The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-01-12

none of it's faults and all of it's virtues.
| At the reincarnation a man may be-
come either a god or the vilest i'm
| aginable object. That canary in the
cage may have once been a sybarite, a.
trifer." '.
Jack opened his blue eyes in amused
contemplation. :,
s'Do you really believe such rub
bish?" he asked, with a smile on his
face
"Certainly," replied the barber,
gravely. Il have already travelled
part of the way to Nirvana. I have
twice achieved Dhyana, during which
I saw my past stages of existence. I
was Carthagenian general once, and
ages ago was: a tiger. I have ban
ished desire, love, hate, all the hui
man passions. am a negation, with
no attachment for existence.
''Yet you exist?" ventured Jack,
feeling that he must say something.
Il have disposed of my business, :"
said the barber, quietly. 'sI have
sold everything except the bird; l
shall give him his liberty before I go.
You are the last man I shall shave"
"Ah, indeed?" said Jack, making an
effort to RISE
''Pardon mel have use for vou,"
the barber said; ''you are necessary for
my entrance to Nirvana. I had a
fancy" pursued the barber, running
his thumb along the edge of the razor
and smiling, ''to shave certain num-
Der and leave toit the determination
OF the sacrifice to Buddah. By inspira-
tlon | 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
number of one thousand and marked
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 a fe w
hours before had been contemplating
death with stoical resignation? Here
1t was nova quick almost painless
death. What made his head buzz so
and the canary's pipe seem like clar-
ion trumpet?
'"Fhere is only one drawback to
your plan. You have made mistake
in your calculations. This is-not che
one-thousandth shave"
For the first time the BARRIERS face
showed CLEAN of anger
"lmpossible!' he said sharply. II
have gone over the sum too often to
make a mistake, although am not an
expert at figures"
L am," said Jack, calmly, II am a
bank clerk and never made a mistake.
l 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 1 will convince YOU
in minute.'
lit 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 mufled figure
and it fell against the cup rack with
a great crash. His knees gave wav as
he dashed across the street. but his
voice had strength to cry, ''Help!
Murder!" before he fell upon the
pavement
Quickly a crowd collected.
Save me-a madman!' he gasped
A policeman elbowed his wav
through. Jack pointed feebly and
shudderingly across the way, where
the barber stood calmly by his chair.
The policeman shook his head doubt
lngly, as he crossed the threshold to
investigate.
'I've been told," said he, with a.
smile.
Then the smile died upon his lips.
''The thousandth shave! cried the
barber as he sprang at him with an
open razor.
The policeman had just time to
strike up the arm with one blow and
the next he brought down with killing
force on the maniacs head.
x x
"Adele!"
''Jack! Oh, 1 knew you'd com.
back! And, oh, Jack, I don't know
why, but I think papa is more in
clined to like you, and I heard mother
say that"
mo matter now, Adele. Tell me
you forgive me?''
''Forgive you, Jack? Why what
makes you look so pale? Have you
been ill?''
'I've been nearly Dead" said Jack.
And then he told her all.
Fugitive Trains.
Fugitive trains" were added to
railroad nomenclature dnrino tho