The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-06-04
be too slow. Curei The doctors give
me UP long apell ago"

SAID more'n a thousand times that he
want no doctor. I've been reading
up lately and 1 know how real doc.
tors cure folks"
ut amt no use" begins her dad.
She cut him short.
Your case is kind OF mixed-up, pa"
says she. I'm free 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 a place
went back to the kitchen.
Consumption, pa" she says, "ain't
cured by medicine no more. Not by
the real doctors, 1t amt. You say your
self that all Miss Pages medicine amt
done you no good. Fresh air night
and day is what's needed, and you
don't get it 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? Be you crazy or"
Don't screech so, pa" a y Eureka,
cold as an ice chest. Folks over on
the main will think this place is on
fire. Listen to this. Here's a piece
about consumption in this magazine.
They call it the White Plague I'll
read some of It."
The Heavenlies was In a 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.
1t told about how dangerous shut-up
rooms and confined atmospheres"
was, and about what it called open
air sanitariums" and outdoor bed
rooms.
See, pa" says she; look at this
picture. Here's a tent where two cor
sumptive folks lived and slept for over
a year. Twas 80 below zero there
sometimes, but it cured 'em. And see
this one. Twas As below where that
shanty was, but"
The invalid jumped out of his chair
and come boiling into the dining room.
Take it away" he yells, frantic.
IF 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.
Eyes, 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 there'll be plenty
of fresh air. And / took the sofy out
there this very day. You a sleep
times. You mustn't come in the house
at all. 1 mean to keep you outdoor all
winter, and then
The Heavenlies just howled and SO
did /. Washy Sparrow howled, too,
but not from laughing.
All winter!" he 1.-The
gals gone loony! She wants to kill
hiC ohu SCI LIZ ouI VI GuO way L
sha'n't stir n step. You hear me
Not n step!"
This piece says that many patients
act that way first along. In such cases
it is often necessary to use force Mr.,
Pratt, will you take pa out to the tool
shed? I'll carry the lamp"
Would I? l was aching for the
chopco 10 0at NV hands N N tho little
rat. I stood up and squared my
shoulders.
'Mr. Van Brunt," yelis Washy,
lodging into the corner, 'be you going
to set by and see me murdered? Didn't
you swear your Bible oath to treat ms
kind?"
"There couldn't be nothing kinder
than curing you, pa" says Eureka.
TITS all right, amt 1t, Mr.. Van Brunt?"
Van didn't answer for a second,
Then he says, like he'd decided: Eyes,
it's dead right. Go ahead and cure
him, for heavens sake, il you can! I'll
back you up and take my chances"
my nerves" begins Washy.
Nerves." says Eureka, come from
the stomach. I'll tend to them later,
Well cure your lungs first. Mr.. Pratt,
fetch him along"
l got my fingers on the back OF
that consumptive's neck. He fought
and hung back. Then l grabbed him
by the waist-band with t'other hand,
He moved then, walking Spanish
like the boy in the s~choolyard.
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, tits all for
your good"
We went out and across the yard
and round back of the barn. The
Twins come to the door to see us of,
l could hear 'em laughing even after
we was out of sight. Eureka shaded