Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 526 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- x - Bloomingdale Asylum. A _ treuble, North River ut. me mr cr ea ee minded old man, an’ fill him up with yer pills an’ drugs? A fine doctor, you be! You don’t know the A BCof medicine, an ef you think you can p’ison that old man you are ’way out 0’ er latitude. I’m Foretop Tom, an’ lm tough. on’t ye molest me!” ‘* Be very careful bow you molest me. Are you the man who employs me?” ‘Tl? Sbarks an’ anchors! ‘I hope not! When I do sech a fool-trick L want ter be carried to crazy man would be doctored by you ought to be thrashed, by Neptune!” The parties to this animated discussion were standing in the hall of a house which was situat- ed on a street of upper New York—one of the many houses which, during tbe last few years, have been springing like mushrooms, so to speak, between Central Park and the North River. The first speaker was a man of about fifty years, a muscular, rough, but honest-looking man, whose bronzed face and, in fact, whole ap- vearance, confirmed the impression conveyed by bis peech, that he was one more accustomed to sea than to land, His name was Thomas Beckwith, though he answered far more quickly when addressed as **Foretop Tom,” The second man was younger; indeed, he did not look to be over thirty-three in point of years, | who | | ‘‘Sharks an’ anchors! how tame you be! Want ter wheedle me, don’t ye? Want ter go in an’ pour your miserable doses o’ the Lord knows what down my weak-minded brother’s throat, don’t ye? Want ter gobble all bis money fer er quack medicines, don’t ye? No doubt you’d ike ter be friends with me, but I want yer ter know I’m all right up aloft!” The honest sailor touched his forehead as he spoke, He was so filled with indignation that he could hardly keep his hands off of the West- erner; he longed to throw him out of the house, roots, herbs and all, There might be doctors of Holdsworth’s ** school” who could effect cures— he did not know positively how that was—but he felt sure that Doctor Chippewa was a humbug. His last speech made the doctor's eyes glitter more than ever, ‘*‘See here, my man!” he exclaimed, ‘‘I am your brother’s regular doctor, summoned by him and nowin his employ. Unless you ease to obstruct me I will go at once to the authorities and notify them that there is a suffering man here in aved of medical attendance, ana that nah refuse to let me gotohim, That’s a State’s rison affair, my man!” Honest ‘tom was wholly ignorant of law, and very mucb afraid of it, as many another worthy person has been. He looked somewhat startled at this threat. ‘The police will see a clear case,” pursued By some persons he would have been called | Doctor Chippewa, seeing bis advantage; ** you handsome, He was tall and erect, had a fine are one of Daniel Beckwith’s heirs, and they will form, a broad, regujar face, and an abundance | argue that you want him to die without medical of wavy, black hair which reached well down | attendance. upon his shoulders. Collar and vest he had none, hut a loose velveteen coat, which was little more than a jacket, showed a blue flannel shirt: beneuth; and on his head he wore the wide- rimmed soft hat usually associated with the Western country. In fact, if this man had just stepped off of the prairies he would have seemed more at home than in New York City, and he claimed to have lately come from some part of the West. **Poctor Chippewa Holdsworth” was the name printed upon the cards he was wont to Jeave around with liberal profusion, and he claimed to have a mission to cure all the ills that beset the people of New York by the use of roots and herbs known only to the Indians. He had recently appeared in Gotham, accom- ponied by three Pawnee Indians, and had itched his tent on a vavant iot near the North Liver, Tuen he announced himself ready to cure any and all complaints, and the *‘ Indian Doctor,” as h: called bimself, became for a timea metro- p litan feature. Among the patients he secured was a man nomed Daniel Beckwith. The latter had been a merchant of Herkimer county, but had aban- doned business for the role of an invalid. He believed himself sorely afflicted, but all the tocal doctors whom he consulted, after trying in vain to discover what ailed him, came to the conclu- sion that he merely