The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-28

increasing Importance. Eyes. sir. we
| have large fresh stock, and when
| ever you need anything in that line
| please give US call"
A block further down he met the
Bebee boy. There was a second halt
to relate the news. and it created the
! most intense surprise.
Have you sassed the druggist yet %
was asked, after Humpy had related a
few particulars -
mo, of course not
''Then you won't make no success
of it. See here, Hump Skinner. I'm
an older boy than you are. I've seen
more of the world. You don't want
slave. You want to talk right up for
your rights. That druggist has had
his eye on you for some time. He
thinks he's got to have you or bust up
business. You are willing to be a
druggist, but you won't stand too
much bossing. See?"
IT think shall talk back to him af-
ter awhile"
you want to do it now-today-as
soon as you get back TO the store.
There's big, tan clerk in there, hain't
there?"
yes"
Does he run errands?"
Threaten to quit if he don't. Mebbe
I'll be in this afternoon after a sponge
Will you sell me a 1O-cent one for
penny"
IF I can" doubtfully replied
We'll. things ought to go as you
say. You talk right up to that drug
gist, and I'll back you
There was a third boy to encounter
before Humpy delivered the first pre-
scription. 1t was the Hogan boy.
When he had heard the news. he re-
joieingly exclaimed:
by cricky, but what a snapi You
can now get all the poison you want
for catsl Say, Hump, you jest lay low
and you'n NELL have barrels of fun.
There will be arsenic and strychnine
for dogs and cats, and if any body
wants to commit suicide you give them
all the carbolic acid they want. If
you'll get me a pound of arsenic to-
day I'll knock over more'n twenty cats
by night
Five minutes later the first prescrip-
ton was delivered. 1t was only a
cough mixture, and it was being taken
in without any fuss, when Hunpy felt
called upon to observe:
THAT must be taken according to
directions. ma'am."
"Of course. 1t says so on the bottle
I suppose" was the reply.
1T was carefully compounded, and
hope there won't be no mistake about
it,
Here, boy, what do you mean ?"
asked the woman. as he turned away.
IF you don't make any mistake it
will be all right. Our store has never
killed anybody yet by putting up the
wrong medicine That is our specially,
as you will see by the sign on the win
prescriptions accurately COM
pounded
He hurried away with the other pre-
scription, and he was hardly clear of
the gate before the woman was putting
on her hat to go to the drug store and
demand an explanation.
'They promised to send this over an
hour ago." said the woman who took
in the second prescription.
I'VE had to go slow and be very
careful, ma'am," replied Humpy as
he tried to look important.
TITS only some headache powders
Why did you have to go slow about
them ?"
I'VE have never killed person yet,
ma'am, and don't mean to. Instances
have been known"
ooh. they have, Ell? ?" she interrupt
ed. yes, I've heard of druggists put
ting up morphine for something else,
and I don't take these powders until
I am sure Of them. Have you been
fooling with them?"
"a druggist never fools, ma'am"
''Well, you go on and I'll take them
back to the store"
Humpy returned to the store to
rush business and show his ambition.
barrel of bottles. and he was holding
one up to the light and wondering
how long it would be before he could
put up spring tonics when the big, tall
clerk came softly down. He had a
grim smile on his face as he unbarred
the cellar door and threw it open.
"Am L wanted up stairs to sell
things?" asked Humpy.
NO. my son. You are wanted else
where. You have finished your pro-
fession as a druggist and are now
ready to take up the cooper's trade
Let me assist you up the stairs and on
your future career
And when Humpy had finished WHIP
ing away his tears and telling his
mother how he had been assisted"
she put her arms around him and said:
''Never mind. my precious one You
may go and learn to be a doctor next
week, and you can get revenge on the
druggist by not giving him any of your
prescriptions % Copyrighted by Nc
Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)
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