Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-04

friends hero recently, says the Louisville
CoNrisr- Joaxpal. As the guests at din
nd were smoking their cigars and tobacco
smoke was forming carls toward the sell
ing SEINE very good stones were exchanged.
The physician told the following expert
snee, " hieh, he snid, was one of the queer.
est he had ever had:
AZ had Just made my YouRde," said he,
"gons TO my bedroom and put on my slip
Pe1s and lounsing Yohe to spend an hour
or 30 with my family before retiring. I
had net bssn IN long before my doorbeli
rang violently and an excited whistle
csne up through the speaking trumpet, as
at that time there was no such a thing as
the telephone la existence. / answered the
suRDons, which was to CONC quick to
MIR. John Smiths home out On Chestnut
street, as he was thought to be dying.
II hastily put on my overcoat and Or
dsrsd my herses around to the fHent 6oor.
drove cut to the number indicated, wsn
found the neighborhoOd in great excite
ment. From the comments I learned that
Mr.. Smith had quaYreled with his wife,
and that in p stote of exasperation had at
tempted to Kill himself by taking arsenic.
~ went at once to his bedside, where I
found the man with his head thrown back
and his respiration labored. / felt his pulse,
and TO my establishment I found it per-
feetly normal. could not for the life Of
NE see how a man near death could have
such vitality.
"Tliils was making these investiga-
tons his wife, who was vary hystericai,
was crying. bitterly and bsrating herself
fur refusing to grant her husband his
wishes.
"Oh, john said she, IF you emily get
ever this 1 will never refuse you such a
trivial thing as a few thousand doNars!'
81 began TO think she might become in
sane, her distress was SO genuine. While
was booking at the patient noticed .
strange expression on his face. I had sent
for . stomach pump, and was wsitipg its
arrival. The patient managed to give me
pathetic look a. he winked his eye. I
was perfectly nonplused how to proceed,
~ felt that the man must be feigning.
81 paid no attention to the wink, As I
dsterninedN the fellow was imposing on
me that would make him get the worst
Of it. I ordered, every body out Of the
room when the pump arrived. adjusted
it ready TO begin operations. In the In.
torval Mrs Smiths shrieks were heart
residing. scanned the patients face
slowly and saw he was perfectly conscious
Of every thing that was going on. Finally
he said: Doc, for Gods sake, don't use
that pump on nae! I'm all right, but don t
| give me away
There was in predicameat. had,
however, eHcited confession from the
| patient that had already anticipated.
Without further inquiry I put up the
| pamp and administered an emetie. ad-
ministered a very severe one. and the man
was made sick Of his trick before be was
through with 10. had been made o party
| to some sort Of o fraud and had to carry
| cut my part. made q number Of visits
and ran up big bill.
"When The man got we'll, he called on
ms and said: Doc. I am under many
| obligations I married a widow Of eonsid
| cradle property. She. WAS old enough to
be rsy grandmother. l wanted several
thousand dollars to make trip and have
| q good time in the east. She refused te
| grant mo the request So Thought ]
might frighten her into giving it to me.
naturally concluded TO Try the suicide
scheme. ] bought arsenic, went up to my
room and left q note to my wife, bidding
her goodby and regrstting chat had an
noyed her by asking for her money. The
scheme worried admirably, as you know.
here am with all the cash want. So
] old nsn, make cut your bill and We will
settle at qnSs-'
'ScoupdJsl? escaped me, but ! con
sludod that veuld at least have some o,
f, the profits. made out my bill for $500
The fellow nsvG1 hesitated. and said tina,
It was reasonable considering the ssevies J
had rendered him."