The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-08-20
GETTING
EVEN

If ever there existed young man
possessed of better health than Ben.
jamin Hubbard possesses he has not
been discovered. Since the law OF
contraries works overtime in his
case, however, he is in constant
state of worry over imaginary dis,
eases.
If Hubbard pricks his finger acct
dentally a case of blood poisoning
looms up Immediately. A headache
in invariably the precursor of some
thing deadly. Hubbard in magma
ton has already died a thousand
times in his vigorous young life and
he bids fair to continue in the good
work.
This sort of thing is especially an
noying to his best friend, Drinks, who
shares bachelor apartments with Hub
bard. Drinks is a physician, Drinks
has grown Injured to the sight of Hub
bard rushing In with a pale face and
to the announcement that it is all up
with him-a peculiar pain in his left
elbow or something equally ominous
being the sign of fatal disease.
On all these occasions Drinks
thumps Hubbard's lungs and tests his
heart mechanically, only once in a
while rising in his wrath and ex-
pressing his professional feelings.
Nothing, however, seems to convince
Hubbard of his all-around foolishness.
That was why Drinks grinned de-
lightedIy the other day when he
looked in the mirror and an idea de-
veloped in his mind.
Drinks had been foolish enough to
apply cold cream to his face when he
knew how 1t always acted-but a dash
downtown that morning had coated
him with SCOT and cinders and, soap
and water proving ineffective, he had
tried the cream as dirt remover. It
took off the SCOT, but persisted in re-
naming in shining evidence. Period
ically through the day Drinks
scrubbed with hot water and soap and
still the cold cream came back to the
surface. By dinner time his counte-
nance resembled parbof1ed and we'll
buttered beet and despair seized him,
for he had an engagement that even
ing. Then he remembered certain
drug and hastily swabbed his face
with 1t.
It Is stuff which contracts the
blood vessels instantly in any part of
the body, producing a lovely pal1or.
This time>it worked in spots and tele-
graphic dashes and Drinks saw facing
him In the mirror a countenance
weird and fearful. Some places were
beautifully and naturally pale, others
were still of boiled red tint It
really was a remarkable achievement
in the line of complexion, the like
Of which Drinks never recalled having
seen. From a scientific point of view
he was forced to admire it, though
he realized he couldn't appear in So
ciety that evening. Then he resolved
not to suffer alone.
Hubbard coming In found Drinks
distractedly peering in the glass at
himself. Then he turned to the new
conner
by jove!" he gasped out. ct is
sure as fate!"
''What?" asked Hubbard, casually.
Then, at sight of Drinks face, he
jumped. Good heavens, MANI he
breathed. What's the matter with
your"
Smallpox" confessed Drinks, sell
pulchrally and hopelessly.
Hubbard collapsed into a chair.
"Are you sure?" that horror-stricken
individual got out, In a stage whisper.
Il don't see what else it can be-" re.
turned Drinks. Gust come and look
at It,"
ooh, I see!" said Hubbard, hastily
backing off. "Then-then 1 suppose
I'll get 1t, too?"
Drinks regarded his friend with
plying eyes. 'sYou can't help getting
it." he replied. tits too bad, old
chap-but you've been right with me
while it was developing. It's too late
now to save you!"
Hubbard moaned and ran his fin.
gers shakily through his hair. "Then,"
he faltered, Il suppose can't go to
see Mabel this EVENING""
To appreciate the dimensions Of
this calamity one would have to know
the doglike constancy of Hubbard in
calling on Mabel. He counts that day
lost in which he and Mabel do not see
each other.
Drinks looked more solemn than
ever.
@He threw himself on the couch and
Drinks sat down to read. After a few
moments of silent suffering Hubbard
turned over and surveyed his room.
mate. aren't you going to do any.
thing for it?" he demanded. "Whatchu
sitting around for?"
st am trying" Drinks replied. Sc
verely, ''to compose my mind for what
Is before me. Presently l shall ring
Tor an ambulance and go to the iso-
ation hospital. I don't know whether