Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05


feet peace And came then the thought
that l had truly earned the right to die.
NV task was done: others could now carry
on the work. Ahead lay only repetition
of the days, weeks, perhaps months, of
ceaseless pain, with death inevitable at the
end. None would suffer; at least not more
now than later With sigh of content that
the right was so logically mine, took long
last look over the valley below, now mystic IN
the twilight haze, smiled, and closed my eyes.
A ND now memory images picture can
not paint,-an ecstasy beyond my pen
or tongue to describe. Time and again have
tried to depict the sensation, but in vain.
The words at my command are too weak,
too Inadequate. l seemed suddenly I'M
mersed in living flames; a fire so indescrib-
ABLY glorious, its careSS so m1raculouSly
sweet, that as my body Shriveled to ashes
in the wondrous heat / knew that for me at
least the most exquisite minute of life was
the moment of death.
At ten o'clock that night the persistent
efforts and skill of DR.. Cottle and two local
physicians restored me to consciousness.
Rebellion was my first coherent thought;
but l was too weak for protest. The next
day had my grip back on myself and life,
and took up my burden again; but not
ment of my life had passed.
On January 10 released the five thou
sand dollars l had placed in the City Ma
tional Bank, making it subject to DR.. Cot
ties order. The Acme S. & S. was now in
complete and successful operation. By
mutual consent Carroll and l closed the
doors of Norris, Carroll & Craig, our per-
sonal fortunes retrieved and augmented by
the success of my invasion into the plumb
ers' realm.
well, Doctor, you have won your wager,
and to your cranky care and wonderful
elixir l probably owe the fact that l am
alive, and hope you make millions out OF
it." said to Cottle in bidding him goodby
few days later.
"Humph! There's some doubt in my
mind" he responded, ignoring my good
wishes. give earned the money, and the
solution has had six months test; but it
is not an altogether satisfactory one There
was irritation and disappointment in his
voice.
was genuinely surprised. @Why, 1 don't
understand you. 1t has at least held me
where was when you began the treatment,
and that's all you claimed for it. | can't see
why you are disappointed. / certainly am
not"
3Mr. Craig he replied with serious en-
DIldSlS, you Have liz lilly lISlIC W DC
alive today. If can conscientiously do so,
l shall claim partial credit for it; but my
opinion, based on the constant study of an
amazing case during the last six months, is
best expressed by saying that you have been
goading one horsepower body with forty
horsepower will. Don't deceive yourself,
though. You can't keep it up. Your great
incentive is gone now, and you are practi
cal1y certain to die within short period.
@That's something haven't the slightest
intention of doing, Doctor l laughed.
@The only time l really wanted to die you
wouldn't let me. Now I'm going to live!'
FOR ten years since then have lived, gain
ing constantly in health and strength.
| have led an active life, always busy with
constructive work of some sort. There were
many slipbacks, usually from overwork; but
as my strength and weight increased these
became less frequent.
1t has been four years now since l have
had a single day of illness even remotely
traceable to intestinal or any other sort of
tuberculosis. l weigh over one hundred and
forty pounds, live where please, eat, drink,
and smoke what l like, and get more real
Joy out of life than l ever did before l
learned that the man 1Vins aVho cont gre MP.
Not for one instant would l recommend