The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-18
He DOESN'T REPENT.
Penniless NJ. D. WEEDS Charity Patient
Acute Case of Plutocracy.

A poverty that was too bitter to be en-
dured has been the making of d. C.
Gideon. st. Louis newspaper man, who
now owns 1900 acres of fertile land in
the ChOctaw country.
Fortune was fairly forced on Gideon. 1t
came without his knowing II. and he
would have had hard time escaping had
he tried. Because Gideon was too poor to
do anything else. he married a girl who
was as poor as himself. Later he learned
that she was one-eighth Choctaw. Being
a man of action. Gideon got busy. That is
why he owns the 1,200 acres OF Indian
lands-s tract that is worth $4,000 at
present and is increasing in value rapidly.
Gideon made up his mind TO quit the
newspaper business thirty years ago. In
his youth he had studied medicine.
Guess I'll quit scribbling news and go
to jotting down prescriptions" he said.
1t ought 10 pay better
Down to Wagner, Okla, went Gideon.
He hung his shingle on about the only re-
spectacle building in the town-then watt
ed. At first no one seemed to care a cent
for Gideon. Then he began to get calls
from far and wide. and the future looked
bright indeed until Gideon began to try to
collect his bills. Everybody was sick, 1t
seemed, but no one had the money to pay
the doctors bills, Those were trying times
in Oklahoma and Gideon was only one of
many who failed to make ends meet The
harder Gideon worked the poorer he be-
came.
Finally Gideon. in desperation. decided
to leave. II was easy 10 make the de-
cision-thousands of others had done that
much. and no more-but II was no simple
matter to carry it out. Gideon appealed
to something like hundred patients who
owed him money and managed to collect
just s3.25.
Il can eat on that he reasoned, IF l
only can get TRANSFORMATION"
Back in St Louis Gideon had stood pref
~ well on the paper for which he had
worked. and he wrote long and pathetic
appeal for railroad ticket. He didn't
expect to get 1t. but he did.
About an hour before Gideon was to
start back for civilization a rough-looking
man came running up to the Office Gideon
was about to vacate, and excitedly inform
ed him that a girl was dying in a camp
outside OF town.
"She must have ct poison" said the
fellow. shes awful sick"
Gideon thought he might as we'll make
one more charity call for good measure.
so he took his medicine case and raced
at the mans heels out to a camp that
was remarkable. in most part. for the
number of dogs it sheltered.
'Show me the patient quick" command
ed Gideon. II haven't got any time to
waste"
From somewhere among the dogs and
wagons they produced girl. Gideon felt
the patients pulse. then looked at her
tongue.
"what have you been eating?" he ask
ed.
The rough-looking man pointed to
small barrel OF dried apples and said:
She's been at those
plain stomach ache" said Gideon
sagely as he handed a flask of whisky
TO the sufferer. The girl took some of
the stuff. frightened up. and in five min
utes was well.
Then Gideon-he cannot explain it even
now-was seized with an inspiration.
Married." he asked the girl.
Nope" she answered.
Want to be-" inquired Gideon.
Wouldn't mind" said the fair one,
blushing through her tan.
"All right" declared Gideon; let's go
and see a parson. | guess I'll stay here
in Oklahoma for while. Things may
get better some day"
And they did-Detroit Free Press.