The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-04

cart or the way 20 Nirv~na- I have
Iwice achieved DhyanA, during which
{ saw my past stages Of existence I
was carthaRenian general once, and
ages ago 1 was = tiger. I have BAN
shed desire, love, hate, all the hui
nan passions. Il am a negation. with
no attachment for existence"
yet you exist2'' ventured Jack,
feeling that he must say something.
II have disposed of my business.
Baid the barber. quietly. II have
sold everything except the bird;
shall give him his liberty before GO
You are the last man shall shave"
''Ah. indeed2" said Jack, making an
effort to rise.
Pardon mel have use for you, "
the barber said; ''you are necessary for
my entrance to Nirvana- had =
fancy" pursued the barber, running
bis thumb along the edge Of the razor
and smiling. ito shave q certain num-
Der and leave toit the determination
of the sacrifice to Buddah. BY inspira-
ton I hit upon a perfectly just and
equitable plan The third Of last
July was my birthday, and from that
day began to keep account of the
number of shaves. I set apart the
the thousandth for sacrifice. You
have the luck of being the thOusandth
shave, sir.''
But said Jack, and his tongue
seemed to thicken in his mouth.
'.Oh. there seems no mistake"
said the barber, cheerfully. THAT
would not have done at all
See, now, it is the fourth
Of September nine weeks to-
day. Just nine weeks-I regard that
as significant
Was it Jack Ashton who only few
hours before had been contemplating
death with stoica1 resignation? Here
it was nova quick almost painless
death. What made his head buzz SO
and the canary's pipe seem like clar-
ion trumpet2
There is only one drawback to
your plan You have made a mistake
in your calculations. This is not the
one-thousandth shave"
For the first time the BARRIERS face
showed a CLEAN of anger.
.'ImpossibIei'' he said sharply. Il
have gone over the sum too often to
make q mistake, although am not an
expert at figures
1 am said Jack. calmly, II am a
bank clerk and never made mistake
/ tell you your count is wrong-it is
nine hundred and ninety nine. What!
do you still doubt me? Give me a
piece of paper and viii convince you
in a minute"
1T is very strange" muttered the
barber, as he laid down the razor and
opened drawer in search Of a blank
piece Of paper. The cloth that the
barber had tucked under his chin was
Of cotton, but it answered Jacks pur-
pose. With bound he was out of the
chair and had flung the cloth over the
BARRIERS head. Then, with all the
strength of fear, horror and rage, he
struck with his fist the mufaed figure
and it fell against the cup rack with
a great crash. His knees gave way as
he dashed across the street, but his
voice had strength to cry, Help
Murderl" before he fell upon the
pavement.
Quickly crowd collected.
Save me--a madmani'' he gasped.
A policeman e1bowed his way
through. Jack pointed feeb1y and
Bhudderingly across the way, where
the barber stood calmly by his chair.
The policeman shook his head doubt
ingly, as he crossed the threshold tc
investigate
I've been told" said he with q
smile.
Then the smile died upon his lips.
1.-The thousandth shavei' cried the
barber Is he sprang at him with an
open razor.
The policeman had just time &c
strike up the arm with one blow and
the next he brought down with killing
force on the maniac's head.
ssAde1er'
'.Jackl Oh, I knew you'd come
back And, oh. Jack, don't know
why. but I think papa is more in
clined TO like you. and heard mothei
say that"
mo matter now, Adele Tell me
you forgive me?'
Forgive You, Jack2 Why wha
makes you look SO pale2 Have. yol
been ill?''
I've been nearly dead.'' said Jack
And then he told her all.