imagined his troubles. They said as much to bis daughter, Kadora, but not to Mr. Beckwith; in his existing mood it was not believed well to do so. Failing to get relief at home he removed to New York, leased the house before mentioned, and successively hired and dismissed a dozen re- utalsle paysicians, r After Phat, he engaged tho ‘Indian doctor,” and the latter was transferring Beckwith's money to his own pocket rapidly, if not curing him. Thomas Beckwith, alias Foretop Tom, was a brother of the self-styled invalid, just home from a long cruise, Foretop Tom did not believe in the Indian doctor, and was determined to keep him away from Daniel. On tue present occasion be had met the man from the Wild West in the hall, and the conver- sation before recorded had taken place, Holdsworth was plainly nearly as angry as honest Foretop Tom, but he felt confident of his position aud Managed to remain somewhat calm outwardly. ‘| disdain to take notice of your intemperate language,” he said, in answer to Tom’s last words. ‘tI am not given to personal abuse,” * Oh! aivt you? 1 thought the men from yer part 0’ the country boasted o’ their * sand?” ‘Out West,” said the Indian doctor, a glitter in his eyes, ‘‘ we usually settle disputes with a revolver.” ‘‘On board ship,” retorted Foretop Tom, “ef a man draws & rr ore: wo hit him a clip witha belayin’-pin, by Neptune! | ns hig ka Pie talc, my friend. Let us be calm. am your brother’s doctor—don’t let us have ' i le ET A ce SK 7 . hey aa are oe 4 ig ae ee oD an th Pe Bek ae ze be 4 &, Bad for you—very bad!” Foretop Tom’s face flushed. ‘* Why, he’s my brother !” ‘* And rich, while you’re poor. When he dies Pgh will doubtless get a slice of his money ] — The sailor doubled his fists and advanced a step. d Hold up, you infarnal shark! Don’t ye say—” | ‘Softly, softly! I have said nothing, I was only telling you how the police will look at it.” Foretop Tom fell back. He was in sore doubt and perplexity. He believed the Indian doctor to be a knave and a humbug, but the idea of getting himself into the grasp of the law was truly a startler to him. ‘‘'Hadn’t I better compromise?” he thought. ‘**T’ll let the quack sce Dan’! this time, an’ then try to head the critter off.” A quiet, sarcastic smile appeared on Doctor Chippewa’s face as he noticed this hesitation, but it vanished quickly as Tom iooked up. ‘* Well?’ he questioned. The sailor stepped aside, ‘*[’ve nothin’ more ter say,” he reluctantly replied. The Westerner strode past him and ascended the stairs. When near the top he looked back. Tom was wate ning hie with a troubled, any- thing but friendly expression, «There's minohist in that old fool!” thought Chippewa, ‘and he will not rest easy, A siitch in time saves nine, and it isclear that I have got to remove him, or be will cut off the principal source of my income. Eudora Beckwith is al- most as much down on mo, but if I can get him away, Lcan wheecle her, He must be got rid of!” The expression on the Indian doctor’s face at that moment was one which might have disturb- ed a timid person, but be banished it, aud knock- ed at a door close at hand, A feeble voice bade him enter, and he obeyed. It was a good-sized, well-furnished bedroom, and bad two occupants, Ina large easy-chair sat a Man who Was sunning bimsel!, so to speak, in the rays of Olu S.1, which fell through the tightly-closed window, Ih fact, every avenue through which pure air might have penetrated was closed, and the atmosphere was revollingly Close and stifling, The man in the: chair was Daniel Beckwith. Although past his fiftieth year, he was still far from being an oid man, and the fact that his ligat-brown hair retained its youthful color surprisingly, made him seem younger than he was, His face, which was smoothly-shaven, was thin, certainly, but he hardly looked like an in- valid. Considering the air he compelled himself to breathe, he was a healthy-looking man on the whole. His expression, however, was most glum and down-hearted; he looked like grief and de- spondency personified. There he sat in the warm June day, as he sat every day, without air, hugging his hobby that be was a very 1ll man, and that a touch of air oe surely carry him off and out of the wor + - ° \ = * * gh. v2 #; ) , wae as = oe a pu: @ fs - - , vee 4 ome ree Os - J any RY Noe EOE LT LT gst ~-nsses->->->-tttene> e—een—s