Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Druggists Misery.
[Onginal.1

business'requiring caution it is that
became so habituated to the different
checks druggists put upon themselves
thattthey We're second nature to me.
Buttone day. 1 gave out prescription
marlborough me a lot of trouble. My
little 'girl'was at the point of death.
was expecting a man to relieve me at
the store, when intended going home,
for II was, longing to be there. and 1
wasIunfittfor duty. While was wait
ing for him a girl came in to buy a
tonic and a man to buy some sulphur
with wlIbch to eXterminate insects. Ar
senic in minute quantities is used for
tonic, and arsenic will kill insects or
anythingAelse if given in a large dose.
After theIcustomers had gone out got
it into my head that l had given the
girl arsenic in sufficient quantities TO
exterminate not only insects, but any
| one.
WhatEcould do? Nothing. If had
been certain that had given her poi
son I would have gone to the police
and made a confession; then If the
could take advantage of the eXtenu-
ating circumstances. But 1 was not
certain. l believe it would have been
betterifor me to have known positively
that Iihad done what 1 supposed had
| done.
When the assistant came, was in n
state bordering on insanity. Indeed so
absorbed was every mental faculty
| that 1 became Denumbed to the condi-
| ton of my child. He endeavored to re-
assure me, but 1 was not to be reas-
| sured. l went home and TO the trouble
of sickness was added the trouble OF
my supposed act at the store. For
| tunately my little girl had passed
| crisis, and her case looked very favor
able. From that time forward she
| gained steadily and in time recovered.
| Possibly if she had continued at the
| point of death her illness would have
| kept me from dwelling on the other
| trouble.
The condition 1 was in during the
next week was simply hideous. 1 re-
| membered perfectly the appearance OF
the girl. She had red hair and a white,
freckled complexion. Turning over my
| business to an assistant. l walked the
streets in the hope of meeting her. If
| 1 did meet her, 1t could do no other
good than to relieve the anxiety which
| was rapidly bringing me to nervous
prostration. The first few days 1 scan
ned every newspaper, looking for a
case of death that would correspond
| with the one l feared. 1 knew that
the dose I supposed 1 had given the
| girl would act Immediately. l did not
see Il notice of the death OF a girl that
would excite suspicion, though l saw
notices of the deaths of a number of
girls. After n few days the suspense
broke me down so far that l was not
to be comforted. My wife argued that
the time had passed for me to hear of
any violent death from arsenic, but
told her that the case would not likely
be reported as it occurred. People
dread nOtoriety, and the girls family
would keep the secret for time, when
smoldering suspicion would burst Into
a flame, the body would be dug up, the
stomach analysed and the drug traced
| to my store. "Oh, why didn't l con-
fess at once?" 1 moaned. ''Then /
wouldn't be considered a murderer"
'You would have needlessly ruined
your business" replied my wife, land
brought us all to the poorhouse."
''It will be worse, In addition to
the poorhouse you will be allied to
| murderer"
There was no use arguing with one
whose nervous condition had been re-
duced as mine had been, and they gave
up trying to stimulate me. They sent
me away on trip, hoping that change
of scene would lift the load. 1t did not
keep me from thinking, and 1 grew
worse. Then l returned to my home,
and my physician advised me to go to
work. / went to the store every day,
but performed only the most ordinary
duties, spending all the time that was
required on the books. This was the
only thing that kept me from thinking
about my trouble. While l was fgur-
ing 1 couldn't dwell on anything else.
But this work only occupied a couple
Of hours every day. Sometimes / add
ed columns for no other purpose than
to occupy my mind. The rest of the
time 1 was mOmentarily expecting to
see man in uniform come in at the
door to arrest me.
One day all was quiet in the store,
not customer there. sat down on a
stool behind the counter and leaned
back against the shelving. / expected
my wife to come in soon and take me
home. 1 had slept so little for some
time that fell into a doze. How long
slept 1 don't know, but suddenly 1
heard a voice say:
81 want some more of that, mister,
1t done me lot of good"
1 opened my eyes, and there before
me, reaching out a vial, stood a girl
with red hair and freekles. 1 spoke
not word, but, clearing the counter
with bound, threw my arms about
her neck and danced with her about
the room. My wife came in. and. see
ing me whirling as she supposed in
fit of insanity, gave a shrek that
brought me to my senses.