The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-29
Abe Wallace.

"What's er matter wild yer2" demanded
Abe Wallace, with not unnatural petu.
| lance under the circumstances. s'Whot er
yer lingcrin' around that visage of mine
fort Can't yer rasp that countenancc3"
Obviously, he couldn't. For rearly an
| hour he had strapped his razone and NOW
cd diligently, but barber though he was of
a thousand, barber extraordinary to Leap.
| Ing Antelope Run. he seemed to make no
headway against Abc's bristling badge of
| manhood.
"Ef yer razors won't cut, shoot 'cm of.
Year mo. Shoot 'cm OFF," and the hand
| some, sunburncd MINER composed himself
for the novel operation.
'ls the barber at home2" asked q low,
, sweet voice, entering the door at that mo-
mcnt.
lie started. No yellow water running
from his pan had ever looked as sweet to
him as that voice. 1t percolatcd him, and
he arose from the chair new man. Tho
| rough life passed away from him. The
crust formed by his habits and hardened
| by his surroundings was broken.
"Pcrmit me, madame, to assure YOU
that this individual before you is the bar.
ber,' said Abe, and lis new dignity sat
easily upon him and seemed part OF him.
''l am OH my way from Boston to the
Sandwich Islands," SAID tho young girl,
quietly, "and our carriage broke Gown.
thought would improve the opportunity
and have my lair banged. On, no, no."
che exclaimed, rs Abe gallnntly drew forth
u thousand dollar draft on New York.
'Nol for the world, Ive $4,000, 900, not
only III my right, but in my pocket. will
| pay for any service"
AS the barber proceeded with his task.
Abe walked the shop floor ncrvously. A
prcsage of danger oppressed him. The
chestnut cur,s Oh his forehead grow damp
with anxiety. Hc knew life in his rough
way, and he knew BARRIERS. The fur
young girl would be no match for the from.
tier hairdresscr, if tho worst should comet
Had she not millions in her pocket lie
glanced at the tluy feet planted sqlarely
and firmly on the stool before hor, and re-
cognizcd character. IIc knew nothing Of
Boston, but he understood feet.
"And do you live in this funny place, to
hc2" asked The girl, smiling at ADe's re-.
Election in the glass.
81 dc" sighed Abe, "Misfortunos have
cast my bark OF life upon this barren shore
and LETT me with ouly the shelter the spa.
weeds Afford"
''Tc he! how odd. Ouchl'
But Abe grasprd him and laid him upon
the floor, The barber had made dive
for tho dainty pocket and had failed
Lcaping Antelope Run was aroused.
Such an attack found no apologists among
the wild, rough miners. Whatever they
might be inherently they would tolerate
nothing # the kind III the barber.
Away to the dull thudI" demanded one
more intclnKen1 .ilan IN. =. 1t, >. And the.
shivered and tho beams JIopt away con
vulsively. Thsy may have expected hin,
to beg, but he eyed them stcrnly.
"Ohl myl what will they do with him7''
asked the beauty with one cyo She had
no need to speak. The thrill of TINT eve
struck chord in Abe Wulluco.
''Thcy'll sprain his neck, darling" mur-
INJURED Wallace, in tender accents. This
feeling was new to him, but he understood
''Gracious! and may SEQ him2" whis.
percd she with tho other eye.
Abo's answer was lost in the sullen roar
of the crowd.
Out under the grand old trees that
fringed the mines. Out under the whisper
OF the leaves. Out through the shadows.
Tho wind swept down from the Sicrras,
velvet winds, but pitilcss. They shook
sweet voices out of their satin garments,
but not pleading tone for that human
barber, soon TO De neither barber nor
human.
The ropo was around his neck. A cloud
hoated across the face Of the moon, but she
struggled from behind it, held by tho hor-
ror of the scene.
'IioIdl' commanded Abe. And tn en-
addressing the barber, he asked "You
are .slslicc OF tho Peace, are you not2"
II am, responded the condemned In
low, steady tones.
''rnen marry u.s." said Wallace, draw
ing the Boston girls aim within his own.
''Iou 10 take tins woman for your
welded wifcf" asked the barber, with a
strange glitter In his eye.
81 do" responded Ate.
"iou DO take this man for your welded
husbandf" inquired the barber with pc
cular smile.
"Ie hcl suppose 30, to ho!" whispered
the musical voice.
"Thcn pronounce you man and wife.
Go to tho devil"
The rope frightened, and as he went up,
tho barber uttered wild, dcmonic laugh
Then, with tho shadow of the sierras
gathered around him, he hung dead.
Try as he might, Abe could not shake
OIL the influence OF that laugh. 1t was a
ghost in his life.
"hly Godl" hc screamed, as he sprang
from his seat a day or two aftcrwartl. II
understand it now"
Understand what, lovc1" asked his
beautiful bride. looking up from the bite of
an apple.
II know why the barber laughed with
his dying BREATH" he lnoancd.
"dracious goodness! What was 1t for2'
she demanded, with dImpling smiles.
'Bocanso he died without giving US a
marriage cc.tIficatc."
With avid shrick, tho Boston girl sank
dead at his feet.
Tho barber was avenged.