The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-01-06
SAD CASE OF
Peter STRIKER
ONE or M. oUAD's BEST sToRiEl
HE TELLS HOW ELECTRICITY
WORKS DIFFERENT
WAYS.
BY VI. Quad. Copyright 1910, by
American Press Association.

BY VI. Quad. Copyright 1910, by
American Press Association.
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.
When a young man has reached the
age of twenty-one he becomes his own
boss. There are farmers yet who will
not have 1t so. but will keep Il son on
until he simply gets up and declares
his legal right. AT twenty Peter ask
ed his father for his time-that is, he
wanted his legal rights "A year ahead
of time. as he had "a chance 10 travel
about the country with a lightning rod
man. The father refused.
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 be slept thunderstorm
err 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 a matter or
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 a cue for Peter. He had
been working hard. and here was his
chance TO loaf. For a month he had
TO be carried about.
/ Haying time arrived, and Peter was
conveyed TO the shade of n 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
|
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 go into the hay
field and sweat his shirt. as he really
was. IL was diagnosed as n case where
sudden excitement had revived the
muscular action for a moment.
Corn planting had come round again.
and the father was working in field
near the highway when a man came
along pushing n cart before him. he
was bound TO the village. and in the
cart was a 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 as
lightning. amt itF
Just about the same"
at will shock a teller so he won't
know anything|
at surely Will If ! should turn on
the full current you couldn't let go OF
the handles"
= Then the father told about Peter be
ing shocked. and when he had finished
= the man said:
: ELECTRICITY works two ways. One
shock will cripple man. and the mex
. will restore him to his pristine vigor
! What your son wants is another
shock. If it cures you are TO give me
n dollar. II it doesn't you need no
: give me anything"
l 1t was planned that Peter must b.
: deceived. and the plan was carried
out He was sitting in rocking chat
on the veranda, and the faker and hi
machine were escorted there. and tn
father explained:
pete, you have been going back OF
corned beef for the last month, ant
: here is something to sharpen your ap
petite. You take hold of these FER
handles. and it's like taking a tonic.
took hold of them up the road, an'
: I'm as hungry as bear now"
"But the doctors all said my cas-
:. mustn't be experimental WITH" pre-
!. tested Peter. who scented some trick.
ooh. this is no experiment. When
Teller loses his appetite the doctors eS
= pect him to get II back the best wa
: he can. I want to see you pitchin
into fried pork and taters tonight
Take right hold. my son."
Peter took hold. and the current wa
turned on full. lie was frozen 10 th
!, handles and yelled blue murder. Ate
fifteen seconds 1t was turned of. an
. he Jumped up and threw the fake
!, and his machine Off the veranda an
heaved the father after them. TheI
y without q word. be grabbed hoe an
q started for the corn6eld. In tire
\ hours he did more work than his fl
). Their had done all day, and II wa
reckoned that he sweat of ten pound
of fat. He acknowledged that he Wa
as good as new. After supper he mill
ed four cows, fed the hogs and ca
VI ried I'm the wood for breakfast. A
p midnight he got up to go to wor
& again. He couldn't sit still for a M
!. ment He worked and sweat an