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

method win not only be quicker, t1t
more painless"
sJust q stroke like this, and It's ali
over" and Rhett's heart gave q Wild
leap, for he thought his end had come.
Casey, however, had only drawn ths
back Of the razor across his throat, but
with such force and rapidity that is
burned hhe fire. II v-,t
The situation was growing desperate.
In a minute the barber would be through
with his work. With one hand he had
Rhett by the hair and with the other
was finishing up the Job, while his lips
kept muttering and his body swayed
with excitement. Rhett knew with tho
next sweep Of that infuriated arm he
would meet his doom. Whatever he did
must be done instantly. f'Aa
"Well, Henry" he said, as lightly as
he could, sharpen up your razor well
before you start, for l don't want any
bungling job" For he thought when
the barber turned to do this he could
leap from the chair and get away.
"It's sharp enough for you, Mr..
Rhett," and the mailman grew madder
as he spoke; ''it's sharp enough for You,
SIR"
He had already finished shaving.
Rhett's heart almost stood still.
"Now we'll see if it needs to be sharp
err" said Casey with demoniac laugh,
and Rhett felt sharp sting as the keen
blade cut the skin on his throat.
"But, Henry" he rapidly calculated,
81 want you to make q success of this,
for it viii be blessing to the world
but if you go on now tell you it viii
be a failure"
The razor stopped.
"WhyY" asked Casey.
The maniac was interested. Rhett
saw that he had gained point and he
knew his life depended upon how he
used it. He had touched upon the mans
pet mania. 1t seemed strange to him
now that he had not thought of it before.
"You will make a failure" he con-
tinued, "because you have told me all
about it, and have already suffered
as much suspense as the criminal on the
gallows. Besides, when I feel the razor
giving me the fatal wound will shrek
out in agony, and the people will say
that suffered terrible death. They
will not believe you then that it would
be the most painless mode of execution.
So you see, Henry, you would defeat the
very object you are trying to accom-
plish."
The barber withdrew the razor and
held it motionless in his hand. Rhett
breathed easier and became eloquent on
the subject of the experiment.
"Now, the next man YOU shaw.
Henry, don't say word to him on the
subject, but all at once, in the twinkling
of an eye, put him out. And I believe
you will become a greater man than the
inventor of the guillotine."
"Well, Mr.. Rhett, I believe you are.
right about it," and he began to close
the razor.
The mania was wearing off, and In its
stead there came playful and mischiev-
Gus humor.
Patting his customer under the chin,
"Ah, Mr.. Rhett," he said, ''you would
look so much better without your mus
tache. Now, don't you want me to take
it off for your
Afraid to cross him in his humOr,
Rhrett replied, though it almost broke
his heart to say it:
''Why, certainly, Henry, if you think
it will look better"
On went the lather,, and in another
minute the beautiful silken strands were
no more than the withered leaves Of the
forest.
"Now, Mr.. Rhett, ifyou had your hail
clipped you would look splendid. DON'T
you want me to take it off?'
"Of course, Henry, ,,olip it, came from
those anguished lips. He was willingt
say or do anything toget that razor back
into its case.
So the clippers were brought out and
in less than two minutes he was slieker
than new born rat.
But if his head was light his heart was
too, when he arose, from the chair, and
never in all his life didhe feel SO willing
and happy to pay for shave and haircut.
OF course everybody laughed at him
when he went out on the street, and the
Wind blew cold about his bead. To his
friends, when theEgathered around him,
he told his narrowing experience, and he
was still as pale as ghost.
A committee forthwith waited on the
barber, but they did not find anything
in his words or actions to denote insan-
ity. So some believed the story and
some didn't--and the barber kept on
shaving.
But never again did he put his razor
upon the face of John Rhett-W. M.
Hoh1xr -, t1o,,+o Cos,