Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-02-09
DR. PRETTYNAN'S
/ SOUP FLAVORING.
BY C. /. PIONEER.

At one of these visits the regular
house surgeon was temporarily abb
sent. DR.. Prettyman was sitting in the
medical Office. waiting for him. when
a nurse entered and told him that a
patient who was considered almost
cured and had been given the post of
cook was acting strangely. Would the
octor go down and see him7 The doc
IS went to the kitchen and the nurse
- patient who especially required
hls attention.
DR.. Prettyman found the cook alone
In the kitchen. Indeed, he had driven
every one else out. He was large,
muscular man, and 1t did not need the
doctors praeticed eye to see the light
Of insanity in his eye. He was stand
ing over large boiler which was
filled with steaming soup.
Doctor" said the lunatic. come
here and taste this soup. fear 1t is
not favored right"
The doctor hesitated a moment. won
dering If he had not better call assist
ance. then concluded TO humor the pa
tent He went to the range. In which
here was very hot fire. The cook
iadled out some soup, and the doctor
aEted it, burning his tongue.
TITS all right" he said.
But doctor, don't think there's
meat enough in it. It's too thin. ]
should have more stock for it. but
haven't. The steward is stingy with
his supplies. He gives me nothing, lit
orally nothing. with which to feed all
the mouths in this vast house. He's
putting all the money they give him
for provisions in his pocket wish l
had him here. I'D chop him into bits"
Selling a cleaver, he brandished it
over the doctors head. then went on
excitedly:
There's got to be more stock for
this soup. and where is 1t to come
from? ! have it. You'll do. doctor.
You'll do FIRST rate. Your bones are
small, but there's marrow in them,
and your flesh is meaty. not fat"
He made a step toward the doctor.
1t might be expected that the dapper
physician would shrek for help. He
knew only too we'll that this would ex.
cite the patient and before assistance
could arrive the big cook would be
i chopping him up into soup stock. He
kept his eye fixed steadily on the pa
tient.
do you want your soup to retain
its flavor?" he asked.
Certainly / do"
"And don't want it to taste of asa
fetidag'
''Of course not"
And paragoric."
mo"
The doctor went through with list
of medicines, keeping his eye on the
door, hoping that some one might hap
pen in. But he was disappointed
Those whose place was in the kitchen
purposely kept out, and others had nj
occasion to go there. At last the doc
tor was constrained to conclude.
well. If you don't want your sour
to taste OF these drugs Id better ge
rid of my pocket medicine case which
contains them ALL"
He spent as much time as he dared
fumbling for his case, the cook grow
ing impatient the while, then took i
out, opened 1t, extracted one or tive
corks. smelled of the bottles and pu
one of them under the cooks nose. 1
contained ether. But the doctor knew
very well that he couldn't put the luna
tic asleep with ether unless he coulC
hold it over his mouth and nose. a.
hoped to quiet him and to gain time
The cook thought it would improvr
the soup and with a wild laugh poured
the contents into the cadron. stirrin
it with the ladle. Then he turnet
again to the doctor and seized him b,
the arm.
Hold on a Bit" said the doctor
Heres something else"
He took a vial from his case market
Choral"
Taste that" he said. handing it t
the cook.
The cook took a swallow.
Fine. isn't 1t? asked the doctor
breathing Il sigh of partial relief.
The cook turned. threw the bottl
into the soup, then. again seizing th
doctor. lifted him. despite bis efforts
on to a table used for cutting mea
Then the maniac looked about for hi
cleaver. which he had laid aside Will
navoring the soup. The doctor, whit
as chalk. watched him. dreading tha
he might retain consciousness Ion
enough to make one chop. The cleave
was within reach. but the cook di
not see it. He put his hand to hi
head. reeled and sank 10 the door.
The doctor got down from the tabl'
went out of the kitchen. touched a
alarm bell and went back to the II
sensible cook IN a moment sewers
attendants came flying into the room
and when the cook came 10 himself
was In a stFaitjacket in an uppS
room.