The Penn's Grove record., 1895-07-05

had previously selected and where !
had engaged o room for the night
Once in the room I proceeded to max,
things as comfortable as possible fol
him-and incidentally for myself, fol
by this time he was beginning to gel
p~ugnacious again. / accomplished
this by keeping the table between III
and q bottle of champagne otit
which I begged him not to spill. YH,
had as much respect for q bottle O
champagne as though he hsd beer
better born, and / succeeded. He wa,
still quite sober when I asked him !
he knew anything about poisons.
-" 'Nsw,' he answered, after q few
moments of contemplation, as though
he were wondering why in the worlt
[ should ask such o question as that
Nav; nuthin' 'cept ratpoison. Why?
"'Oh,' I answered, as delicately q,
possible, merely because I am q doc
tor and know q great deal about them
You see I have made Q special study o
Them
"fWell, Doc. he asked in a few mo
ments. what has that got to do with
1t? Gimme some moro fzz and b,
quick about it, I tell you, or I'll rur
me fingers in yer eyes and hang 'eD
on me watch-chain.'
EDO you know I continued pour
ing ont the champagne, that there ii
q certain violent poison which doeI
not act on the stomach as long as tn,
person who has swallowed 1t remain
perfectly still, but which is ~absolutel,
fatal II that person makes . single VIC
lent metion-for instance, such o mo
ton as rising from q chair, or striking
another person, OF even uttering to-
ornate an oath?
"fWhat are yer driving at, growlei
nv burly guest.
Simply this I answered, that
sould advise you to remain rs still ai
you possibly can, for ! have given yor
D dose of that poison in n of thes'
glasses of champsgne-in the last on
b fact"
'But," interrupted the Colonel
"you had agreed, as it were, with your
self that you would not use Q weapon.
Now poison, in my opinion, would b
D weapon"
"Wait a moment" said the Doctor
well, the wretch was the msot fright
bned man I have even seen in my life,
He sat in his chair, perfectly rigid. ]
almost believe he was afraid to talk TO-
o time. But the suspense was to;
great.
"'Yer amt goin' to kill a felle.
that's doin' yer no harm, are yer ?, hi
! asked 30 plaintivelY that ] almos
laughed in his face.
"'No,' I answered, keep perfectly
, still, and when it thoroughly please
me I will give you a simple emetic tina
will save your life. Be careful dc
not move or it will be beyond m,
power to do so.'
"'What'd yer do it fur?' he asked
breathlessly.
Because I answered, i wanted
lock of your hair. have q particular
fondness for hair Of the color ofyours
ant I am going to have just about bal
of all that you have, including half o
your mustache, which, / will admit, j
a perfectly splendid one With thI
l approached him, at the same TIM
drawing from my pocket my pair c
shears.
".All right, go ahead, Doc. he said
trembling from head to foot; but, a
yer love yer fellow-man what has go
er wife and family ter support, dom
Viggle me OF that poison will work
az do not think / ever collected
bng-standing bill from rich but for
ge4ful patient with one-half the salts
faction that 7 enjoyed In clipping Of
half the hair and half the mustache Of
that man who but a few moments be
lore had been threatening to goug,
put my eyes. I laughed, I sang, ]
danced a jig. and then rolling the hal
up in . wad I showed it in my pocket.
/ finished off the remainder OF tn,
champagne. Then I walked TO til
window and threw it open. We were
in a room on the third floor, anu ths
window opened on q FIRE escape thai
| reached almost to the ground. ]
lifted one leg over the sill quite nor
chalantly."
"But I say, my dear Doctor, inter
.upted the Colonel again, s.you wer,
not playing fair. You we're in reality
using q weapon, and mighty danger
GUS one. The poor fellow had no ho'
at ALL"
"wait a moment" replied the Doc
or. "You wish me to be too abrupt.
But, to continue, when the fellow saw
me do this he uttered . howl OF terror.
eyer amt a-goin' ter leave me
Doc; yer amt a-goin' ter leave m
here ter dye, are yerT
"'You are in no danger I an
wered. 'Good-evening.'
But the poison?' he asked.
"'You have taken no poison re
Piled. while you have been with mt
this evening you have swallowed moth.
ing more harmful than champagne 7
At first he did not seem to compre.
bend, but in a moment he bounded
from his chair with an oath and mad
for me. departed"
"But, my dear Doctor" asked tn,
Professor, show did You manage y
~make-your escape from him?"
"Well," answered the Doctor, dry
", ST took advantage of one of tbs
compensations of nature. A small mar
can skip down q fire-escape much more
quickly than 8 large man. Besides, J
had a start. In fact, I was bowling
away in a.cab that I had previously
engaged, before he was half-wa,
down"
"But," I asked, shave you neye,
Seen troubled by him since? Has b
never hunted you upT
81 have reason to believe he ha
not" answered the Doctor. SIN fact,
IL he had, I am afraid I would not be
here tonight to tell the story
Frank Leslie's Weekly.
49, A. R---z-- M