Evening journal., 1891-08-12

Laura was quack's daughter. The ides
was horrible one.
read the little book. There were hun
dreds of testimonials, according to which
"Bumstead's Tincture" was infallible. Tn,
testimonials were from all sorts and con
ditions OF men. They were evidently per.
fectly genuine, for they attached theiI
names and addresses. Perhaps the mys.
terious Bumstead had discovered the Elixi.
| VitH. Then | read on till came to the
description OF the remedy itself II was sale
to be prepared from certain medicina,
| plants found only in Central Arabia, Bel
| ioochistan, and the mountainous region ol
the northwestern frontier Of Grim Tar.
tary." oh, there could not be anything in
| it, of course, it was a swindle. II it wer.
only genuine, felt that would not hesi
tate for single instant. At that moment
the door opened and Bumstead-I mea.
Mr.. Wyatt-entered.
We'll, my young friend, p he said, with
good humored smile, what is your deter
minationw
Mr. WYATT" ! said, and assumed my
very best professional manner, 'if coulo
only believe in the genuineness of thess
testimonials if | could only think that tn,
Infallible Tincture does all that it is saio
to do; if could only honestly believe in it
! would cast principle and pride and preiu
dice to the winds and instantly iump al
your most liberal offer.s
You don't mean to say that You doubt
the genuineness of the testimonialsr, criea
MIR. Wyatt, in evident indignation. Thei
he read Lord Anticipates testimonial very
slowly and very softly. "Dr Sprigge,n he
said, at its conclusion. Lord Addlepate l.
a peer OF the realm, one OF our hereditary
legislators. Would you presume to doubt
the word Of an hereditary legislator? Can
on his lordship, you are a physician; You
can form your own opinion. The whole
Of these testimonials, sir, are absolutel,
genuinew cried Mr.. Wyatt, and hs
thumped the table with his fist. II be
lieve in Bumstead. sir, and I've never haa
a days illness in my life." | did not think
much of that argument
Look here, said Mr.. Wyatt; "IilI make
you present of gross OF it. Take it to
st. Skinhint's and try it on your pa
tients." The horrible suggestion caused
me to shudder in spite of myself.
DO you care so little for my daughter,
DR.. Sprigge," said Bumstead-I mean Mr..
Wyatt-very solemnly, that you actually
decline to investigate the matter? Didn't
the whole world believe the earth to be fiat
till 1t was proved TO be round? Wasn't
Columbus looked upon as fool and an
impostor? Let me tell you, sir, the day is
coming when all the world will revere the
name OF Bumstead."
When | looked round upon the evident
signs Of wealth, when | looked into that
old mans face, and l remembered that he
was LauriRs father, could not doubt the
honesty of his convictions | seized his
hand; there were tears in my eyes as ]
bade him an afrectionate farewell.
II will investigate it, sirl,. l cried, "and
will communicate the result to you in
fortnight"
Then we shook hands.
went into the nearest CHEMISTS. ask |
ed for a bottle Of Bumstead's infallible |
tincture.
ITS very valuable remedy, sir, )" said !
the chemist; most of our customers finu |
it perfect panacea."
1t was strange very strange. Your true i
never hesitaUes TO make a
crucial experiment upon his own person.
] took a double dose of ''Bumstead" that /
night. 1t did not have the slightest effect
upon me- / finished the bottle the next i
day; it did not even make me feel i'll. ] /
did not think much Of "Bumsteadn as |
medicine Most valuable remedies make |
you feel very i'll, indeed-that is my expert |
ence Then called on six of the testi |
monial givers. They all swore by "Bum. |
stead.p "A man must take medicine OF
some sort, sir, +" one remarked to me; when |
I'm bit out of sorts just flies to Bum |
stead, and it does me a power Of good"
My next step was to insert an advertise |
ment in the Agony Column OF the Times |
It ran as follows:
To the physician who recommended "Bum.
stead's Infallible Tincture" to an aged noble
man suffering from heart disease, in the Pull
man train running TO Brighton, on the after
noon OF Tuesday, the 18th. Kindly send address,
and greatly oblige Lord X.
Then followed an address in Mayfair.
/ got 237 answers to that advertisement.
Over 200of them sang the praises Of "Bum
stead" Thirty inclosed prospectuses OF
rival medicines. One was very rude let
ter. 1t ran as follows:
DEAR BUMsTEAD-I'll give you a testimonial
with pleasure on receipt of postal order for
one pound.
The six remaining letters were all from
medical men. Each of them declared that
they remembered the incident perfectly.
that Bumstead's Infallible Tincture was
the very thing, and each Of them intimatei
to Lord \. that he had better consult the
writer at his earliest convenience One
was from the senior physician Of St. Skin
flint's.
After such evidence as this, could doubt
any longer? Could any man who pos
sessed we'll balanced and judicial mind
dare to doubt such evidence as this?
"Bumsteadn must indeed be an infallible
remedy when six eminent physicians, each
travelling by the Pullman train to Brighton
on a particular afternoon, should each
have the good fortune to meet with an
aged nobleman suffering from heart dis
ease, and each and every ore of them from
the very bottom Of his heart recommended
"Bumstead" as a matter OF course.
On the appointed day / called upon Mr..
Wyatt. l respectfully saluted him as a
benefactor OF the human race. Within
three months ! married Laura gave up
the practice Of the profession as a matter
OF conviction. l went into partnership
with old Mr.. Wyatt. He died year or
two ago. He left everything TO Laura.
am. a rich man now. / live in kensington
Park Gardens, and have lovely place in
the country, and ! became-I practically
became-well-"B "BUmstead. - st. James
/ Gazette.
How the Oyster Reeds.
How the oyster feeds may seem a prob