Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-04-23
REVIVED SPR|NGH|LL
Richards New Drug Store Made
the Town a Busy and Pros
porous One.
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

SIS. For the next five years Spring.
hill was known as being such a
healthy place that doctor could not
earn enough to pay for oats for his
horse. There was no further call for
a drug store and none was established
One night, to the amazement of
Springhill and the surrounding coun-
tries. Jonas Bebee, farmer, living
about two miles out of town, was
taken with a serious case of bilious
collie and had to send seven miles for
a remedy.
"Begosh. but this won't happen
again." exclaimed Jonas when he was
able to get out
Two weeks later he had sold his
farm and had blossomed out as a
druggist in Springhill. He didn't
know anything about prescriptions,
but he didn't realize this necessity.
The novelty of a farmer, fresh from
the pillow, turning druggist, brought
considerable trade for a year or two.
Then several citizens had a narrow
escape for their lives, trade began to
slacken up, and for several years it
was confined mostly to the sales of
copperas and hair dyes.
Bebee's drug store become the
idling place OF farmers and villagers.
And every evening except Sundays
there was a crowd of a dozen or
twenty men talking politics or play
ing checkers. Jonas was not selling
fifty cents worth OF drugs week.
Jonas" asked a farmer one night
as he entered the store. have you got
any porous plasters? / fell off the
fence today and wrenched my old
back"
why. yes" said Jonas, I've got
three of them, but they are on my
own back! A Teller can't bend over
q checker board as much as do with
out some support for his spine
why don't you give up your gosh
hanged business?" asked the farmer
as he turned away.
Cant do 1t. Jeptha. can't do Il.
I'd have to go back to farm work If
did"
A stranger young man-had ar
rived In town about two hours before,
and he entered the drug store at the
same time as the man In search OF
porous plasters and heard what was
said. He took general look around
and then went out without saying
anything to anybody.
At ten o'clock the next morning the
stranger called and found Jonas sit
ting on the steps of the store lazily
whiting at pine shingle.
Are you the owner OF this drug
store"
"The sole and only owner" Jonas
replied
"Your stock seems to have got pref
ty low"
''Well, | believe I have got some
Iogwood left, and don't know but
what could scare up a bottle of vas
cline"
Want to sell out?" inquired the
stranger.
Il dunno whether do or not. Some
times I've thought would accept a
fair offer and then again ! thought
how lonesome ! would be without this
place."
do you fill prescriptions?
Not for my doctor, but when any
one tells me what ails him give him
whatever I think will cure him."
The young man turned away to
smile.
"Supposing you wanted to sell:
What would be your price?"
"A regular druggist. eh?"
Eyes. am looking for a location
I want to buy the building ITSELF
"Weil, young man, ! win be honest
enough to tell you that IL you are
thinking of starting out OF here as a
regular druggist you VIII last about
two weeks. This is the healthies'
town for a hundred miles around
There has been only one case Of sick
ness in the last five years. and they
cured that with hot vinegar and red
pepper without coming to me-
"Of course. I viii take my chances,
replied the young man. Give me
your lowest cash price"
Jonas got up and walked up and
down the sidewalk for five minutes
At last he stopped. "Will you let the
crowd continue to come here eve
nings?"
mo. sir" was the prompt reply.
Then ! viii have to charge yot
$50 more than / otherwise would, fol-
the boys will have no meeting place
unless they go down TO the sawmill.
His price, as he named 1t. was al
once accepted. and the young man
whose name was Frank Richard. was
the owner of the place before night
The next two weeks were full of bust
ness around there The painters and
carpenters were called in, and there
were changes that surprised the citi
zens. When the opening day came
for Richards New Drug Store" every
body in Springhill had been invited
to call and drink a free glass of soda
water. thing only dimly heard Of
in that place before. There was