The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-13

of his eyebrows, hair and cap, and became
determined looking fellow, with the eyes
of fend and the nose of Roman.
$50 you think" said the metamor-
phosed, in the tones of gentleman, 'that
nothing can save Joe johnson from the
rope? Poor fellow! 1t does look like i'll
But my dear professor, Joe johnson is
fortunate enough to have in me devoted
friend as well as brother. l have under
taken to save him, and he shall be saved.
In order to accomplish this end it will be
necessary to remove from the face of the
earth not only the stomach of his miser-
able wife yonder, but also, my dear proies-
sor-I am sorry to be obliged to say it, for
l believe you were my brothers teacher
and friend-yourself as well. saw that
he was in deadly earnest.
''Your death must apparently result
from accidental least so it must seem to
the authorities. My brother is in Jail and
they will not suspect him, and they GER
tainly will not suspect me.
What terrible deed was in this brain
hatching-was he going to murder me :?
Was it myself who was to hang, instead of
johnson?
No; yes. Heplaced the line pulley like
over an arm of a hanging chandelier.
This was altogether too slight a support
even for one Of my tender frame. 1t was
not to be hanging, then. Under the weight
on the floor he placed can of nitro-g yc-
crime; recognized the yellow string; 1t was
fuse, and it would burn in sixty minutes.
1t would run across the marble slab; there
was no hope of igniting any substance that
would warn my friends.
''Do you begin to see through it.?
asked Joe Johnson's brother.
| believe l cursed him with my eyes.
could only breathe through my nostrils,
and great veins were swelling and growing
hot in my forehead. Drawing a match
from his pocket he lighted and applied it
to the fuse; that little tyrant that gave q
man an hour to live, to kill him at the end
of it-that little irresponsible terror that
less merciful than Providence, told mar
the second he was to die, if fright and hor
ror spared him to himself. Slowly thu
flames crept snake like around the twine
"In one hour" said the prisoner
brother, ''you will be in heaven or hell.
will watch with you for half an hour, anC
the other half you will spend alone"
He sat down some minutes in chai
watching the fame. Then he arose ant
took a piece of procelain, with the mur
derer's name thereon, from the table, ant
| ,booI. he bao1 o,loomilu
II am chemist enough to know it
arsenic" he said ayes, those bright
metallic eyes, betrayal of the guilty
Science, thou wouldst kill my brother
thou shalt save him. Let me see in who's
hands thou art the most powerful.
The half hour wore slowly away. Oh
heavens What agony did [ suffer Nc
for myself, but for my child. The fus
burned on on. The half hour is VI
The brother of the murderer rises to g
Joy.
"Commit your soul to Gods keeping,
he said "You hold the evidence of m
brothers guilt - nothing can save yo
now"
With that he turned to take his h;
from off the table covered with the crimso
cloth beneath which hid my priceless boy
Something attracted his attention. II
held out his hands and reached forward.
thought he had discovered my boy. No
he was lifting something in either hand
the wires of the electric battery. |
another instant my boy had leaped fro
under the table, and was turning the Gran
fast and furiously.
The murderer's brother was in the pow
of my boy. He could not drop the wires
he was helpless. How my boy cried fc
help! The old college rang with his voic
The prisoners brother added his voice
my boys in his agony. In an instant
great length burned away. 1t would ju
last five minutes and no more.
Father p" shouted my boy, ''if Il
assistance comes this villain must die wit
us. I dare net free him. Help helT
help!"
Alas | could not answer him.
Thank God But some one else dit
The fuse is burned up. The rope is @
fire-the nitro glycerine The door opens
Tom Richards, on a midnight visit to ii
sick, has heard the cry; he comprehend
all seizes the can in his hand, the weigl
descends indeed, but not on the deaf
dealing OIL No; down it goes through IL
Office Aoor-down, down, like an evil spiri
to give back dull metallic echo from Il
stones of the cellar beneath.
We are saved.
Joe johnson, the prisoner, was hange,
but his brother remains unpunished by tt
law, for he stabbed himself with kni
and thus escaped the hangman's rope.