The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-31

long handled, ball bearing electric
surgical grip, to reach down and bring
it up with no more damage than some
rasping where the edge of the bicuspids
scraped their way along the esophagus.
The event made a profound impress
sion on Mr.. Shufi1ebotham. He printed
the story of it in journalistic circus
poster tints on the woman's page of
The Elevator. He drew an awful
warning from the fact that the woman
was so frightened and fdgety that it
made the surgeons task much more
difficult He declared a man would
have kept his mental balance and con-
troIled his nerves throughout The
emotional and tricky female nervous
system. however, etc.
For some reason this subject of swal-
lowing teeth began to exercise a pecul-
lar drawing power over Mr.. Shuttle
botham. He searched the news columns
day by day, if haply he might find rec
ord of some luckless soul to whom the
thing had happened. When found, he
made the most of it, printed the Incl
dent in scare headlines, dwelled with
artistic touch on the attendant circuln-
stances, whether it were lower teeth or
upper. whether a full set or only par
tial, whether they were machine made
or hand baked, whether fixed upon old
fashioned rubber plates or upon the
latest corrugated aluminium surface
The habit of looking for tooth swal-
lowings grew upon him. And every one
of them, when found, he printed with
warning comment on his Elevator
woman's page
While this spell was on him came a
day-fateful day-when Mr. Shuffiebo-
than himself wore in his upper jaw a
set Of teeth made by hands. They were
a beautiful work OF art, with tiny gold
spots in front to indicate that they
were natural filed teeth instead of man
made porcelain ones. When passing a
mirror where nobody was looking, Mr..
Shufiebotham frequently stood still,
for all his masculine strength of mind,
and drew back his lips in a wide grin
to admire those teeth. Nor had he for
gotten meantime those who had cough
ed or sneezed their teeth down their
threats. What if he too
One night he woke with an impress
sion of a great goneness in his mouth.
He put up his fingers. They touched,
alas only unhoused, empty gums! The
expected had happened. The teeth
were gonei yah! Vow He sprang
from the bed ana covered I'VE feet at
one leap. He shrieked for Maria. He
pointed down his throat, past his desc
late gums.
Down therel" he gasped. Swallow
ed emil"
Agonizing pains seized on him. IT
know where they're lodged he said.
Il feel 'em right here" Ess beat upon
his manly breast above his heart I'm
in awful paint Oh, oh-h-hl" Cold
beads stood upon his brow
Maria reused the house Adoniram
Judson ran for the doctor The maid
prepared hot water on a hurry call
Maria stirred mustard into it, and her
husband drank it, She was glad to find
it went down right enough. She thump-
ed him in the back while he lay head
downward across the top of a dressing
case in the hope that gravity would as
sist nature to unburden Mr.. ShuHebo-
than.
mo use, NIaria.'' he gasped between
the pains that rent him. @In never get
EN- up! I'll die. Martial Youth find my
will
Thomas. what's that bright thing on
the carpet under the bed2' asked Ma
ria
BY goodness. it's my teeth" ex-
claimed Shuffiebotham, Strengthening
up suddenly He 1eaped from where he
lay across the top of the dressing case,
grabbed the glittering thing and pop
ped it into his mouth
You've just breathed them out in
your sleepl'' said Maria rather severe
" I heard you snoring awfully to-
night-worse than common