The Washington herald., 1915-01-03

Spencer OelTIChS Pcck-the mere pod
OF man-laborcd with the dreary. in
domitablc obstinacy of the hopeless
hypochondriac in pursuit OF health.
You sec" said Mrs. Peck 10 NC.
with savage dryne>>. What did | tell
E"u: lie Is tottcring-tottcring with
fatigue"
So he was 1t was pitiablc; never
saw d man 50 tim. How many hundred
miles. | wondered. had that huge ami
NAL dragged that poor hypochondriac
around that reservoir already?
shall speak TO him. said Mrs.
Peck.
Here, hcre-comc here!" she cried
Il want to see that man. No. not you,
Spencer. That man! Here. blow that
horn!' She said to the chauffeur.
She had her way, OF course. They
descended, Mr. Ileckel humping on
ahead. like Thor coming down the
Scandinavian hill>-health radiating
from his exposed surfaces. pink aura
in the blue morning. MIR. Peck. Shrunk
into the background, introduced him.
Madam. good morning. said Mr..
Iieckel, advancing highly muscular
leg, and bowing to Mrs. Peek with all
the grace Of dancing master.
Good morning good morning: good
morning. said Mr. Ilcckcl to me
and squeezed my fingers 10 strings.
"Nhat morning!
DO YOU know what You are doing
She said, and fixed d baleful glance
upon his face
Exactly. madam" said Mr.. Heckcl
broadly. 81 am drinking in health and
JOY from this magnificent morning"
You are killing my husband"
What" shouted Mr.. Ilcckel
on heard me | said YOU were
killing my husband
Mr.. IicckcI advanced You say
this he exclaimed ''IIow do YOU
know ;"
You are going to stop it. and YOU
will stop il now said Mrs. Peck.
How do you know: Answer me-
persisted Mr.. Hcckcl How: Who
are YOU: Arc you a student OF health =
Each one pursued unsWcrvingly the
line OF his own thought.
81 want began Mrs. Peck
Her voice was quenched at its source
Stop. Are YOU a student of health !?
Come. let Us he reasonable shouted
Orlando J. IIcckel Tell me- want
to know. Have you health: Have you
borne healthy offspring: Have you
knowledge n natures law? Who are
you? BY what right do you speak on
these things
"Who am l." exclaimed Mrs. Peck,
speech failing her
Who: repeated Mr.. Heckel,
>quarcly planted before her. answer.
No: | will tell YOU. You are an elderly
woman in torpid health. | will tell you
the truth-for your own good You
hear little truth; | see that
Madam" went on NJ. Heckel. ''let
IL, look at YOU frankly as YOU are. What
are YOU. You arc poor victim Of our
so-callcd civilization You lack oNy-
gen. You sleep badly Your stomach
Is rcplctc Why not You arc full OF
waste products Madam said Mr.
TIcckcl. shaking hi finger in her face.
you arc a tomb \ tomb of waste
products Your skin j. clogged, your
ewes arc dull Can you look upon God :
morning through such panes as those,
and rejoice? Can you: Answer inc.
Can you?'
MY eyc>." said Airs Pcc&, answer
ing the last. have lasted ME for half
a century. They still serve me to rcc-
ognizc a nincompoop.'
My dear. my dear! said Mr. Peck,
ior the first time entering the CONVEX
Sation.
will you come home with me, SPen
Ger. and leave this madman?" asked
Mrs. Peck, disrcgarding Mr.. Heckel.
| L must have my toning up, my dear,
said Mr. Peck doggedly.
There was a slight pause. | looked
ahead; and, as did SO. my eyes fell
upon the fOotman on the lett side OF
/ the front seat | had never seen such
an expression of sadness in human eyes.
] Mr.. Heckel stood facing Mrs. Pee k,
I his great arms folded, the muscles in
! his square Jaws at work
Madam" he said. IN a fine, lofty
spirit. your temper is nothing to ME.
. You are an intelligent woman. Very
we'll. Consider what ! say. ] am cur
ing your husband as you see. Sooner
or later YOU will come to me. and
shall cure YOU OF these nervous at
tack>-of Your sick. enfreblcd, and un-
balanced nerves
He stopped and looked earnestly at
/ Mrs Peck.
{ the rea>Surcd infection OF a person who
las recovered gift Of speech. and is
pleased to know it. "Incrcdiblc"
She turned sharply upon MIR. Peck.
Spencer" she said. thru>ting each
word carefully in to the hilt YOU
>huuli see yourself i'll that costume.
You look exactly like q sick hsh.
/ had known that Mrs. Peck was a
pllin- spoken Muman-nOnc moro So
and pridcd herself upon the fact. Hut
had never heard her under real
stimuli, before Mr.. Peck did hold
his mouth Slightly aIar when he
brcathcl
+ And YOU. sir She went on, turning
suddenly upon Orlando lieckcl-m
that infants underwear YOU look like
bag full uf doorknub>.
There was something to be said tor
her figure OF speech The muscular
development OF Mr.. Hcchcl was al
most Jagged in places.
Disgusting. disgusting, >oliloquizcd
| Mrs. Peck. There should be law
against such indecency. | wonder you
arc allowed at large in this public park.
Drive on, drive on she called to the
chauffeur
Remember" said Mr.. Heckel. look
inc fxedly in her eyes, YOU will come
to me. | will cure you OF these nervous
attacks"
He stood looking at her until we
started: then turned and clambered up
the side of the reservoir, his pupil fol-
! Me- Peel, had the anDearance of a