asked by the
house to run out to small suburban place
on an important matter, and yet had
pledged certain of the trade to see them on
that day; and therefore ! found 1t consid-
erably past dark, and raining coldly, when
| got back to the city.
TO think of starting right out and making
four or five places-involving as many
miles of travel-before you can have rest,
and, moreover, in such weather, when
you're mighty tired, and about half sick in
the bargain. But the firm depended on me,
and was bound TO cover the ground.
So, without even taking my supper.
jumped into cab and directed the driver
to the first point on my route.
After turning this way and that and
splashing through mud for half an hour,
the driver puIled up before the blue and red
lights of corner drug store
! sooa transacted my business and was
just about leaving, when, having hearty
acquaintance with the clerk, and al that
particular moment suffering some extra
pangs in my stomach, said:
Charlie, put me up about half an ounce
OF hydrochelic acid. I'm sometimes troubled
with my stomach-some sort of dyspepsia,
guess-and find that few drops of the
acid help me better than anything else
can use"
He went about preparing the medicine,
while we continued running conversation.
he was quite a fellow to talk, and as we
were alone in the s;ore he gave himself 4
tree line.
took the small bottle he handed me,
placed it in my pocket, and again started
on NY rounds.
IL was almost 10 o'clock when I reached
my last stopping place. aud as it was but a
block distant frsm my house dismissed
my GAO and went into the store.
Finding no one present but a new clerk
only remained moment, being too desir
Gus of finding warmth and rest for nv colo
and weary frame.
Stepping out into the storm buttoneS
my coat snugly about ne and started on
slow run for my residence.
had done maybe half the distance when
| was startled by loud cries coming from
some point 10 the darkness ahead of me. ]
stopped. aud then there came 10 my ears:
Cab. cab, Hold For Gods sa&e, cab''
! could see the light from the cab / had
just discharged about block down the
dark avenue, and peering agsin through
the blackneSs ] could discover that tne
drivers attention had been attracted by the
call, and that be had reined IN his horse.
Only some one wanting 10 20 dosu town
thought, and yet the peculiarly pleading
character and evident fright CT those tones
DID NOT leave NE.
| went on. however. bot had coiy GOV
e7e1 rev steps when rbe2rd some one run
rapidly along on the opposite side of tie
street
The person was m&nifeStly very much
frightened. for / could hear the quick,
startling cries he gave our a. lie sped ever
the wet wax
OF some reason or other felt strangely
and strongly influenced by tais occurrence, 1
and instead Of passing O2-as / would have
done upon almost suy Other occasion-I
stood there il the drilling rain watching
and listening 70 the fieeting figure, though (
could hear much better than ! could SO
Looking hsacS and following the cries |
Sooa saw. by tie rays from : din street i