His Other Wife: A Novel — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

® 60 AMY'S DISCOVERIES. figure of an Indian. A leathern apron covered his knees, and upon the apron some dry herbs were lying ; from these he seemed to be selecting leaves that he flung into a small copper vessel, under which an alcohol lamp burned. This was a famous quack doctor, held in great esteem by the lower classes of the town’s folks, and infinitely contemned by the medical profession, with whose trade he meddled too successfully to suit their ideas of humanity. The sim- ples of the Indian quack sometimes healed bad cases that, under the more scientific treatment of orthodox physicians, bid fair to take speedy adieu of life’s troubles and pains, ‘‘Would you mind steppin’ inside the shop just one second, boss?” said the mulattress Amy, as she dropped a respectful courtesy to the Indian pharmacist. ‘‘Why inside? What do you want of me?” ‘‘Somethin’ I can’t tell outside, boss, else I nebber ben ax you fur come in.” There was a subdued air of suffering, anxiety, and dread all combined in Amy’s tone and manner that held the at- tention of the Indian’s queer black eyes. He put his. herbs beside him on the bench, and stepped within the little shop, the mulattress following. Making sure that they were alone, Amy took from her bosom a small pack- age, which she handed to the Indian. Kin you tell.me anyt’ing ‘bout sich kind of physic as is put up in dis fashion, boss?” The doctor unwrapped the brown paper cover which enveloped the package, and then a quantity of dark tissue ‘comichbooks: (E(0) 3