Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-05
! "A DRUGGISTS YARN.

busiDuS is IN mnny ways Trying one. 4
Often wake In the night dreaming that I
have poisoiied soIns unfortunate by mis-
take. When j frst began to compound
prescriptions, / was very nervous about the
components, and would look at bottle
several times before using its 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 II prescription and given
1t to lady. j FASTENED after her and took
away the bottle under the pretext that II
was the wrong one, and throwing IL out
OF the window made up the medicine all
over again. Well. well, that was over long
ago. l believe 1T would have killed me II
had made mistake. But 1 never did. So
/ gradually became more confident, and
now my own nerves, MS well as dangerous
drugs, are under my control.
"Yes. a man In my calling does hold
good many secrets in his keeping fancy
that has helped to age me. The problem
Of ono's own individual existence Is n suf
flciont tax on the mentality without plung-
ing into the great maelstroIn of human
lifc"
"Do you ever feel your collection of 9TH
err peoples skeletons to be dangerous us
well as heavy burdcnf"
that except perhaps in my dreams. No
doubt there are number of irrcproachablc
ladies and gentlemen who will sigh with
relief when they sec my name in the death
column. Nevertheless this is civilized
country and man Is q creature of habit
81 began life rs a physician" he con-
tinued, but i had neither capital nor in
tluence, and so came to grief. then took
q situation rs drug clerk, in which cnpac-
ity ! managed to save enough after u few
years to take small store ON the out
skirts Of tho city and set up for myself 1t
was at this period Of my life that the OK
periences l am about to relate occurred.
1.-THE neighborhood where found my
self was semifashionahle and l 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 is
or 10 years of age, entered my shop and
asked me to sell him a very small quantity
of an extremely insdious poison.
" Il want it to mix up with some other
stuff to kill insects, he explained, with n
sweet smile. IN take out patent some
day and make my fortune. I'm no end OF
a chemist.
L
could see no harm in giving 1t to him.
While l was wrapping the tiny parcel
looked curiously at my customer, for It is
seldom you see so beautiful youth. There
was something odd about his expression.
When he smiled, his shapely lips parted
over rows of penrly teeth but though the
lines about his mouth were sweet, the effect
was not altogether pleasant, because his
eyes widened suddenly and shot out n tiger
ish CLEAN, half mocking, half cruel, that
was as extraordinary as 1t 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,
shell-like ear, as he stood outlined against
the red sunset light that flowed through
my western window. 1 also observed
mole TINT set off the wilderness OF his throat
about half way to his low collar
"Well. 1t 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 a
good many years her senior.
st was quite by accident that went to
the inquest. friend of mine, 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 nd
miration greeted her as she made her an
swers In a low, sweet voice. As she spoke
the ghost of forgotten music seemed to fill
the room. was strangely reminded Of
/ 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 u 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 breath, but my
heart was beating rapidly, for the illusiyo
memory had come over me more strongly
than before Who was this woman, and
OF what did she remind meS' asked my
self. My question was almost reculously
answered, for just then the sun, which had
been behind clouds all day, made up his
mind to show his oountenance for space
before retiring, and, suddenly emerging,
lit the sky gloriously, 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 Ii I should ever have rec
| ognized her cannot say, but I saw 1t all
then. The delicate profile, which was turn
ed toward me, the well poised head and
pretty, tiny car, even the mole became Wis
ible MS she raised her chin In replying rath-
or haughtily to some inquiry.
"Afterward l made private investiga-
tions among my business confreres and
succeeded In finding two who remembered
being visited by beautiful boy on Ger
tain lovely night in June. From each he
had purchased an infinitesimal quantity OF
particularly -insidious drug used to xiii
insects--and other things" 4'i
did no one else suspect herr" -
II they did, they never made their sus.
| picions public, he replied. III half OF
the crimes committed in this desperate old
world came to light. the criminologists
would be forced to the conclusion that only
the good people are abnormal Washing
49,, post
| Sugar Maple Trees.
| lao 1.. g.,