Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-07-29

The CASE OF
p PETER STRIKER
By M. QUAD. ,>-. 8
= -!
Copyright. 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press. 3l%&sE
By M. QUAD.

Peter Striker was the son of Farmer
Striker, and up to the age Of twenty
he had a reputation Of moving more
grass and cutting more corn than any !.
other man, old or young, in the town. (
ship of Dubois. -. So. IS
When q young man has reached the
age Of twenty-one he becomes bis own i
boss. There are farmers yet who Will
not have it so, but will keep son on y
until he simply gets up and declares I
his legal right. At twenty Peter ask
ed his father for his time-that is, he
wanted his legal rights year ahead
Of time, as he had a chance to travel
about the country with lightning rod
man. The father refused. ~ wy :v sss. !.
Peter sat down under the big pear
tree at the corner Of the house to think
things over. AS he thought he fell
asleep, and as he slept Thunderstorm
er came up. Almost the first bolt
struck the tree, and a few minutes
later he was found with his boots
burned off. his old silver watch melted
and in an unconscious condition. The
doctor who revived the young man
told his father that the victim might
never be able to work again and that
he must have the best of care to keep
him from the grave. AS matter Of
fact. the doctor was all wrong. Peter
had got mixed up with thunderbolt,
but the damage. outside Of the nervous
shock, amounted to nothing. However,
when the doctors words were over
heard it was cue for Peter. He had
been working hard. and here was his
chance to loaf. For month he had
to be carried about. =
Haying time arrived, and Peter was
conveyed to the shade of tree down
by the meadow that he might watch
the men at work and wish he were
one of them. By and by three or four
bumblebees that had been disturbed
near by came along and hoped on to
him. The pain Of their stings jumped
Peter to his feet and sent him run
ming for ten rods before he remem-
bered his helpless condition.
Then doctor was called In. He felt
Of Peters fairness and heard about his
race with the bees, but instead of pro-
nouncing him able to 60 into the hay
field and sweat his shirt, as he really
was, It was diagnosed as a case where
sudden excitement had revived the
muscular action for moment.
Corn planting had come round again,
and the father was working in field
near the highway when a. man came
along pushing cart before him. He
was bound to the village, and in the
cart was big electric battery. such
as takers travel from town to town
with. The man was halted, and the
farmer climbed the fence to see all
about the machine. After he had been
given a shock free gratis he asked ;,
'The stuff IN there is the same al
lightning, amt it2'' ,->s. ..a =.
"Just about the same"
1T will shock a Teller so he won't
know anything?" ~. $'
ut surely win. Il Isshould turn ON
the full current you couldn't let 60 OF
the handles i 80.
Then the father told about Peter be-
ing shocked, and when he had finished
the man said: = sr">:*
eElectricity works two ways One
shock will cripple man, and the next
will restore him to his pristine vigor.
What your son wants is another
shock. II 1t cures you are to give me
a dollar: If it doesn't you need not
give me anything" = - II -
It WAS planned that Peter must be
deceived, and the plan was carried
out. He was sitting In a rocking chair
on the veranda. and the faker and his
machine were escorted there. and the.
father explained:
"Pete. you have been going back. ON
corned beef for the last month, and
here is something to sharpen your ap-
petite. You take hold of these ere
handles, and it's like taking q tonic.
took hold Of them up the road. and
I'm as hungry as a bear now"
/ "But the doctors all said my case
mustn't be experimental WITH, pro
tested Peter, who scented some trick.
"Oh. this is no experiment. When q
Teller loses his appetite the doctors ex-.
pect him to get 1t back the best way
he can. want to see you pitching
into fried pork and %taters tonight
Take right hold, my SON N: y: .Y :, >
Peter took hold, and the current was
turned on full. He was frozen to the
handles and yelled blue murder. After
fifteen seconds it was turned Off. and
be jumped up and threw the faker
and his machine OF the yeranda and
heaved the father after them. Then,
without q word. he grabbed a hoe and
started for the cornfeld. In three
hours he did more work than his IA
Their had done all day, and ii was
reckoned that he sweat of ten pounds
OF fat He acknowledged that he was
as good as new. After supper he milk
ed four cows, fed the hogs and car
rted In the wood for breakfast. At
midnight he got up to go to work
again. He couldn't sit stiN for mo-:
ment He worked and sweat ana .