The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-05-22


stern grip upon his throat, vet he still
held him with his glittering eye.
You see, the criminal viii not know
that his hour Is at hand. The barber
VIII be taken into the Jail to give him a
shave, and without a fear or tremor,
without single thought of death, he
viii be hurled into another world. Talk
about executing by electricity, but my
method will not only be quicker, but
more painless
just a stroke like this, and it's all
over" and Rhett's heart gave wild
leap. for he thought his end had come
Casey, however. had only drawn the
back of his razor across his throat, but
with such force and rapidity that it
burned like fire.
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 the next sweep of that infuriated
arm he would meet his doom. What
ever he did must be done instantly.
We'll, Henry" he said, as lightly as
he could, sharpen up your razor well
before you start, for j 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.
Its sharp enough for You. Mr..
Rhett.- and the madman grew madder
as he spoke, Its sharp enough for you.
sir"
He had already finished shaving
Eghett's heart almost stood still
s.Nnxx- .xa-D II II needs N he
sharper" said Casey. with Il demoniac
laugh. and Rhett felt sharp sting as
the keen blade cut the skin ON his
throat.
But, Henry" he rapidly calculated,
Il want you to make success of this
for it Will be a blessing to the world
bnt if you go on now L tell You it will
be a failure
The razor stopped.
'Why?" 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 il, and have already suffered as
much suspense as the criminal on the
gallows. Besides, when feel the razor
giving me the fatal wound / will shrek
out in agony, and the people win say
that / suffered a terrible death They
will not believe you then that it would
be the most painless mode of feXecution.
So You see, Henry, you will defeat the
very object you are trying to accomp-
lish.'
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 shave,
Henry, don't say n word TO him on the
subject. but all At once, in the twinl1ling
of AZ eye, put him ont. And / believe
you Will become 4 greater man than the
inventor of the guillotine-"
We'll. 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
mischievous 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 10 cross him in his humor,
Rhett replied, though it almost broke
his heart TO say it:
why, certainly, Henry, if you think
it win look better
On went the lathcr and in another min
ute the beautiful silken strands were no
more than the withered leaves of the
forest.
Now, Mr.. Rhett, if you had your
hair clipped you would look splendid
Don't you want me To take it OFF,"
'-Of course, Henry, clip it." came
from those anguished lips. He was
willing to say or do any thing to get
that razor back into its case.
So the clippers were brought ont, and
in less than two minutes he was slicEer
than 4 newborn rat
But if his head was light his heart
was too, when he arose from the chair,
and never in all his life did he feel 30
willing and happy to pay for a shave
and hair cut
OF course everybody laughed at him
when he went ont on the street, and
the wind blew cold about his head.
To his friends, when they gathered
around him, he told his narrowing eX-
perience, and he was still as pale as i
ghost.
a committee forthwith waited on the
barber, but they did not find any thing
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 hi razor
upon the face of John Rhett-W. NJ.
Hobby, in Atlanta Constitution.