The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-21
A DRUGGISTS YARN.

L still a young man, though my
hair is almost white, . he said when he at
last consented to relate few of his ex-
Periences for The Post 'tBut the drug
business is in many ways a trying one.
often wake in the night dreaming that
have poisoned some unfortunate by mis-
take. When I first began &c compound
prescriptions, I was very nervous about the
components, and would look at q bottle
several times before using it's contents, and
when finished would go all over them to
make sure that was correct. Upon one
occasion became so anxious that, having
carefully prepared a prescription and given
it to a lady, FASTENED after her and took
away the bottle under the pretext that it
was the wrong one, and throwing it out
of the window made up the medicine all
over again. Well, WELL that was over long
ago. believe it would have killed me if
had made mistake. But never did. So
I gradually became more confident, and
now my own nerves, as well as dangerous
drugs, are under my control.
eyes. A man in my calling does hold
good many secrets in his keeping. fancy
that has helped to age me. The problem
of ones own individual existence is a suf-
fcient tax on the mentality without plung-
ing into the great maelstrom of human
life"
''Do you ever feel your collection of 9th
er peoples skeletons to be a dangerous as
wel1-as heavy burden?''
NO. he answered, IT never think of
that except perhaps in my dreams. No
doubt there are a number of irreproachable
ladies and gentlemen who will sigh with
relief when they see my name in the death
column. Nevertheless this is a civilized
country and man is a creature of habit
81 began life as a physician" he con-
tinued, ''but had neither capital nor in
huence, and SO came to grief. then took
a situation as drug clerk, in which oapao-
ity I managed to save enough after few
years to take a small store on the out
skirts of the city and set up for myself. 1t
was at this period of my life that the ex-
periences am about to relate occurred.
1.-THE neighborhood where found my
self was senifashionable, and I did fairly
well. The first scene in one of the most in
teresting real life dramas have ever wit
messed took place on lovely June even
ing.
"a beautiful boy, apparently about 10
or 10 years of age, entered my shop and
asked me to sell him a very small quantity
of an extremely insidious poison.
g I want it to mix up with some other
stuff to kill insects, he explained, with
sweet smile. IN take out patent some
day and make my fortune. I'm no end Of
chemist
'tHe wanted so little of the drug that
could see no harm in giving it to him.
While WIS wrapping the tiny parcel
looked ouriously at my customer, for it is
seldom you see so beautiful a youth. There
was something odd about his expression.
When he smiled, his shapely lips parted
over rows Of pearly teeth, but though the
lines about his mouth were sweet, the effect
was not altogether pleasant, because his
eyes widened suddenly and shot out tiger
ish CLEAN, half hooking, half cruel, that
was extraordinary as it was transitory.
But the popularity that struck me most
forcibly was the small, well poised head
and the delicacy of the profile of the tiny,
sheIl-like ear, as he stood outlined against
the red sunset light that flowed through
my western window. 1 also observed a
mole that set of the whiteness of his throat
about half way to his low collar.
''Wel1, it was number of days before
could get that pretty boy out of my head.
On the third morning read in the papers
an account of the sudden death (probably
of heart failure) of prominent gentleman
who had recently taken up his residence in
the city. The reporter who wrote up the
tragedy told pathetically about the grief of
the young widow, who had been devoted to
her husband, despite the fact that he was
good many years her senior.
''It was quite by accident that went to
the inquest. A friend of Inine happening
in, asked me to accompany him, and for
want of better employment went
1.-The afternoon was waning when the
beautiful young widow took the stand to
testify. A murmur of sympathy and ad-
miration greeted her she made her an
swers in low sweet voice. AS she spoke
the ghost of forgotten music seemed to fill
the room. 7 was strangely reminded Of
I could not tell just what. The coroner
spoke few words of coincidence and regret
that he should be forced to question her.
As he did so faint suggestion of a smile
fitted across her lips, and at the same time
| her eyes widened and CLEAN shot FORTH
as though the blinds that guarded those
windows of her soul had been for moment
raised, disclosing the inward fire. The ex-
preston was gone in a breath, but my
heart was beating rapidly, for the Elusive
memory had come over me more strongly
than before. Who was this woman, and
of what did she remind me7' asked my
self. Ny question was almost miFRculOusly
answered, for just then the sun, which had
been behind clouds all day, made up his
mind to show his countenaDce for space
before retiring, and, suddenly emerging
lit the sky g1oriously, throwing his beams
full upon the western window, against
which the black robed figure of the young
widow stood outlined.
This association of ideas was sufficient.
Whether without it should ever have rec
! ognized her cannot say, but I saw it all
then. The delicate profile, which was turn
ed toward me, the well poised head and
pretty, tiny ear, even the mole became Wis
I ible as she raised her chin in replying rath
er haUghtily to some inquiry.
'tAfterward / made private investiga-
I tions among my business confreres and
4 succeeded in finding two who remem bered
/ being visited by beautiful boy on Ger
/ tain lovely night in June. From each he
had purchased an infinitesinal quantity of
a particularly insidious drug used to kill
/ insects-and other things
Ibid no one else suspect her?''
| eff they did, they never made their sus-
/ picions public he replied. eff half of
; the crimes committed in this desperate old
! world came to light, the criminologists
! would be forced to the conclusion that only