A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 7, 13 February 1892, Page 152

A BAD QUARTER OF AN HOUR.

* I lest the drug business because something happened that nearly turned my hair gray,' said a man. whose acquaintance I made in a railway carriage, to me the other day. ‘ Tell me about it,' said L • I used to sleep over my shop, and often had to answer night calls. One night I was awakened from a deep sleep by somebody's persistency at the door-bell. I found a small boy at the <ioor, and he handed me a prescription. I was so sleepy that I could hardly see : but I made it up, the boy paid me, and hastened away. When I went to replace the bottles I had taken from the shelves my eyes were open a little wider than in the earlier stages of my wakefulness, and I was horrified to find that instead of taking down the bottle of tincture of orange, I had used the next lottie. tincture of aconite, a deadly poison. ‘ I flew out of the door : I looked up and down the street. ‘ The boy had disappeared. I had never seen him before, and did not know who the medicine was for. • I re entered the shop, and paced up and down the floor. My hair stood on end. ■ I should be notified of the horrible death of the patient, and placed under arrest • I saw my victim in all the agonies of aconite poisoning. ‘ I saw the pale face of death. I saw the family vowing vengeance. • My heart began to thump furiously as I heard hastening footsteps. ‘ I peered through the window, and saw the boy who had brought the prescription. • The bottle was gone I My only hope was shattered '. With trembling hand I opened the door. The lad stood hesitating. 1 Tears were in his eyes. I dared not speak. • “ P—please, mister. I ran so fast that I fell down and broke the bottle, and I ain't got no more money •My heart leaped up into my throat. I felt like giving a scream of joy as I sprung forward and pulled that boy into the shop-. • I wanted to hug him. When I had overcome my emotions I gave bim another bottle of medicine, didn't charge him a penny, and sent him off with the biggest handrul of peppermint drops a boy ever had.'