The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-24

drew OH the FinB anu OlicIto II W AAiht
but as he made no move to take Ii she
dropped 1t on the floor, then turned
away. Fred raised his foot as IL TO
crush the tiny gold %circlet. but instead
clapped his hat upon his head. In an
other moment he was out upon the
street walking rapidly. he hardly knew
where, while his pulse throbbed wildly.
and In his throat an inconvenient lump
arose.
For a number of blocks he tramped
until the sight of a BARRIERS pole re-
minded him of the obnoxious side whis-
kers.
by jovei' he muttered. feeling their
downy surface. as he halted. 1T Is all
UP with Bess and me now. C~onfound
'em! I'll have them off. anyhow"
He descended into the small basement
shop and seated himself in a chair,
while the only other occupant of the
place, the barber himself. approached
and fixed upon Fred a dull. unfathom-
able eye
|. Il want these taken off," explained
the young man. indicating the side
mustache.
Having indicated what he wished to
have done. he closed his eyes and en-
deavored to imagine what his future
would be like without Bess. The bar
ber's voice interrupted his reverie
harshly.
ID you know. sir, that you have the
head CT a prophet?"
"A w-h-a-t?" exclaimed Fred in peev-
ish establishment.
You should be able to ~foretell
things" the barber went on. as though
Fred ted not spoken. only you must
nave faith-the faith that removes
mountains.%
The mans manner, tone and work
were so unlike what one Usually ex-
- - - 4. Ia.Ia. that Fred tnndA a
move as If to rise. The man OF razors
gently yet firmly pushed him back.
II have that faith Continued TIRE
barber. as he %stropped hij Iazcr. 1T
has made me a healer. Wla. are mere
drugs and medicine? Delusions OF Sa-
tan-humbugs: thrust upon mankind to
blind them to the only true method OF
healing"
well. you are a queer chap" re-
turned Fred as he felt the fatal side
whiskers vanishing under the Others
deft manipulation.
"Queer!" echoed the barber, giving
the razor a vigorous flourish. Il am alb
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES! All! you
do not believe 1t? Come. l will prove 1t
to you"
The barber had Strengthened UP and
now brandished his razor as he talked.
Something in his eye caused Fred 10
attempt to rise, but the other presses
him back with a hand of iron, smiling
tne while reientlessly.
Tut! I must prove my gift to You,
You are the seventh man upon whom
snail have tested my powers. My time
has come. In a vision I heard, Prove
this power ] have given you upon sever
IF the sons of men and no one NAV ther
hinder you. You shall work miracle
ucon the sick. the maimed the halt, th'
bind, all over the face of the earth. No
Rise not"
But | am not III. There is notinne
The matter with me. Let me get up.
Fred made a frantic effort TO rise, fo'
r, now realized the true condition o
the man, but he was held down with
strength that was irresistible, thouS.
the barber never relaxed the merci'es
smile which made him, if anvtGine
,more abhorrent 20 Fred than ever.
Not iIl?' said the man, relatherf'
Fred's face. then suddenly Ringing tn
brush up against the ceiling. II hav
It. To prove my power n give 20
the necessary faith, ] will show 70
how. by one touch of the hand, / ca
instantly stop the flow of blood. ] Wi
simply make an incision here" II
pressed Fred's head back, despite tn
latter's resistance. and poised the ra
zor over his throat. as he continued
"It is said that severing the jugula
vein is fatal. But / will show you hoy
false these merely human doctors ar
Help, Help! Murder" shouted Fred
but the barber clapped a strong nan
over the young mans mouth, and, hold
ing him down with one knee, wen
calmly on with the lecture.
I "As the blood spurts upward, ! wi
l press my finger down thus" He nearl
! choked Fred in illustrating the process
l THE blood viii cease to now, IN
=. wound will at once heal and-I-' hi
voice rose almost into a shout sha
; be free to go upon the Lords work. y
one may stop me, for you are the seN
, enth man."
Fully alive to the dreadful peril OF h
-, position, Fred again struggled with n
energy of despair. But the barbt
seemed to have the strength OF a lioi
He held the young man down, force
/. his head far back over the headre'
: and poised the razor for the inal strok
. Have faith, Nave faith" he mu
tered. "All will be well. Then we w
. defy the scoffing world"
. A cloud blinded Fred's eyes; his ea'
sung. n his skin was prickly wit
horror. He thought of Bess. or the sic
whiskers, of their mutual obstinac,
then he felt that the merciless raz'
was descending, and he closed his eye
He half swooned away. but was r.
V1NeQ DN Dt1HB nlo"h NioiChtig W.
the chair to the floor. He became col
scious that a struggle was going on
the room. He staggered to his feet ar
saw two men, one of them a policema
. holding the now wildly raving barbe
A third man was saying something
g Fred. who dashed from the shop
o these words met his ear:
"I own this shop. During my ter
: porary absence my insane brother Q
# caped from his place of confinement u
IS stairs. Being once a barber. he natu
ally took to shaving you. hope "
II are not hurt"
Fred heard no more. Regardless
p the scraps Of lather clingfng to his fat
X he rushed back to his sweetheap
home and burst into her presence.
"Bess," he cried. II cannot live wit
out you" ,
Fred! Fred" and she fell into