New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-22
The Elusive Drug Store
By 4 YICTIM

neonle who asked him, and this time ne was
esnac;allv willing because the friend had SICK
ness in the house and requested him to get
prescription filled.
Go to the nearest drug store, the 1rieno
said.
With the doctors note to the druggist In his
hand. the obliging soul started on his quest
He hadn't thought to ask where the drug store
wss although a stranger in the neighborhood'
He figured out that he knew drug store
when he saw one, the same as he could spot
unerringly grocery butcher shop.
In this respect he was away off in his
reckoning. He couldn't spot anything that
even looked like a drug store, and ne was
getting out of wind. He figured, not unnatu-
rally. that one could tell the purpose of store
by the contents Of its show window, and this
was the mistake that pulled the obliging soul
ont Of his orbit and sent him spinning through
space.
After he had gone seven blocks without
passing single show window with red, green
and purple glass bottles in it the obhging
soul became desperate and begain to wonder
whether he couldn't have the prescription put
I'D in a saloon, Of which there were plenty, or
at a delicatessen shop, Of which there were
three on an average to every hundred yards
He took look at the prescription, and one
look was enough. It was written in the con-
fdential cipher which doctors employ when
addressing druggists, and the obliging soul at
once realized that if he couldn't make 1t out
no Irish saloonkeeper or Dutch delicatessen
dealer could So he kept on his way like man
with weak heart in the fourteenth mile OF
marathon.
There must be one on the next block
sure" he would humble; eff there amt. III
come out here and open one myself. Iheres
a great chance for druggist in this ne'gn-
borhood"
He was a conscientious, sympathetic person,
this obliging soul, and all at once it occurred
to him that somebody might actually be suffer-
ing for lack of the medicine that he had been
trusted to get. Suffering? Yes; perhaps
dining! This thought stopped him short one
minute. and spurred him on the next, until at
last he dirnly realized that he had been retrac-
ing his steps in the hope that there was drug
store along the route that he had overlooked.
He began to wabble. He began to totter. His
surroundings became a mist to him; then went
LoI Col tad in
IL, prescription still grasped in his cold,
goveless hand.
When he came back to consciousness he was
surrounded by little group of men, including
a policeman. He was seated on the floor Of
store of some sort, propped up against the base
of show case. Outside in the street there
was a small mob, breathing against the door
and window glass. The obliging soul took
dazed look around and tried in his muddled
way to figure out the usual "Where am ~
problem. He failed utterly.
1t was queer sort of store. He vaguely
recalled having seen it on his wild chase down
the avenue, and now it was queerer than ever.
It's stock consisted of souvenir post cards and
calendars, SOlnc VI lHciu Hoi6iHS III +VHS
strings, others heaped in baskets; cameras
and camera supplies, perfumery and toilet
waters, shaving soap, powder and brushes;
cigars, cigarettes and pipes; framed pictures
candy in boxes and buckets telephone booths
cold cream, rouge and face bleach; hair
brushes and combs, bird cages and seed, button
hooks, books and soap.
81 guess this is church fair" thought the
obliging soul to himself; "and they're admin
istering the last rites"
But somebody asked him, Glow do you feel
now? Better"
He looked at his questioner, and mecbani-
cally opened his mouth when some liquid in
glass was offered him. Instantly he sat up.
The liquid brought wildly to mind his hap
less quest. It was ammonia he knew it by
the SMELL and ammonia sold in drug
stores. He clawed about wildly for his pre-
scription; it was still beside him, on the floor.
He tried 10 rise.
"I'm all right, thank you," he stammered;
I'm quite well now, much obliged to you.
Don't detain me, beseech you. l must find
drug store no matter what becomes of me.
This prescription-4
"Why, this is drug store" said the
with the ammonia glass; you're in one.
What"
Thank heaven At ast!" cried the oblig-