Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-09
THE BARRIERS MANIA.

and with the beautiful hlhck Mustsshf
that the women ndorcd--John Rhcit
walked into the barber shop In York
VILE for a shave.
II was n cold day and there were three
or four Of his friends, besides several
tonsorinl artists, standing around the
stove at the time, but the tnan who al.
ways did HE work being idle he walked
directly over and threw himself into tile
comfortable chair.
The barber was tall, well bnili young
fellow by the name 81 Henry Casey,
whom Rhctt had known for q long lime
Tho usual preparatory process was gone
through with aud then he sharpcned his
razor and went 10 work, but he started
of ia q manner that made Rhoit uncon'
forable from the first This was due to
the unusual and seemingly reckless way
In which he handled tho razor. There
VIA entirely too much flourish about Il
10 make ono feel easy. He would wbirl
10 round in one or two cirlcs before "
touched the face. and then take u OIL
again In the same artistic style. This
may have looked very pretty 10 u spec
tstor, hut TO the person who formed tho
center OF these conceniric cir'les, Rhoit
thought II WAS anything but pleasant.
At Amt he was inclined 10 think the fcl.
low was drinking. But he soon dismissed
this idea, for the work was being done
well and slrllfully aud a. no drunken
man could do H. Finally he told Casey
that he didn't like any euch houriahcs
around his head, and TO stop H.
But tho only reply be received was the
pfvs OF tho BARRIERS finger against his
throat. and short kissing keep siill.'
This made Rhett mad, and he started
20 express himself very forcibly, but
when he looked mp at tho man who
stood drawing the sharp razor over his
face his anger gave way 10 q far more
fearful feeling. The words died on hia
lips and n sudden chill orept over his
body.
He had looked into tho wild, excited
eyes Of u nsniac.
Dent you move or say n word; II yon
do I'll cut your throat came again In u
suppressed whisper, n that sharp, Gun.
ming face bent near 10 his
"Do you know" said the barber IA no
kept On with the work; edo you know
that this will DO your last shnyc--thRt
in,ond to kill you with this Aamo razor
the moment have fnishedi
IL have long wanted 10 make tho ct
pertinent" he continued as he went rap
idly on. ''just TO SEQ how quiokly,t could
he done Perhaps you think am crazy.
bat you arc wrong. only want TO do
this work In tho interest ~ rcicnce.
beliovo II will prove 10 10 the most pain
less ind qniokes, u all deaths. II I sue
coed today. an I expect TO do. my method
may become thu public mode Of exccu.
ton In this country. supplanting the gal.
lows. You zee what nm honor II will bo
Ia have started such reform IN capital
punishment Ny name will become i'm
mortal. There will b. none OF the sus-
pence attending executions now; none of
tho terrible scenes NJ the gallowa. You
simply tako tho condemned man In for
shave and beiore he knows It ho I, in
eternity"
lie krpt on talking in thls rapid, OK.
ait.d way, and kept on shaving.
hWe' h'ni" JUS "i'""' N"h''ielub "n
the othur md" OF me room, and no turned
Tvs heah 10 SO II nc could toll them OF
his danger. But II wns quickly jerked
back Ia position. and the barber told
him II no did that again or tired to get
out a tho chair u wonld b. tho signal
for his death. And tho wicked glcam Of
his eye moro than his words showed that
he was In terrible earnest Under the
circumstance the intended victim
thought u be~f NOT 20 move again. and
% NO iMa uieio ~ sun IA uesth'
But ms bfaih ~~' not ialo. II was
WORKING with INC rapidity OF lightning,
900 wen IL might
khe'i MA always been regarded as
cool and brave young man no had proved
~ on inose uihh one tfying occasion.
ana ne determined IN TINS last extremity
70 10 hiinsrf ana 10 meet the sharp cum
hing Oh INC maniac with an equal Gun
ming.
Then commenced fierce and hidden
game between those two--a game IN
which oao knew tho prize for him was
life, and, II he lot, the proht death.
Henry ~id inc young man, and he
smiled, though his heart was beating
last, you shouldn't Try to fr1ghien a
good customer IN that way. You know
You wouldn't KIN an Old friend like rac,N
"ii' show ycu' Mr., Rhe,i'" half
slFiakaH flts hurifr and tia erl.ar..,.fr
va ,r,ry se,esr and ,he voice srcmlis5
~, go s'.i', wv" '''' ''''' s'N'''''
Phs,t sa,y that ,his had o,i, .a1.1
49,. a.. M ~ ny H1uvn
t"oA ." WV ihenr' hn nc SeSah W utrphit