His servant stood behind his chair. The ser vant rejoiced in the name of B. Franklin Betis and he was an African gentleman of the most pronounced brunette type. His skin was as black as coal, but this did not troubie bim., To use his own expression, ‘* Et a pusson is goin’ ter be a culPud gent, he’s an idjit ef he don’t go de *hull hog!” W hoever visited that chamber was sure to see two things. Deniel Beckwith would be in the big chair, and B, Franklin Betts would <ertainly be found standing behind the chair. Here any similarity ended. The master was tali, down- hearted, glum and peevish; the man was short, fat, contented with hfe and jolly at all times, though obliged to stdutly curb the iatter pro- pensity in his master’s presence, Doctor Chippewa advanced and lowered his deep base voice to a gentle growl. ‘Well, my dear sir, how are we to-day?’ ‘Miserably, miserably!” sighed Beckwith, and the sigh seemed to come clear from his toes. ‘Profuse perspiration, J see.” “Terrible!” dolorously agreed the patient. ‘Your pulse, though, is much more regular.” “Tt is getting feartully weak.” ‘Only about normal, I think.” ** And my poor heart!” ‘* Does that trouble you still? ‘‘T feel sure it is shifting to my right side.” x The amber-hued liquid I gave you will stop that. ‘* My stomach is awfully disorderea.” ‘‘The medicine in the blue bottle will soon remedy that.” ‘‘ Massa Doctor,” quoth B. Franklin Betts, who had been listening with the most serious atten- tion, ‘‘ is blue bottles good fur corns?” ‘*What’s that?” ‘* Ef they be, I'd like one ob your blue bottles, but you needn’t put no stuff init. I’s got a corn dat’s as full ob animonstrosity as a dog is ob fleas.” Franklin!” said Mr. Beckwith, severely. ‘Yes, sah.” ‘** Be silent.” ‘Yes, sah.” ‘*T think, doctor,” Beckwith pursued, * that I have discovered a fatal symptom—that I am near my end. My feet are beginning to swell.” ‘‘Ha! is that so?” cried the Indian doctor. ‘¢ That’s the best news you could tell me, "tis the wonderful effects of my prairie Harasculo Moto- bockto, the most potent herb in my colJection. My dear sir, your cure is now certain!” ‘* Ah! doctor, you are very good, and there certainly is a slight improvement—a SLIGHT itm- provement, | say—in my condition since you took charge, but*I feel that I am a doonied man,” ‘‘ Whar is it dis time, sah?” asked B. Pray t:- lin Betts, . , ‘¢ Where is what?” ‘* That doomed man feelin’. Shall I exply ce amber-hued liquidation in an external fvrm, wiv manual mernipei..i0R Ob iy band, sabe ** Franklin!” °° Yes, sab.” | ‘“Dowt you speak again while the doctor i» here!” +s Yes, sah.” Mr. Betts’s way of saying, ‘‘ Yes, sah!” way irresistible. It rolled from his lips like oif froma jug, and, no matter what the occasica was, his face Was always as impassive as that of a sphinx, and his manner grave and undis~ turbed. Doctor Chippewa did not like Franklin; he © believed that the colored servant possessed far more brains than he had any business to have; and if he dared, he would have sent B. Franklin Betts out of the house in a hurry. Daniel Beckwith, however, considered Franklin as ne- cessary to the prol A medicines he was daily. pouring down his ‘i “oa 2 neck, : Before the Indian doctor left the house he took occasion to tell Beckwith of the scene he had had with Foretop Tom in the banana ae © self: i ¢ > ‘.* . painted the case in such colors that t styled invalid was filled with horror at the in- gratitude ot his brother. . In fact, Holdsworth did al] that he could toe * K ceeded palage the patient’s Mind, and suc charm. toa Beckwith was not exactly angry, but his woe | w more pronounced, To him it seemed that was not only sitk’and suffering, but that his nearest relatives Were turning againsthim, — : Doctor Chippewa saw that he had done his | work well, but when he left the house he had another scheme in his mind by which he hoped _ _ 2. rid Ongation of his lite as the | 4 “a, e - . * : > pen 4 ~~ ’ a * “a4 ¥ : we oe : aye > > . ae - ‘ 4 r, a a? “} + a 4 , to get Foretop Tom effectually our of his’ Re icr: = at once and forever, sieatiaot Nolin 2's ‘ > ri, 44 qh es LD ge ee) “ . * 4 A . 5 i fr ’ IS ’ ry a Oey ae i itt ri oe , “> Fe" : ne Oe sae | si« § ; - rp ee mi. ee oe oe o > - . yal \ - | ; 5 ea * 2 y | / | aS - Pr ee 4 . 2 re Yat hve. 7 . books.com La “ te ied al ~~ ~e