The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-10-22
Western Remedy
for Snake Bite
By J. D. ELLSWORTH
(c0pynEhA.l

but when business called me to Maine,
our down-East sister. whose temper
ate example Is always held before u
eyes, /. felt that l was about to set
foot on the stepping-stone Of heaven
To provide against the serpent that
must inevitably haunt such an Eden,
/ filed my pocket flask with the stand
ard western remedy for snake bites.
The train left the Union station at
nine in the morning. and anticipating
a stupid ride l went into the smok-
ing-car to enjoy a cigar and read my
newspaper. The car was fitted up with
mahogany card tables and stationary
cribbage boards. In the seats In front
of me were three travelling men.
"Play euchre?" said one of them,
looking toward a lean, Ianky stranger.
Does 1t cost a%nything?"
"Not a cent"
swell. then. / guess TIL come IN"
and he opened himself like a jack
knife and strolled to his place.
AS the train rushed over bridges and
through suburban cities the novelty
Of my surroundings so engrossed my
oLlCLllOu LAdL 4 ulu AOl AVl1CC LnC
card players again until / heard the
lean stranger say:
Il guess I'm going to be real sick.
l never had such a fearful pain before
In all my life"
He put his hand on the pit of his
stomach, and there were sharp lines In
his face that indicated intense agony.
The dealer looked up sympathetically.
and his partner said:
1--WE got a little something with me
from Kentucky. Perhaps it might do
you good"
Il come from Maine" said the
stranger, "and we don't drink rum
down there. But, as a medicine. /
might take a few drops, If you don't
think it would go to my head"
Lounging back in my seat and watch
ing the dissolving panorama of snow
bound villages. l ruminated on the
incident.
At Lynn I was reminded of the
euchre players as one of the drum
mers got out and another passenger
took his place. The last conner carried
a gun case and was dressed for a
hunting trip. When we reached Salem
at 9 :35 the two remaining drummerS
left. The lean stranger and the sports
man found two new partners and con-
tinued playing.
AS / had finished my cigar and ex-
hausted my newspaper, / tried Io
amuse myself by watching the game.
When the cards were passed to the
lean stranger he shook his head and
pushed them over to his partner.
IDEAL for me" he groaned; "T've got
an awful pain In my side. 1t seems
like pneumonia. but 1t may pass in a
minute"
The group looked solicitous. and the
sportsman. taking a black bottle from
the pocket of his hunting-bag. said:
"Take some of this, man; you
mustn't fool with a pain like that"
II come from the state of Maine,"
said the sufferer, "and I'm opposed to
strong drink. But, rather than delay
the game. gentlemen, I'll take a little
as medicine"
AT the town of N%ewburyport the
lanky representative of the Pine Tree
state was left alone at the card table.
l was becoming interested In him. AS
we crossed the bridge over the Mer-
rimac / lost sight of him for a mo-
ment. but when the train had passed
the state line I walked forward in
the car. My invalid friend was play
ing seven-up with a swarthy stranger.
Dropping into a seat, / patiently
t-offod For 1ouoI0nDaonkc yUo -vnpa
due to reach Portsmouth at 10:40. I
looked at my watch from time to time
n then at the man from Maine, z
saw that he began to get uneasy. His
face showed signs of suffering and
he coughed violently.
The brakeman brought some water
in a tin cup. The suffering man mo-
toned him away, gasping. II wouldn't
dare (cough) to take water Cough /;
it makes 1t worse"
The swarthy stranger drew from his
grip a pocket flask and handed it to
the sufferer. The spasmodic cough
ceased for a moment, and a familiar
voice said:
my friend, I hail from the state
of Maine n believe in total absti-
renee. l can't take a drink, but TIL just
swallow a few drops as medicine"
The car was almost deserted after
we left Biddeford, and another change
came over the unfortunate representa-
tive of prohibition. In a very low tone
he asked a question of the conductor,
who replied by shaking his head de-
cidedly. Then the man from Maine
went forward into the baggage car and
eturned with a pale, haggard face.
Bringing out the flask I had filled
at Boston, and unscrewing the top, I
said, stranger, will you Join me?"
Thanks, very much" he replied;
II am a Maine man.
AS the train slowed up at Portland,