Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-05-16
HE TOOK HIS
MEDICINE
And Didn't SQueal
Either

reached my friend Mark Appleton's
country house In time to dress for din.
ner and congratulated myself at hay
ing before me very pleasant visit,
but did not foresee an episode that
was destined to endanger my init
macy with Mark and with other re-
suits Of still greater Importance.
The family consisted of Mr.. and Mrs.
Appleton, Miss Clara Digby, Mrs. Ap-
pleton's sister. aged twenty, and their
brother Tom, aged eighteen. Tom, l
was told. was suffering with bilious
attack and was confined to his room.
found Miss Clara a very delightful
young lady. and during the dinner she
seemed very responsive to an admira-
ton l could not conceal. During the
evening we all played bridge whist
Mrs. Appleton being my partner. But
this did not prevent an undercurrent Of
mutual interest that was continually
passing between the young lady and
myself.
Having finished the evening, Mark
showed me to my room, which was
one of four bedrooms on the second
floor, two on each side of the hall.
noticed that the doors Of my room and
the one adjoining were side by side
1t occurred to me that would not like
to try to enter my chamber in the dark,
for would be likely to get into the
other room I fell asleep thinking Of
Clara Dlgby and the pleasures in store
for me the next day.
was awakened by feeling a spoon
showed against my mouth. 1t was
warm and contained a warm liquid.
Half awake, | opened my lips, and the
contents Of the spoon passed down
into my stomach. I recognized It as
beef broth. When I had swallowed
the first spoonful another was placed
against my lips, and swallowed that
too. Another was put against my chin,
and that was spilled.
There" said a voice which I recog-
nized rs that of Clara Dlgby, "you
should have let me light the gas"
BY this time l was awake and knew
that my hostess sister was In my room
giving me a midnight luncheon intend
ed for a sick man. But a surprise like
that sprung on man sound asleep Is
not an easy one for him to tackle. My
reasoning powers worked slowly. If
they had not l should probably have
blurted out what in the world are
you doing here" or some such ques-
ton.
As 1t was, 1t took time for the
possible outcome OF the episode to
work into my brain. Presently | came
to realize that Miss Digby had made
mistake and that upon recognizing
her position she would be very much
pained Should I apprise her Of the
fact that she was in the wrong room or
wait for her to go out in ignorance Of
the fact2
While was celebrating she fed me
the remainder OF the broth. Then, say
Ing that she had forgotten to give me
my medicine. she went to a closet, and
| heard her fumbling among some bot
Ties. 81 hope won't poison you" she
said. but can't see In the dark. I've
got H. It's the little square bottle y
And the next thing I knew she had
poured spoonful OF medicine down
where she Ind placed the broth. Then,
having put down the spoon, with a
Good night. hope you'll be better in
the morning." she went out. shutting
the door behind her.
AZ first | congratulated myself that
had not RULED her modesty by betrny-
Ing her blunder. but ! soon came TO rue
my silence. The dose she had given
me made me deathly sick. ! remem-
bered her words. II hope won't poison
you" and began to fear she had.
managed to get out OF bed, lit the gas
and mnde search for the square bot
tic from which she had given me my
medicine. found two square bottles,
one labeled. Dose. one tablespoonful
every six hours" the other, "Three
drops IN hnlf glass of water"
Great heavens! I had probably taken
drops by the spoonful. There was no
time for foollng. went into the hall
and called Justify for Mark. He came
out In his nlghtshirt and asked wildly
what was the matter.
Poisoned" | cried and, going back
into my room. fell on the bed.
have ever since been proud Of my
gallantry In protecting Miss Digby.
When Mark came in. asking half a
dozen questions at once, l paid no at
tention to them. but called on him for
an emetlc.
lie ran hurrledly downstairs. awak-
ening the household as he went, and
In n few minutes returned with some
mustard water. drank II and threw
the broth. the medicine and everything
else OF my stomach. BY this time Mrs.
Appleton and Miss Digby, in wrappers
and curl papers, came into the room to
see II had expired or could DO saved.
The moment got the COMPOUNDED dose
on my stomach felt better and was
satisfied that no serious results would
follow
I now fixed my mind on another pos
sible curious result and how to avert
IT, must keep the secret. That was
very we'll to resolve. but doing II was
another matter.
"What In thunder" cried Mark, bis
irritation rising with his relief, like
the waves Of the sea after the wind
has gone down, did you want 10 Dol.
son yourself forT'
There stood Clara. looking as II ahe