The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-14
LEOPOLD ADLER.

and began business ut once by asking
Vasquez about his mental condition. I
am TO be hanged tomorrow Very well.
| don't like it, but have no choice. Seel'
And he shrugged his shoulders and
smiled
"'Do you feel that you deserve your
fate!' solemnly asked the reporter.
well, that does not much matter, he
answered, lighting a cigar. While /
never killed anybody myself, / permitted
my men TO do so, and i'm the eye of the law
that is the same thing; so ] suppose [
deserve what is going to happen. Since L
cannot help myself / am content VIII
you pardon NE, gentlemen if ask you to
talk about something else than myself
am glad to see YOU | like company. The
weather is pleasant, Ell"
"IIe leaned back in his rude chair with
an animated Countenance. ready to chat,
like one who wished to while away drag
ging hours He had about fourteen of
them left. The mans face was strong
and firm. He was in the prime of life and
in perfect health His courage had been
proved in many a bloody fight, and if, by
numbering all his visitors, il would have
have given him one chance in thousand
of escape, that chance would have been
taken, and God thanked for it. AS it
was, he smiled cordially and accepted the
inevitable with manly composure. His
u
editor Of one of the local news
papers came il, greeting him with
boisterOus hilarity, meant at once
to cheer the condemned and
display to the metropolitan Journalists his
superior intimacy with a celebrated char
acter. The editor actually took a copy Of
his paper from his pocket and, with the
remark, j suppose you want to hear what
/ said about YOU tonight sat down and
read to Vasquez three solid columns about
his crimes, the preparations for the hang
ing, and a minute description Of the gall
lows. with mention Of the other criminals
who had stepped upon II. Vasquez bore
il in silence, without vince or frown.
"SheriR Adams appeared. and the Mex
lean retired into the shadow with him.
They whispered together, and the sheriff
seemed TO be trying TO dissuade his charge
from some purpose. But NasqueZ was res
olute and the officer retired with de-
predatory showing of his palms. Soon
there was tramping Of feet without, the
key turned, and the iron doors were
thrown open. Two men bearing q coffin,
and followed by 4 black-coated UNDER
taker with a pair of trestles in his hand,
came in. The coffin, a fine one, studded
with silver-headed nails. was placed on
the trestles, and the brigand, cigar in
teeth, stepped up and inspected 1t with
lively interest. He half squatted and ran
his hand along the side.
's1ts too short. he said with surprise,
looking at the awed undertaken, who as
sured him that it was all right; that it
should be measured near the top not near
the bottom. Then, pleased at the quality
of the coffin which had been provided by
his friends, he put his hand inside felt
the padding, pressed the little pillow, and,
with an upward firt ofhis cigar observed:
We'll, ! shall sleep there very wei
forever
''On the next morning Vasquez walked
out into the sunlit Jail yard, climbed the
steps of the scaffold, gazed indifferently
at the gaping mob of men below, threw
wistful glance beyond the walls at the
blue hill, over which he had ridden on
many fray with his cut-throats. and
then gave all his attention to the CHASTITY
business of the moment. They sought TO
unbutton his coat and collar He waived
them aside politely and did it himself.
He assisted the hangman in adjusting the
straps and rope, glanced down TO see that
his feet were precisely on the crack,
kissed the ciucihx held out TO him by the
priest and bore himself with patience
and dignity while they drew over him a
white shroud and placed ON his head and
shoulders a great black hood
81 am ready he said seronCly. closing
his eyes, and that was the last Of vas-
qucz,'