The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-07-16
THE BARRIERS MANIA.

John Rtett. the handsomest young
man in the county, he of the raven locks
and with the beautiful black mustache
that the women adored-John Rhett
walked into the barber shop in York
vile for shave.
1t was cold day and there were three
or four Of his friends. besides several
tonsorial artists. standing around the
stove at the tive, but the man who al
ways did bis work being idle he walked
directly over and threw himself into the
comfortable chair.
The barber was tall, well built young
fellow by the name Of Henry Casey,
whom Rhett had known for long time
The usual preparatory process was gone
through with and then he sharpened his
razor ard went TO work, bat he started
off il manner That made Rhctt uncom-
forable from the fil.t. This was due to
the unusual and seemingly reckless way
in which he handled the razor. There
was entirely too much flourish about it
to make one iccl easy He would whirl
it round in one or two Cirles before il
touched the face. and thea take it of
again in The same artistic style. This
may have looked very pretty to a spec
tator, but to the person who formed the
center CT these concenyric circles, Rhett
thought it WAS anything but pleasant.
At first he was inclined to think the fell
low was drinking. But he soon dismissed
this idea, for the work was being done
well and slzillfully and as no drunken
man could do it, Finally he told Casey
that he didn't hike any such fourishes
around lis head. and to stop it.
But the only reply he received was the
press Of the BARRIERS finger against his
throat, aud a short Kissing ''keep still"
This made Rhett mad. u-l lie started
to express himself very fo""iblv, but
when he looked up at II" man who
stood drawing the sharp r,4., over his
face his anger gave way to a fan more
fearful feeling The words died ON his
lips and IL sudden chill crept over his
body.
He had looked into the wild, excited
eyes of maniac
Don't you move or say word; if you
do I'll cut your throat" came again in a
suppressed whisper, as that sharp, cum
ming face bent near to his
"Do you know" said the barber as he
kept on with the work; do you know
that this will be your last shave-that
intend to kill you with this same razor
the moment have finished?
II have long wanted to make the ex-
pertinent, he continued as he went rap
idly on. lust to see how quickly it could
be done Perhaps you think lam crazy,
but you are wrong 1 only want to do
this work in the interest Of science.
believe it will prove to be the most pain
less and quickest of all deaths Ii sue
ceed today, as | expect to do, my method
may become the public mode. of eHecu-
ton in this country, supplanting the gal
lows. \ on se1 what an honor it will be
to have started such reform in capital
punishment. Myname will become i'm
mortal There will be none of the sus-
pense attending executions now; none of
the terrible scenes at the gallows. You
simply take the condemned man in for
a shave and before he knows it he is in
eternity"
He kept on talking in this rapid, ex-
cited way, and kept on shaving.
Rhett heard his friends conversing on
the other side of the room, and he turned
his head to see if he could tell them of
his danger. But it was quickly jerked
back III position, and the barber told
him if lie did that again or tried to get
out Of the chair it wond be the signal
for his death. And the wicked gleam of
his eye mo1e than his words showed that
he was in terrible earnest. Under the
circumstances the intended victim
thought it best not to move again, and
so he laid there Us still as death.
But his brain was not idle. 1t was
working with the rapidity of lightning,
and well it might.
Rhetu had always been regarded as a
cool and brave young man; he had proved
it on more than one trying occasion.
And ne determined in this last extremity
to be himself and to meet the sharp cum
n1nS OF Lue Hlduldc WIFI an euudl Gull
ming
Then commenced fierce and hidden
game between those two-a game in
which one knew the prize for him was
life, and, if he lost, the profit death.
Henry" said the young man, and he
smiled, though his heart was beating
fast, ''you shouldn't try to frigAten a
good customer in that way You know
you wouldn't kill an old friend like me. >
'I'll show you, Mr. Rhett,' half
shrieked. the barber, and the cleaning
eve grew fiercer and the voice trembled
with passion.
Rhett saw that this had Only added
fuel TO the flame and he began TO despair
of conci !ating the mailman.
"Yes, said Casey, and his wild hand
grew wilder and the razor pressed harder
upon his Vi. i'' slce; ''yes, you must
die this We II for the sake of science.
Why, it viii be noble death. You
ought to f. as.tored to perish in such a
cause"
The yourr man was now thoroughly
frightened. aDd he watched for an op-
portunity 10 sr lg from the chair and
escape. =, h cooked in vain. Though
the barbez ...onally relaxed the stern
grip upon ..- threat, yet he still lield
him with his glitteriug eye.
"You see. the criminal VIII not know
that his hour is at Land. The barber
will be taken into the iail 10 give him a
1 slave, and vitaoul q far or tremor,
without u single t4en5As ot death. lie
/ viii be hurled into another world Taik