Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21

Cyrus Maddox was evidently not long
one, as it was finished in an hour.
eleven O'clock" said Mr.. Maddox,
and have finished, How slow the time
passes, to be sure. Now what shall do
until twelve o'clock, for am determined
not to die until noon"
A knock at the door.
go away ~ cried Mr.. Maddox, angri-
ly, "You can't come in.
81 am very sorry to disagree with you,
said voice outside the door, "but can
come in. I have duplicate key here,
and ii You don't open the door will"
Mr.. Maddox rose and unlocked the
door savAgely and Mr.. Guy Cheevers
walked into the room, carrying an OBJ
long box under his arm.
He placed the box on the table and then
took a seat opposite Mr.. Maddox and
stared blandly at him.
"What do You want p asked Mr.. Mad
dox Aercely. Don't you see that am
engaged?', .,o .
are about to do Don't think that I'm
going to interfere not all. But before
you make your quietus, wish to ask you
few questions. Have you provided for
your niece's future wel-fare?"
whats that to you?'
considerable. am about to marry
Miss Silver, for her interests nre natural
| ly mine.
"Then she is provided for amply"
"Thanh YOU for your information Very
glad to hear it. And now, excuse the APP
parent impcrtincnce of the question, but
where il your will 2
"1Tere," said Mr.. Maddox, laying his
hand on it.
Suppose you give it to me to take care
of ?"
"Gve it to you. Why, pray?'
at might become misplaced" exclaim-
ed Guy.
"I'll keepit myself said Mr. Maddox.
roughly.
''rhcn Just leave memorandum on the
table," said Guy, earnestly. ''to tell
where it is. 1t will save trouble, per-
haps.
'Get ont, cried Mr.. Maddox angrily.
"Ah, | Bec," said Mr.. Cheevers, cody,
"in hurry 10 begin. Well, won't de-
tain you, but I have little suggestion to
offer"
at is this, d." said Guy. Miss Silver in
forms me iha. You have made several
previous efforts to cut short your troubles
and your breath, and always unsuccess-
fully. Now, it seems to me, You don't 60
the right way about it, Tins box, and
here he opened the box before alluded to,
contains several little plans that think
might please you. Here's one, and he
showed little steel instrument.
whats that" asked Mr.. Maddox,
curously.
"This," said Guy, sis an article that
you can place around your neck like
collar, then, by striking your hand on
the left side of your neck, n sharp spike
is driven right into your jugular vein
"But that would kill me-" said Mr.
Maddox, staring.
"Well, amt that what you want y de
mandcd Guy, sternly. Now here's an
other" he went on. Here's a wheel
You observe. You place this band around
your neck, pass it under the wheel and
give two or three turns, then let go. The
recoil will twist your head almost of
your shoulders-kill you to certainty"
Mr.. Maddox stared at him with I'M
feigned horror.
"Then,' went on Guy, coolly, here's Q
little package--a torpedo. 1t contain:
nitro glycerine You place it in youi
mouth. snap your teeth on it, aud of
goes yonr head. smashed into millisns OF
atoms.
Good heavens" exclaimed Mr. Mad
dox fearfully "What terrible idea"
"Not at ali, said Mr.. Guy, soothingly
self on it-scientifc suicide you see
brains out, but to do it scientifically re-
| ,,,,rn, to1 w., lo,n ,nl
am confident you will reflect credit on my
fidently, "if you could use all three Of
these inventions at once-cut your iugu
lar, garotte yourself and blow your head
of, all at once-why, I'd thank you.
what cried Mr.. Maddox, fierccly
"do You think I'm going to use any OF
your internal Inventions? Get out OF
this room, you eold-blooded villain, be
fore | throw you ont of the window"
".3ut have great many more t.
show you, demonstrated Guy, land yor
see l want you to try as manyas possible
Well, WE'LL he added, as Mr.. Maddo,
grasped the poker threateningly, I'm
going. But I'll leave this box, and be
fore you get rid of yourself Just make (
memorandum OF what you will use, ant
leave it On the table, because, you know
there will be probably nothing left o
you to draw conclusions from, and So
Here any further speech was cut shor
by Mr.. Maddox Selling his visitor anl
hustling him out in the passage.
"Well," said Lizzie, anxiously, t,
Guy.
II think it's all right said Guy, grin
ming. Get the lunch ready. Your I'M
Gle is all right. He'll be down.
And sure enough he was, and though
he spoke not, he ate most voraciously o
everything.
"I.izzie," said lie, suddenly, after al
hours pause, "did you ever see an infer
nal old fool and an idiot?"
"Never, that | know of, said Lizzie
"Why ?"
because, just look at me, and you'll
see one" said Mr.. Maddox, grimly, IN,
he stalked up stairs.
Up to the present time of writing, Nh
Cyrus Maddox is still alive, enjoying goo
health, and he seems to be on friendl
terms with Mr., Cheevers and Ills wife
, Lizzie. He probably forgave that gen
tleman on account of discovery that h
made that the nitro glycerine torped
contained nothing more dangerous tina
salt, and the "infernal inventions" wer
internal in about the same ratio b,l
, Guy still maintains that when person
> weary OF life they should cease thei
troubles by scientific suicide.