The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-03-07

iUH, oH THAI very CuLudJ WHICH WIS ClOSe
at hand, was to we'd my Jemima. Oh
Jemima It was half past eleven o'clock
and it seemed as if | were to have no more
customers that night. But did not close
/, ,:ntil twelve o'clock. ard my razors were
all blunted; SO | determined to get one of
them thoroughly sharpcncA bsforc l shut
: the shop. | took one and koned it and
stropped it until it was il wonderful order,
and lit to shave the down from tie cheek
of peach. This razor that | have just
prepared for you is the nearest approach
to it have ever seen.
at was close on the stroke Of twelve
put up the shutters and partly closed the
door. was about to turn off the Gas, be-
licving that the work was over for the
night, when one more customer entered
| knew him we'll | had shaved him before
He was a little old weazcn man. He was
the clerk Of the parish church, to which
and skinny, and its larynx was very prom~
inert. The larynx Of your throat and
the barber stepped back pace and looked
at me with the air ofa connoisseur-"rc
minds ,na forcbly Of his He was bach
elor, and was supposed to have money
Ills name VAS ToNscr.
The barber was moved tc tears. Whilo
he wept looked at ny watch. |. was
twenty minutes after twelve, but the bars
ber seemed more rational than before, !
hoped soon to get away.
The old n.ar seated himself" contin-
uod the barber, ''and pointed to his chin
| iathered him erd began to shave. l got
On very wcll with his upper lip and the
upper part of his chin, but when | came to
the regions of the throat, being somewhat
sleepy, | made little slip and drew blood.
The old clerk was very angry ; Iapologsed
and began again in an instant-in mo-
ment-a sudden choking fit of coughing
seized him, and before | could Withdraw
my hard, his throat came forward with a
sudden jerk against the keen edge Of the
razor, and the blood spurted out He fell
down in wet heap o. the floor, and was
dead almost directlyl"
The barber paused and pressed his hand
to his head | was horribly startled at
this unlocked for incident in the tale.
had expected something mournfully senti-
mental about JemllDa.
lie continued, and his manner again be-
came excited:
Il fed at once fed all night, all next
day-ior week, for 4 month, aye, for six
months-stral9 on, straight on, through
fire, Eater, wind, hail, snow, frost, mist,
thunder, soda water and trcakle But
the pursuers were on the track they were
close behind; | heard them coming. |
escaped them. The means by which |
escaped | shall never reveal rs l may
want them again. 4 short time since |
arrived in this town. | came concealed 10
the steam chest Of an express engine. This
shop was to be let. L took it. put con-
straint on ny tongue and upon my features
No one suspected me. Last night was the
Towser anniversary. as it approached,
ielt that something must happen. [ did
not 60 to bed Iou would not have me
90 to bed would you? Very we'll, then,
dent lock as if Sou would. stayed alone
in TIE shop, From half,past eleven to
twelve I employed myself in stropping
razor-this one---as I lad done then. At
the stroke cf twelve old Towser came in
through the closed door and seated him.
self IN the chair where you now sit |
could not help it--I advanced to shave
him, but he motioned me back and said, in
the same creaking voice in which he used
to say, Amen, 'To>morrow one customer
viii come into your shop-only one
Shave him shave him !! shave him . ! cs
.you stared ME!' He pointed to his til. cat
and vanished. | have been thinking over
the matter and have arrived at the con-
clusion that | am not necessarily hound to
cut your throat | did not cut the old
mans he did it himself; and, therefore,
| hope all may yet be well. FL can shave
you without drawing drop of blood, you
will escape. But if | accidentally cut
you as [ did Towscr, the coincidence will
be SO remarkable that shall feel bound to
go on. You see the point? Ever since
that terrible night have not been able to
see q drop Of blood, but must see more !
more - more
At this time the carriage drove up to
Juia's door, having returned from its
truitless journey to the church. | heard |
the steps let down, and the house door
open and shut, anl then heard the car
riage drive off. But | could only see dim
", for | felt sick and faint.
The barber also heard, and lcos ed towards
the window. As he agian turned on me,
thought saw a smile fit over his fea-
lures. | felt somewhat encouraged.
"Why are you still! trembling?' he
said; 81 cannot proceed with any hope Of
safety until Jou are more quiet"
was glad to hear him say that; for.
dreadful as was my present position, any
thing was better than that he should CONS
mence the use of the razor under the ter |
ribe conditions he had mentioned. Lend |
ing somewhat unnecessary aid to nature, |
! shook to such an extent that the barber. |
mad as he was, looked positively alarmed |
As | heard his next words, | could
scarcely believe my ears.
"Why you are getting worse than ever
said he, land my hand might be more
steady, too. | Aad no rest that night
now, I'll tell you what you'll do, Let us
take forty winks -piece--you in that chair,
| in this The one that awakes first shall
call the other, and then We'll proceed to
business X nap will calm cur nerves.
What do you say ~
"Tho very thing!" l cried. Aud, oh,
how my heart beat with hope. Nothing
could have been more favorable to my
chances of escape. The key of the door
was still in his pocket | could see the