Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-10-03


king of swordsmen, adding: "It's
down on the bill that he'll cut apples
in two on the palm of a mans hand,
and then on the fellows head. It'll
take a plucky devil to hold them for
tOr him."
His majesty seemed in bad humor.
lie cast his eyes over the group OF
men nearest to him and said, with u
| Spanish accent:
'.Friends, my assistant has, as yoL
say, struck. l cannot perform the
most interesting of the sword featS
unless some one will volunteer to Eoid
the apples. 1 will give $50 to who
aver will do it,"
II >e was a commotion around me
but so thrilling had been the de-
scriptions Of the danger attending
the feat and such the reports of the
Giabolical temper of the swordsman
that no one responded. His glance
fastened on me. I suppose it would
be said nowadays that he hypnotized
ne.
Why shouldn't do it, l thought
] was on the point of taking my own
life, and il Senor Espada should save
Inc the trouble, so much the better.
What matter to me if the sword
should go an eighth Of an inca too
Ear!
I'm your man, pard." l criea
harting up.
''Ah. very good" he exclaimed witt.
smile.
Il will call you up when 1 come
,ut."
The show began. 1t was a sort OF
country circus, dime museum and
Buffalo Bill performance ON a small
scale.
/ waited the advent of the swords
manwith the utmost timperturbability
At last he appeared and summoned
we.
advanced and nonchalantly faced
the spectators. He glanced at me
approvingly and little curiouSly as
he told Inc to extend my right arm
and open my hand.
did so. He set the apple upon it
His sword was beautiful weapon,
with jeweled hilt and glittering
blade inscribed with Arab!c-charac-
ters. lie made few rapid passes
with it. Twas as If forked lightning
played about me. Involuutarily 1
shivered, but l persuaded myself that
the shudder was caused by the chilli
ness of the air, since did not care
what the result of the adventure
night he.
Then the lightning seemed to smite
me. Ny arm fell to my side, a dark
ness cane before my eyes, but, by the
applause, l knew the apple had been
cut in twain.
The senior beamed upon me.
"Bravo." he whispered.
"Now kneel."
! did so, and bent my head.
He put another apple on the nape
of my neck
My situation was terribly perilous
for if his hand should slip or tremble
in the least degree, or If l should
shrink or stir l could hardly escape
decapitation.
At that moment my insane Despair
left me. l saw how precious life is.
l became possessed with a fierce de-
sire to live; to live even if abandoned
by all the world, if bereft of every
thing but the blessed sunshine and
the sweet air Of Heaven. A fearful
conviction forced itself upon me that
the swOrdsman's daring experiment
would prove my death. Only the
dread of being branded a coward pre-
vented me from crying out, from
springing up and declaring he should
motionleSs was a frightful strain
upon my nerves. Never shall / for.
get the ordeal.
A few seconds passed. Trey seemed
an eternity to me. Then, l fc!I Il
thin, cold line touch my neck-th,r,
was tumuit of cheers
The swordsman put his hand upo1
my shoulder and bade me rise / did
so mechanically. l could hardly sec,
but l was dimly conscious that i
crowd Of excited people were calling
handkerchiefS. 1Ialf-daZcd followed
the senior behind the curtain. Ny
neck was wet. l put up my hand cX-
pecting to find blood. was sure it
must be cut, so plainly had 1 felt the
keen blade.
No, the moisture was but the
clammy sweat caused by the mental
anguish through which l had passed
A cracked mirror in the dressing
room assured me there was not even
scratch. An attendant poured
something from flask and handed it
20 me in small glass.
l. II -
liquor, but it revived the palsied
pulses of my heart. The senior put 4
$40 gold piece into my hand. My I'M
pulse wa; to toss it back to him. I
had not thought of the paltry bribe
when agreed to help him, and [
would not go through the experience
again for thousand such. On
second thought, however, l pocketed
the coin.
/ got back to the tavern. Having
reached my room, fell on my knees,
as had been wont to do in child.
hood and early youth. '.My God," I
think Of lightly casting away the
priceless boon of existence which
Thou dost-grant me-"
I prayed as l had not prayed in
years.
Then fu.2: myself upon the bed
and sank into deep sleep. Tho
araught which the senior had ordered
for me must have contained sedative,
for did not awake till late in the
morning.
l sprang up with new energy
Had l not youth and strength and
the world before me? All day 1
strove to devise plan for going on
to the mines. The landlord was OBJ
seQuious again. l had the where
with to pay for my entertainment,
and the fame of my exploit had made
q hero of me.