Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-01-15
CURING A
MEDICINE EATER
By CHARLES M. HARGER.
800 YOU'RE the new clerk from

4
was conquered. The object that me
my gaze was tall, ungainly femal
form, clad in bright green ginghan
dress, with other "fxings" in harmon.
with it both as to style and hue. Sh'
was watching me closely with a pail
of piercingly sharp eyes that fairly
made my own quail.
well, young man, don't set there
an gawp at me in that way. Be yor
the new clerk from back east or AIM
you? Can't you answer a civil ques
tion?"
well, ma'am," said I, feeling that
must say something, II am just from
the east and am Mr.. Blake's new clerk
if that's what you want"
"Wa-al, I'm Melissy Higgs. 1 live
out here on Turkey creek" she went
on. We've got a little claim out
there an are tryin' to improve it. But
amt well. Why, you wouldn't be-
heve all the trouble I've been to since
I come to Kansas. It's jest awful, as
I've told Riggs lots OF times; there
amt nothin' 1 amt had. I've been
ailin' considerable the most of my nat
ural life. Once back in InJany 1 had
dyspepsy and then the liver COM
plant an consumption (gallopin' con-
sumption, mind youD an I can't re-
member when 1 amt had the pneu-
mony. Oh, it's a caution, the things
I've gone through"
Really, ma'am." said I, dOubtfully,
81 don't see how l can help you. am
an entire stranger and"
"Wa-al, s'poSip' we be-" she broke
in. "Ain't you druggist? Amt you
Jest from the city where they know
lots of things that these people out
here on the prsiries don't dream OFF"
81 am druggist, that is certain;
but do not see how can be Of any
particular service to you on that ac-
count"
"I'll tell ye. Ys see I Just heerd Of"
A longer and lankier specimen Of
humanity Of such thing were pos
sible) than the specimen addressing
me opened the door and entered the
store. He was typical gray" from
away back. In spite Of his appearance
there was something about his twink
ling eyes and goodnatured face that
made one suspect that he was less a
fool than he looked. 1 took him to be
Melissy's husband, and his first words
proved me correct in my surmise. He
was evidently puch put out about
something.
Miss Higgs," said he, interrupting
my voluble visitor, 'is them your do
ln's?" He held before her a bill from
the rival drugstore, which showed a
sum total of 1929 for medicine pur-
chased in the past three months.
"Berdin just give me that" he went
on. "What in the world could you have
got with all that money!"
"Well, let me see: There was Bust
eds Balm, 10 bottles-for my sore arm
you know"
"And then there was six bottles of
Perdy's Purifier, and six Of his Pearl
Pills. 1 got them cheaper because 1
took an even dozen"
"You did? How much do they usu-
ally cost, then? Berdin has charged
me a dollar box"
THE thief" she exclaimed. "He
told me l should have them for 10 dol
lars. I'll go right now and see about
It'll" and she founced toward the door.
When she had gone, Nj. Riggs be-
came confidential.
"She is the ornariest woman l ever
did see," he muttered, with despair
laden sigh. "You don't know what a
cross she is to me. She's good wife
and mother, but her bills for patent
medicine nearly swamp me every year.
You've just seen one of 'em. Every
new medicine that comes out she buys.
We've got bottles enough up to the
farm to more'n stock this here store
of yours. She's just heard of a new
kind of electric bitters that have been
invented, and don't doubt she'll want
to order some"
"Yes,'' 1 responded. "She was talk
ing to me when you came in as though
she was interested in my coming from
the city"
"That'S it, She wants to know if
you've heard Of this new stuff. Say,
let's fool her Pretend to give he1
some, and we'll expose her an see if
it won't have an effect toward curin'
her of her foolishness."
1 agreed, and we were busy discuss
ing the details when Mrs. Higgs nc.
turned. She looked at us rather queer
ly when she entered.
"You men folks get acquainted
mighty quick" she remarked.
1 suppose Higgs and looked guilty,
but she ratified on without stopping:
81 fixed that all right with Berdin.
The price was put up by mistake. He
gave me two extra boxes of pills to
make it even"
Higgs groaned.
"Wa-al, Melissy, I'll go down to the
hardware store and get some nails,
and then I'll call for ye," he then said,
and left US alone, so that 1 could carry
out my part of the preconceived pro-
gramme.
When he had shut the door behind
him, his spouse drew close to me, and
in strange whisper began:
81 was a-goin' ter ask ye if ye knew
anything about Eliot's Electric Bit
tiers, SEEM that ye had jiSt come from
the city"
"Yes, ma'am," was my answer. /
hoped the recording angel would for
give the prevarication on account Of
the cause in which it was told. "They
III so you choose to call it, l demand
it, here and now"
Before my daughter?"
There is nothing am ashamed she
should know"
'Then l will tell you-your father
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