Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-08-02
Prescription
BY G. M. SASSAMAN
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service

VIII al angry lWlSt ne ScTeWeu Tue
cap on bottle and slapped a skull
and cross bones label upon it before
wrapping it in blue paper.
The negro scrub-woman sloshed past
him with her bucket and mop.
He placed the bottle Of poison upon
the counter beside another blue clad
package. The bewhiskered little scien.
fist who ordered the poison would
probably call for ii in few minutes.
The other bottle was for thin-faced
little boy whose mother was suffering
from stomach cramps.
Katon went into the Mushroom at
the rear of the prescription depart
ment. He could clean up q bit while
the scrub-woman was busy out there.
AS he washed his hands he felt lit
tie sorry for having been irritable with
the thin-faced little tyke. The kid
had almost shown tears when he had
said, "Chase yourself around the
block while I get this ready" Oh
well. he'd give the kid an ice cream
cone when he returned for the medi-
cine.
When Katon re-entered the pre-
scription room the woman was al
most finished with the floor. She had
already wiped off the counter, leav-
ing wet finger-prints upon the clean
wrapping paper covering the two bot
ties.
For the thousandth time Katon
made up his mind to complain to the
boss when the latter came in to re-
lieve him. That charwoman was al
together too sloppy. Then he grinned
to himself as he saw the thin-faced
boy opening the street door hest.
family.
"Come in, son." he called, snatch
ing up one of the packages and GO
Ing forward to the soda counter.
Leaning over the counter he handed
the boy the bottle. The latter gave
him a bill and he returned to him
some small change.
The boy turned to leave.
"Wait a minute" said the clerk.
Taking up a cone he filled it with a
heaping mound Of ice cream. The
boys eyes opened wide with pleasure.
He took the cone and then looked un.
certainly at the change in his other
hand.
"Never mind about paying for it."
said the clerk kindly. That's for
having to wait"
1t was almost fifteen minutes later
when the bewhiskered little scientist
came in for his order. He had the
appearance of one who lived an exact
and well-ordered existence.
1t didn't surprise Katon when the
little man frowned at the wet finger
prints upon the wrapping paper. Nor
did it surprise him when the man
proceeded to unwrap the bottle and
drop the blue paper upon the floor.
He glanced at the clerk and was
starting back toward the prescription
room when he heard the little man
begin to splutter in Indignation.
He turned to see the scientist hold
ing the bottle out toward him. The
little mans whiskers were fairly
bristling with anger.
"This isn't what l ordered. young
man." he blazed. 81 ordered a spe-
cial poison preparation, not bottle
of stomach medicine"
AS Katon took in the full signif-
canoe Of the words he swayed dir
lilly, grasping a showcase for sup
port. He felt the blood drain from
his face and an awful emptiness take
possession of his stomach. His legs
seemed, for fraction of a minute, to
have turned to putty.
ghastly mistake! How had it
happened? Oh yes, he remembered
now. He had placed the poison on
the right-hand side. The scrub
woman must have changed the posi-.
ton of the bottles. He had given the
boy a deadly poison instead Of medi-
cine. And he didn't even know the
youngsters name or address!
Like one in a drunken stupor he
leaned against the showcase He
never heard the bewhiskered little
man flounce angrily out Of the store.
Was it hours that he stood there?
Dimly he heard the clock on the wall
tick out the seconds. An old lady
came into the store and asked quer-
ulously for some iodine. He didn't
hear her.
When the clerk didn't move at her
bidding, the old woman sent a sharp
glance in his direction. His drawn,
white face sand staring eyes fright
ened her. She made for the door.
looking apprehensively over her Shout
der as she went out.
Katon pulled himself together at
the heavy touch Of hand upon his
shoulder. He looked up to see a fat
policeman standing before him. The
thin-faced little boy, with tears still
yelling in his eyes, stood beside the
officer
The policeman was talking. His
words registered themselves upon
Katon's muddled consciousness In
scattered, informative fragments.
Strangely enough, the officers tone
was not that Of angered condemna.
ton. 1t was almost pleading.
kid crying dropped bot
tie smashed >. fill another :"
he was saying.
The truth dawned upon Katon with
the slow beauty Of q pleasant dream