Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-16


" important. though much more apt to
be ignored-that is, absence of worry.
1 have had an experience in the last Of
the three, or its reverse, which is the
subject of this story.
If ever a child was born into the
world in a perfectly normal condition
vas that child. I grew to manhood
without an ache or a pain, and seeing
others taking medicines and consulting
doctors would say TO them: Get your
mind away from your aches and pains.
Don't worry and you will be as well as
l am. AS for the doctors, they are only
good for serious matters; in small sick
nesses they are humbugs."
One morning when taking my bath
discovered a small lump on my right
side rubbed it and pulled at it, and
1 didn't like it at all. For three days 1
tried not to think about it, then gave
up the task and went to a doctor IA
nous for the treatment of all sorts of
"growths" waited two hours for q
NAhAC \ " as
In an increasing state of terror.
Doctor" 1 said when admitted to
the consulting room OF the great spe-
cialist, "a little lump has come in my
side. fear it bodies something seri-
GUS"
The doctor directed me to remove
sufficient clothing for him to make an
In A hn vi
he spent some time putting away the
implements he had used, but said moth
ing. l inferred the worst, and 1t was
the worst that he finally communicate
ed to me.
THAT lump" he said, sis a malignant
growth which we medical men CALI
he gave a long Latin name which l
didn't remember FIVE minutes-"and
my duty is to tell you that If you have
any affairs that need to be settled you
had better go to work upon them"
sank down in a chair and covered
my face with my hands. The doctor
remained silent Presently, notwith-
standing the shock under which 1 suf-
fered, l remembered that an anteroom
was full Of patients who were waiting
to consult the great man, and 1 pro-
ceeded to make certain inquiries.
How long have to live, doctorr'
l asked.
81 don't know. The records of such
cases as yours have usually proved
fatal within three to four months"
Shall suffer much?"
No; the disease will eat into an ar
terry, when the end will be painless"
l could think of no other information
that l would need, so, rising from my
chair l staggered out of the room, Civ
ing place TO the next patient, who was
I to gain comfort or despair from the
eminent specialist. He sent me a bill
of 800 for telling me that had but
four months at most to live, but under
the circumstaT ces the money was moth
ing to me, and since the doctor was
living at the rate of $4,000 a year 1t
was a good deal to him.
For the first week after learning my
doom I gave myself up to meditation
/ upon my fate At the end of that time
/ l made up my mind that 1t wouldn't
need a malignant something or other ia
kill me or four months in which TO dc
the work. l was preying upon myself
at a much more rapid rate. l resolved
to throw Off the mental octopus that
had me in its clutches and make the
most Of the brief period that remained
/ to me
l had 100000 in 9 per cent bonds
worth $4,000. There was no relative
who needed the money, and / resolved
to spend the most Of it in purchasing
whatever would keep my mind of my
/ coming demise. l would need company
some one to be with me most of the
time-and cast about for an associate
l would spend part of my time with 6
man friend and the rest with a woman
friend. For the man l chose Arthur
Anterior and for the woman Adele
Sturgis, with both of whom | was or
familiar terms. told them that pro
posed to spend 100000 within foul
months and that in consideration Of
their devoting their time to me for thai
period l would divide the remaining
$4,000 between them. Anterior wa:
out of business at the time and had ne
fortune. He looked very sympathetic
when l made my proposition, but
thought he was trying to conceal 6
good deal of happiness. In a third Of q
year he would earn $4,000 besides en-
toying Injuries that wouldn't cost hin
anything.
AS to Adele, she said she would thinl
the matter over. After doing so sh,
told me that she would accept my prop
osition with an amendment that thu
amount 1 would spend should be re
duced by $4,000 and added to TIT
amount of her portion. Furthermore
this portion was not to be given to her
but left to charity by will.
This did not seem to suit the require
ments of the case, but Adele was tbs
only girl / knew that / thought would
be able to lift me out OF myself. and
assented. / began by meeting Arthur
about O'Clock every morning and
I spending the time with him till about
in the afternoon. We played billiard,
and went wherever anything interest
ing was going on. Later In the after