The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-20
called up the central Office and asked

1Or aHessebBer-Doy-tne Olucst anu
most experienced,that could be spared.
Then he returned to his seat, resumed
his cigar and nearly tainted away.
An unsuccessful effort at suicide is
apt to agitate the nervous system, but
when you combine II with the exhaus-
tion of vitality pertaining to the de-
livery of message over n telephone
wire the combination Is certain to be
extremely enervating. Erastus Robin
son, M. d., strong man though he
was, felt kccnly the dcbilitatlng
effects of trying to reach both the
future life and messcngcr-boy with
in the brief space of ten minutes.
After awhile the suicidal smoker
grew so nervous that he was obliged
to throw aside his weed and walk up
and down the Office with faltcring
step. Once he graspcd the pistol in
frenzied way, and the messenger boy
had nearly lost his job. but Robinson's
hand was still too unsteady to do the
work required. A ring at the door
bell restored the broken-hcartcd man
for n moment to his senses.
"Come in, hc said to the uniformed
youth who stood before him. The
messenger was boy of about 16
years of age, whose face bore that
peculiar expression that is known to
slang as "tough."
Locking the door again, the doctor
ushercd the youngster into his office.
"lIave you got much pluckP" he
asked the boy, seating himself and
lighting fresh cigar.
"Well, dey calls me 'Ncrvy Pete
sir. Don't dat go9'
"Thats promising. Did you ever
kill man P'
The messenger-boy looked rather
startled, but only for a moment. Then
he answered:
"Naw; but served tree months OF
de Island. / smashed old chap in
de jaw fer callin' me 'dago.' d. ye
sce?'
"That's not bad. DO you want to
make some money!"
"W-e-l-l hear me shout But j
don't want no more o. de Island. De
boobies got to be big to catch Merry
Pete if dc coppers is on de lay. See?"
"Oh! you needn't worry" returned
the doctor, taking up the revolver and
examining the cartridges. "The point
is just here, my boy. l intended to
kill myself, but l find that too much
smoking has in ured my nerves.
can't feel certain that l shall do the
act with what the newspapers call
neatness aud dispatch. Now, Pve left
note on the desk here saying that
have blown my brains out. want
you to do the deed. III give you two
hundred dollars in cash if you'll kill
me. When you've put the ball into
my head, place the pistol in my hand.
Then take this key and leave the house
by the back way. There's no one
here, and the shot will not be heard.
Here's the money. Have you got the
sand?"
The face of the youth was study.
Amazement, cupidity, fear, were com-
bined in the picture. Ho glanced at
the doctor, gazed longingly at the
money held out to him, took the crisp
bills in his hand, carefully placed them
in his pocket. shuddercd as his eyes
rested on the revolver. Then a hum
orous CLEAN came into his eyes, and
his Celtic coun:enance seemed to light
with an Intelligence it had not shown
before.
"Look ahere, boss" he said. "Ive
de dust, but l ain't got the sand.
See?" Then he boltcd for the door,
unlocked 1t and was gone.
Erastus Robinson, NJ. d., Is still
alive. lie was so amazed at seeing a
messenger boy run that life took on a
plcasanter aspect than it had worn
for some time, and he replaced his
revolver in its drawer.-[Once A
Wool.