The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-09
A DRUGGISTS YARN.

last consented to relate few of his ex
pcrienccs for The Post. But the drug
business is In many ways n trying one. |
often wake in the night dreaming TINT |
have poisoned some unfortunate by mis-
take. When / first began to compound
prescriptions, was very nervous about the
components and would look at a 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 n prescription and given
it to a lady, l FASTENED after her and took
away the bottle under the prCtcxt 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 l believe it would have killed me if l
had made a mistake. But l never did. So
| ] 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 l fancy
that has helped to age me. The problem
of ones own individual existence is suf
ficient 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 II dangerous as
well as heavy burden?"
"No," he answered, II never think of
that except perhaps in my dreams. No
doubt there are number of irreproachable
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 creature of habit.
81 began life as a physician" he con-
tinued, "but l had neither capital nor in
fluence and so came to grief. l then took
a situation as drug clerk in which capac-
ity l managed to save enough after few
years to take small store on the out
skirts of the city and set up for myself. 1t
was at this period of my life that the OK
perienccs l nm about to relate occurred.
"The neighborhood where found my
self was scmifashionable, and l did fairly
well. The first scene in one of the most in
teresting real life dramas l have ever wit
messed took place on u lovely June even
ing.
"A beautiful boy, apparently about IS
or 10 years of age, entered my shop and
asked me to sell him very small quantity
of an extremely insidious poison.
at want it to mix up with some other
stuff to kill insects, he explained, with a
sweet smile. IN take out patent some
day and make my fortune. I'm no end of
chemist
"He wanted so little of the drug that |
could see no harm in giving it 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 shapcly 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 widcncd suddenly and shot out tiger
ish CLEAN, half mocking, half cruel, that
was as extraordinary as it was transitory
But the popularity that struck me most
forcibly was the small, we'll poised head
: and the dclicacy of the profile of the tiny
shell like ear, as he stood outlined against
the red sunset light that flowed through
my western window. / also observed
mole that set off the whitencss of his throat
about half way to his low collar.
"Well, it was a number of days before
could get that pretty boy out of my head
On the third morning l read in the paper.
an account of the sudden death (probably
of heart failure) of Il prominent gentleman
who had recently taken up his residence il
the city. The reporter who wrote up tn,
tragedy told pathetically about the grief o
the young widow, who had been devoted tt
her husbapd, despite the fact that he was
good many years her senior.
'1t was quite by accident that went t.
the inquest A friend of mine, happening
in, asked me to accompany him, and fol
want of better employment l went.
1.-The afternoon was waning when tn,
beautiful young widow took the stand tt
testify. A murmur of sympathy and adj
miration greeted her as she made her an
swers in low, sweet voice. As she spok,
the ghost of forgotten music seemed to fiji
the room. / was strangely reminded Of
l could not tell just what. The corone
spoke few words of coincidence and regre
that he should be forced to question her
AS he did so faint suggestion of a smil
fitted across her lips, and at the same tim
her eyes widened and CLEAN shot forth
as though the blinds that guarded thos
windows of her soul had been for momen
raised, disclosing the inward fire. The ex
preston was gone in breath, but m,
heart was beating rapidly, for the illusiv
memory had come over me more strongl,
than before. Who was this woman, ant
of what did she remind me?' asked my
y, self. My question was almost miraculousl,
answered, for just then the sun, which ha,
been behind clouds all day, made up hi
mind to show his countenanco for q spac
before retiring, and, suddenly emerging
lit the sky gloriously, throwing his beam
full upon the western window, agains
which the black robed figure of the youn,
widow stood outlined
'This association of ideas was sufficient
Whether without it should ever have rec
ognized her l cannot say, but I saw it al
then. The delicate profile, which was turn
ed toward me, the well poised head an,
pretty, tiny ear, even the mole became Wis
ible as she raised her chin In replying rath
er haughtily to some inquiry.
"Afterward l made private investiga
tons among my business confreres an,
succeeded in finding two who remembers,
being visited by beautiful boy on Ger
tain lovely night in June. From each h
had purchased an infinitesimal quantity o
q particularly insidious drug used to xii
! insects-and other things"
did no one else suspect herP'
"If they did, they never made their sus
picions public" he replied. eff half o
1 tha erin D,Tnittp1 i'm tbis To CI,