The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-01-06
r. PRETTYMAN'S SOUP
FLAVOElNG.
BY c. L. PIONEER.


DR.. Prettyman was 4 specialist in
brain diseases and visiting surgeon at
hospital
AT one Of these visits the regular
sent. DR.. Prettyman was sitting in tie
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
doctor go down and see him? The doc
tor went to the kitchen and the nurse
to patient who especially required
his attention.
DR.. Prettyman found the cook alone
In the kitchen. Indeed. he had driven
every one else out He was a large.
muscular man. and it did not need the
doctors practiced eye to see the light
of insanity in his eye. He was stand
ing over a large boiler which was
filed with steaming soup.
Doctor" said the lunatic, come
here and taste this soup. l fear it 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
| tient. He went to the range. in which
there was very hot fire. The cook
ladled out some soup. and the doctor
tasted it. burning his tongue.
Its 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 al
the mouths in this vast house. He:
putting all the money they give hin
for provisions in his pocket. | wish
had him here. I'D chop him into bits.
Selling a cleaver. he brandished i
over the doctors head, then went OF
| eXcitedly:
| There's got to be more stock TO
this soup. and where is it to com
from: ! have it. You'll do. doctor
You'll do first rate. Your bones ar
small. but there's marrow in then
and your flesh is meaty. not fat
He made step toward the doctor.
ii 1t might be expected that the dappe
physician would shrek for help. II
knew only too we'll that this would e.
! cite the patient and before assistant
could arrive the big cook would
/ chopping him up into soup stock. q
kept bis eye fixed steadily Oh the p
tent.
II do you want your soup to retail
its flavor?" be asked
"Certainly do"
And don't want it to taste Of as
fetida?''
| 'Of course not"
And paragoric."
NO"
The doctor went through with a Ii
of medicines. keeping his eye on Il
,e door. hoping that some one might ha
r pen in. But he was disappointe
o Those whose place was in the kitch
V. purposely kept out. and others had
10 occasion to go there. AT last the dc
u tor was constrained to conclude.
~ We'll. if you don't want your sol
* to taste of these drugs Id better s
IL. rid Of my pocket medicine case viii
" contains them all"
He spent as much time as be dar
y, fumblng for his case. the cook gro
" ing impatient the while. then took
D out. opened it. extracted one or u
~ corkS. Smelled of the bottles and p
on one Of them under the cooks nose.
ds contained ether But the doctor kns
he very we'll that he couldn't put the luI
y, tic asleep with ether unless he COT
ny hold it over his mouth and nose.
"a hoped to quiet him and to gain tin
ee The cook thought it would impro
). the soup and with wild laugh pour
ne the contents into the caldron. stirri
it with the ladle. Then he turn
~, again to the doctor and seized him
the arm.
'oi Hold on a Bit" said the doct
Here's something else"
He took a vial from his case mark
Choral"
or, taste that he said. banding it
is. the cook.
The cook took a swallow.
. Fine. isn't it?' asked the doct
us breathing sigh of partial relief.
- The cook turned. threw the bot
into the soup. then. again sefZing
ne doctor. lifted him. despite his effol
ne on to a table used for cutting me
no Then the maniac looked about for
ms cleaver. which he had laid aside wi
on favoring the soup. The doctor. WI
he as chalk. watched him. dreading t
IFS he might retain consciousness X
,tc enough to make one chop. The clea
-. was within reach. but the cook
III not see 1t. He put his hand to
III head. reeled and sank to the floor.
OF The doctor got down from the ia
be went out Of the kitchen. touched
40 alarm bell and went back to the
cir sensible cook. In a moment sevt
OK attendants ame nvinp info the ro