Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-04-09
THE BARRIERS MANIA.

John Rhett, 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 time, but the man who al
ways did his 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 and went to work, but he started
off in manner that made Rhett uncom-
forable from the first. 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 feel easy. He would whirl
it round in one or two cirles before it
touched the face, and then take it off
again in the same artistic style. This
may have looked very pretty to spec
tator, but to the person who formed the
center of these concentric 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 skillfully and as no drunken
man could do it. Finally he told Casey
that he didn't like any such fourishes
around his head, and to stop it.
But the only reply he received was the
press of the BARRIERS finger against his
throat, and short Kissing ''keep STILL"
This made Rhett mad, and he started
to express himself very forcibly, but
when he looked up at the man who
stood drawing the sharp razor over his
face his anger gave way to far more
fearful feeling. The words died on his
lips and sudden chill crept over his
body.
He had looked into the wild, excited
eyes of a maniac.
"Don't you move or say word; if you
do I'll cut your throat" came again in
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?
81 have long wanted to make the ex-
pertinent" he continued as he went rap
idly on, "just to see how quickly it could
be done. Perhaps you think am crazy,
but you are wrong. I 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. If I sue
ceed today, as expect to do, my method
may become the public mode of execu-
ton in this country, supplanting the gal
lows. You see what an honor it will be
to have started such reform in capital
punishment. My name 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
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 seeif he could tell them of
his danger. But it was quickly ierked
back in position, and the barber told
him if he did that again or tried to get
ut Of the CHAIR it wonld be the signal
for his death. And the wicked gleam of
his eye more 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 as still as death.
But his brain was not idle. It was
working with the rapidity Of lightning,
and well it might.
Rhett had always been regarded as a
| cool and brave young man; he had proved
it on more than one trying occasion.
And he determined in this last extremity
to be himself and to meet the sharp cum
ming of the maniac with an equal cum
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 frighten a
good customer in that way. You know
You wouldn't kin an old friend like me. I"
"T1l show you, Mr.. Rhett," half
shrieked the barber, and the cleaning
eye grew fiercer and the voice trembled
with passion. H,
| Rhett saw that this had only added
fuel to the fame, and he began to despair
of conciliating the madman.
EYES," said Casey, and his wild hand
4 grew wilder and the razor pressed harder
upon his victims face; "yes, You, must
die this very hour for the sake of science.
| Why, it will be noble death. You
ought to feel honored to perish in such q
cause" g
/ The young man was now thoroughly
frightened, and he watched for an OPP
portunity to spring from the chair and
escape. But he looked in vain. Though
the barber occasionally relaxed the stern
grip upon his throat, yet he still held
him with his glittering eye.
/ "Yo,i' see, the criminal will not know
that his hour is at hand. The barber
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