Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-10-31
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
DR.. jim

~ lbilS SuduOM ltll dCTOSS lne IpNpl
yard The sun was just declining be-
bind the low hills in the west. The boy
turned quickly and stared at the shad-
ow's owner.
He was a tall man and painfully
thin. He had come into the yard very
quietly. and the boy noticed he leaned
heavily on cane. He stopped lit
tie, and was very pale, with dark hol-
lows under his eyes, and he put his
hand along the fence pickets as If for
support.
How are you, boy?" he said, and his
voice had an unpleasant hollowness.
The boy nodded.
Pretty well. sir: thank you"
Hungry sometimes" queried the
stranger.
Yes, sir"
Things taste good?"
Yes, sir"
Happy"
Yes, sir"
Then you are not pretty well You
are very well. and should be thankful
for It,"
The boy laughed.
Il guess you're right. sir. That's
something you don't think much about
when you are we'll"
That's right, boy. We accept favors
without thought of thanksgiving, but
when the wind blows a little contrary
we raise our voices in indignant pro-
test don't really suppose you know
you have a stomach"
II never think about 1t. SIR"
That's the same thing. Happy boy"
The happy boy came little closer
Wont you come over here and sit
on the bench. sir? You look tired"
I'm as tired as look" said the
stranger. He slowly walked to the
bench and seated himself with an air
Of relief Thank you, that's better
sit down, yourself. boy. l don't sup
pose you ever notice sunsets"
"Oh, yes, do, sir. It's a fine one
tonight"
That's the way it struck me. boy.
Hut I'm not very good Judge of sun
sets. I've never taken time to look at
these things. There has been so little
sky in my life. Too many tall build
irgs have blotted 1t out. fancy had
almost forgotten how to look up.
Strange how we neglect these free
shows-and there's nothing finer"
He leaned back against the shed and
stared across the slowly darkenng
fields.
II guess you haven't been well, sir, :"
said the bay.
Clever boy. | don't suppose have
been well for many years. Didn't
know was sick you see, and kept on
making bad matters worse"
Il think the air up on these hills
will do you good" said the boy.
That's what my doctor told me
when he sent me here. fancy he
wanted to get rid of me. 'Broderick,
he said, take to the hills and stay
there. Medicine will do you no good. :"
I'VE don't see much medicine up
here" said the boy. Nearest doctor
is four miles away. About all we get
in the way oi dosing Is sage tea, an
boneset, an rhubarb an mustard
plasteTs."
Equal 10 a drug store full" said the
stranger. His eyes twinkled family.
but he did not laugh. 1t seemed to the
boy as II he had forgotten how. But
I'm afraid your sovereign remedies
wouldn't reach my case"
May ask what your trouble ISL"
querled the boy.
II am quite likely to talk altogether
too much about II, said the stranger.
You do wrong to set me going" lie
frowned little at the lad and then his
eyes seemed to twinkle again. But III
try to give you straight answer quite
devoid OF teChniCalities. I'm victim
of dyspepsia in an aggravated form.
am the proud though somewhat hum
bled pOssessor of the national disease"
Did you say dyspepsia" queried the
boy.
That's what ! said" the stranger
replied, but it isn't catching. You
need feel no alarm"
I'm not worrying" laughed the boy.
i've had bout everything boys can
have. 'Tisn't that. just remembered
that my granafather--he died a year
ago-had medicine that he made for
dyspepsia, and that he thought it was
great lie was going to give me the
recipe for it, but guess he forgot ii.
He had half dozen bottles up in the
attic and I'm pretty sure they're there
now Suppose | give you bottle?
Grandfather said it WAS wonderful
stuff"
The stranger looked hard at the boy.
r-----n.----s.-.-.s...-----