Mexico Missouri message., 1909-05-27

tors? Nobody but PenrOse, and you've
said more'n a thousand times that he
want no doctor I've been reading
up lately and know how real doc
tors euro folks"
1T amt no use" begins her dad
She cut him short.
your case IL kind OF mixed.up, pa"
says she. I'm FREQ to say, owing TO
your consumption being complicated
with nervous dyspepsy. But I've made
up my mind to start In on your lungs
and kind OF work round TO your stom.
ach. You listen TO this"
She come in the dining room and
took a magazine out OF the chest OF
drawers. Then she opened to n place
where the leaf was turned down, and
went back to the kitchen.
Consumption. pa" she says, "ain't
cured by medicine no more. Not by
the real doctors. Il amt. You say your.
self that all Miss Pages medicine amt
done you mo good. Fresh air night
and day is what's needed. and you
don't get II here by the stove or shut
up In your room. You ought to live
out door. Yes. and sleep there. too"
sleep out door? What kind OF talk
is that? 30 you crazy or"
Don't screech so. pa" says Eureka.
cold as an ice chest. Folks over on
the main will think this place is on
fire. Listen TO this. Here's q piece
about consumption in this magazine.
They call II the White Plague Ill
read some OF It."
The Heavenlies was In n broad grin
by this time. washy kept yelling that
he didn't want TO hear no such fool.
ishness. but his daughter spelt out
different parts Of the magazine piece.
II told about how dangerous shut.up
rooms and confined atmospheres"
was. and about what II called open.
air sanitariums" and outdoor bed.
rooms.
See, pa" says she; look ut this
picture. Here's tent where two con.
sumptive folks lived and slept for over
year. Twas 80 below zero there
sometimes. but II cured EN-. And see
this one. Twas IS below where that
shanty was, but"
The invalid jumped out OF his chair
and come boiling into the dining room.
Take II away" he yells, frantic.
II you expect me to believe such lies
as them you're"
They amt lies" says Eureka, fol.
lowing him up. and speaking calm and
easy. They're true; amt they, Mr.
Van Brunt?"
Van smothered his grIns and
nodded.
True as gospel" he says.
Yes. course they be. And pa, I'm
going to cure you or die a.trying. The
old Toulouse out back OF the barn
is Just the place for you. It's full of
holes and cracks. so therell be plenty
OF fresh air. And | took the sofy out
there this very day. You can sleep
there nights and set in the sun day
| times. You mustn't come In the house
at all. l mean to keep you outdoor all
| winter. and then"
The HeavenlIes Just howled and so
did l. Washy Sparrow howled. too.
but not from laughing.
"All winter!" he screams. The
gals gone loony! She wants to kill
me and get me out OF the way. /
sha'n't stir one step. You hear me!
Not one step!"
This piece says that many patients
act that way first along. In such cases
II is often necessary to use force. Mr..
Pratt. will you take pa out To the tool
shed? III carry the lamp"
Would I? was aching for the
chance to get my hands on the little
rat. stood up and squared my
shoulders.
Mr.. Van Brunt," yells washy
lodging into the corner. be you goins
to set by and see me murdered? Didn't
you swear your Bible oath to treat me
kind?"
There couldn't be nothing kinder
than curing YOU. pa" says Eureka
TITS all right. aln't II, Mr.. Van Brunt?
Van didn't answer for second
Then he says. like he'd decided: Yes
it's dead right. Go ahead and cure
him. for heavens sake. II you can! ri
back you up and take my chances"
my nerves" begins Washy.
Nerves" says Eureka, come from
the stomach. I'll tend to them later.
Wen cure your lungs first. Mr.. Pratt.
fetch him along"
got my fingers on the back OF
that consumptiye's neck. He fought
and hung back. Then grabbed him
by the walst.band with t'other hand.
lie moved then. walking Spanish"
like the boy In the schoolyard.
Eureka opened the door. Nobody
can say" says she. emphatic. that
let my pa die OF consumption without
trying to cure him. Come along. Mr..
Pratt"
Remember. Mr.. Sparrow says
Van. busting with laugh. ats all for
your good"
We went out and across the yard
and round back OF the barn. The