The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-18

friends hero recently, says the Louisville
Couricr-Journnl. AS the guests Mt din
nor were smoking their cigars and tobacco
smoke was forming curls toward the cell
ing some very good stories were exchanged.
The physician told the following expcri.
enco, which, he said, wus one of the queer
est he had ever had:
had just made my rounds" said no,
"gono TO my bedroom and put on nv slim.
pers and lounging robe to spond an hour
or so with my family before retiring. l
had not been in long before my, doorbcll
rang violently and an excited whistle
came up through the speaking trumpet, MS
ut That time there was no such "a thing as
the telephone in existence. l answered the
summons which was to como quick to
Mr.. John Smiths home out on Chestnut
street, ms he was thought to be dying.
hastily put on my overcoat and or
dered my horses around to the front door
drove out to the number indicated, when
found the ncighborhood In great excite
mcnt. From tho comments learned TINT
MIR. Smith had qunrrolcd with his wife,
and that in II state of transportation had Mt
tempted to kill himself by taking arsenic.
II went ut once to his bedside, where |
found tho man with his head thrown back
and his respiration labored. felt his pulse,
ana to my establishment l found it per-
fectly normal could not for the llfo Of
Inc sec how man near death could have
such vitality.
while / was making these invcstiga-
lions his WIFE who was very historical,
was crying bitterly and berating herself
for refusing to grant her husband his
wishes.
ooh, John, said she, If you only get
over this l will never refuse you such "A
trivial thfyn nc u bc, Il
81 began to think she might become In
sane, her distress was so genuine Whilo
1 was looking at tho patient noticed IA
strange expression on his face. I had sent
for stomach pump, and was waiting its
arrival. Tho pntient managed to give mo
pathetic look us he winkcd his eye
was perfectly nonplused how to proceed,
rs felt that tho man must 10 fcigning.
81 paid 10 attention 20 tho wink, rs /
determined If the fellow was imposing on
mo that would make him get tho worst
of it. l ordered every body out OF the
room when the pump arrived. adjusted
1t ready to begin operations. In the in
tcrval Mrs. Smiths shrieks were heart
rending. l scanned tho patients face
slowly and saw he was perfectly conscious
OF everything that was going on. Finally
he said: Doc, for Gods sake, don't uso
that pump on me! I'm all right, but don t
give me away
There was in n prcdicHmont. l hnd,
however, elected n confession from the
patient that had already anticipated.
Without further inquiry put up tho
pump and administered an ometio. adj
ministered n very severe one and tho man
was made sick of his trick before he was
through with it. had been mnde party
to some sort of fraud and had to carry
out my pnrt. I made number of visits
and ran up II big bill.
when tho man got weIl he called on
me and said: Doc. 1 am under many
obligations. / married u widow Of consid-
cradle property. She was old enough to
BIO my grandmother. l wanted several
thousand dollars to mako u trip and have
good timo in tho cnst She refused to
grant mo the request. So 1 thought j
might brighten hor into giving il to me. l
naturally concluded to try the suicide
scheme. l bought arsenic, went up to my
room and left motto to my wife bidding
her goodby and regrctting that had an
noyod her by asking for her money. Tho
scheme worked admirably, as You know.
old man, make out your bill and wo will
settle at once
Scoundrel' escaped me, but l con
cludod that / would Mt least have some of
the profits l made out my bill for 5000.
Tho fellow never hositated and said that
it was reasonable considering the service l
had rendered him..