Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-19
A CURIOUS MANIA.
John Rhetts Narrowing Expert
ence in e BARRIERS Chair.

John Rhett's Narrowing Expert
ence in BARRIERS Chair.
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 Yorl1ville for shave.
1t was a cold day and there were
three or four of his friends, besides sew
eral tonsorial artists, standing around
the stove at the time; but the man who
always did his work being idle, che
| walked directly over and threw himself
| into the comfortable chair.
The barber was a tall; well-built
young fellow by the name Of Henry
| Casey. whom Rhett had known for n
long time The usual preparatory
| process was gone through with and
then he sharpcned his razor and went
to work, but he started off in manner
that made Rhett uncomfortable from
the first. This was due to the unusual
and seemingly reckless way in which
he handled the razor. There was en-
| tiraly too much flourish about it to
make one feel easy. lie would whirl
| it round in one or two circles before it
! touched the face, and then take it oft
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 { 49,.
Ehctt thought it was any thu :
| pleasant At first he was inc!i %
/ think the fellow was drinking. nc
soon dismissed this idea, for tn x
was being done well and skillful md
as no drunken man could do it. ! al
| " he told Casey that he didn't like any
such flourishes around his head, and to
stop it.
But the only reply he received was
the press of the BARRIERS finger az" st
his throat, ard short kissing -. p
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 a far more fear
full feeling. The words died on his lips
and a sudden chill crept over his body.
He had looked into the wild, excited
eyes of maniac.
Don't you move or say a word; if
you do III cut your throat, came again
in suppressed whisper, as that sharp,
| cunning face bent near to his.
DO you know" said the barber, as he
kept on with the work; ''do you know
that this viii be your last shave-that l
intend TO kill you with this same razor
the moment l have finished?
Il have long wanted TO make the eX-
pertinent" he continued, as he went
rapidly on, Just to sec how quickly it
could be done. Perhaps you think am
crazy, but you are wrong. only want
to do this work in the interest Of
science. | believe it will prove to be
the most painless and quickest of all
deaths. If ! succeed to-day, as / eX-
pect to do, my method may become the
public mode of execution in this coun-
try, supplanting the gallows. You see
what an honor it will be to have started
such a reform in capital punishment.
Ny name viii become immortal. There
will be none of the suspense 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 eterni-
ty."
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 quick
ly jerlied back in position and the
barber told him if he did that again or
tried to get out of the chair it would be
the signal for his death. And the
wicked CLEAN of his eye, more than his
words, show cd 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. 1t 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 occa-
sion And he determined in this last
extremity to be himself and to meet the
sharp cunning of the maniac with an
equal cunning.
Then commenced fierce and hidden
game between those two, 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 brighten a
good customer in that way. You know
you wouldn't kill an old friend like
me-"
''I'n show you, Mr.. Rhett," half
shrieked the barber, and the cleaning
eye grew fiercer and the voice trembled
with passion.
Rhett saw that this had only added
fuel TO the fame, and ne began to despair
of conciliating the mad man.
yes" said Casey, and his wild hand
grew wilder, and the razor pressed
harder upon his victims face; Eyes, you
must die this very hour for the sake of
science. Why, it viii be noble death
You ought to feel honored to perish in
such a cause"
The young man was now thoroughly
frightened, and he watched for an OPP
portunlty to spring from the chair and
escape. But he looked in vain Though
the barber occasionally relaxed the
efa,-,, cr-iY, r,v,r-, HE throat vet he still