The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-07
THE BARBER'S REVENGE.
BY W. NJ. Hobby.

BY w. NJ. Hobby.
There was much talk around the court
house square of the coloners coming
speech. in which, it was said. he was go
ing to distinguish himself, and establish
his reputation as a criminal lawyer. Court
was in progress, and the case was one of
much interest. The colonel had been en-
gagged for the defense, and his approaching
effort was the talk of the town. He had
been heard on several minor cases before,
but on nothing of such importance as this;
and his friends fondly claimed that 1t
would be the first epoehal point in his up
ward career. There was not much doubt
in the minds of the people as to the pris
oners guilt, but the enthusiastic claims
of the colonels immediate admirers led
many to believe that the jury, under the
influence of his eloquence, would bring in
a verdict of acquittal. The colonel him
self did not hesitate to state to the con-
fidential friends who surrounded him
whenever he came out of the court house
that he expected to pull the fellow through
all right-notwithstandin he naively re-
marked, the evidence seemed point-blank
against him.
The principal witness for the prosecution
was The village barber and the colonel had
taken special delight in making him the
object of rldicue and satire. During the
taking of testimony, whenever he desired
10 get off something that was witty, Tor
the amusement of the crowd, he would hrs
il at the head of this unfortunate witness.
When court adjourned at noon, he prom
ised his friends that they might expect to
see a great deal of fun at The BARRIERS
EXPENSE when he made his speech after
dinner.
Excitement was at tip-toe. The speak
ing was to begin Immediately upon the re-
assembling of court, and the colonel was
to make the opening argument which was
to settle the matter. To lend luster to
the occasion, the young ladies of the VII
lage were going to attend, 90 hear his elo-
quent periods.
When the colonel went to his boarding
house and looked at himself in the mirror,
he found, that to appear at his best be-
fore the court, the jury and the ladies, it
would be necessary for him to be shaved
and have his hair trimmed. In the busy
rush of the past few days he had no time
to attend to these little matters. Of
course, he debated with himself mo-
ment or two as to the consistency of call
ing on the man whom he had so merci-
lessly ridiculed and whom he expected 90
annihilate in his speech, to perform these
offices for him-but as there was no one
else to do the work, he dismissed the ques-
ton as unimportant, and walked down 20
the little shop. 1t was off from the public
street, and there was no one else in but
the barber, who received him very POI
Iitely. He was soon seated in the chair.
with his head thrown back, and the razor
was flashing over his face. He disdained
to hold any conversation with the tom
serial man, and maintained stern silence.
Now, the colonel had a mustache which
he priced very highly-in fact, next to his
reputation as a criminal lawyer, 1t was
his pride The barber, of course, knew
that it was not to be touched. But what
was the colonel's dismay when he felt the
smooth touch of the razor on his upper
lip. He called to the fellow in angry tones
to stop-but he felt the cold hand of the
barber grip his throat and a voice that
made his blood run chill ordered him 10
sit still. He glanced quickly up and saw
the devilish flash of hate in the BARRIERS
eyes, and his heart almost stopped beat
ing. Mad for revenge, this man had him
at his mercy-in a moment he could cut
his throat from ear to ear. He dared not
resist; he scarcely dared to breathe He
felt the other side of his mustache coming
Off thankful that it was not his head
Every second he expected to feel the keen
blade cut into his flesh. The barber was
evidently wildly excited over having his
victim so completely in his power, for he
flashed the dreadful razor back and forth
around the colonels face, with the air of
a maniac.
When he had finished shaving the barber
laid the razor where he could easily reach
it, and commanding the colonel not to
move, he took up, instead of the scissors,
pair of clippers, and started ia on the
pOlO0elfS Ilxnriapf Il
pers only few minutes to do their deadly
work, and the COLONEL had not strand of
hair on his face or head. He did not know
however, at the time, how close he had
been snorn. for just at this juncture he
heard the loud voice of the sheriff openine
court. Begging the barber to release him.
he seized his hat and FASTENED out. CRATE
full that he was still alive.
AS he walked towards the court room ba
thought of his case and the greet oppor-
tunity that was before him. and partially
forgot his recent terrible experience with
the witness whom he had been treasuring
up as a sweet morsel. Fun of the excite
ment of the occasion, he hurried into the
little anteroom that opened into the bar
of the court, and resolved to wait there
until the judge was ready for the argu-
ment. He was little timid about The
change in his appearance, on account of
'iAN sCsH vi VIC AAiObStOtlht ana uad not wish
any one in the crowded house TO have time
for making comments before he could en-
chain them with his eloquent opening. He
heard the voice of the judge as he said.
proceed with the argument" and then
there was a dead calm, as the colonel
opened the door and stepped out into the
arena before the jury.
AT first the people did not understand
what was the matter. They did not recog-
nize their hero in the bald white head and
Slick face of the man who stood before
them. The judge looked over his glasses
and asked the clerk who that stranger
was that dared 10 get up and address the
jury. In another moment. however. the
erstwhle handsome colonel was recognize
ed, and then-the whole house was con-
vuised, although they tried, as best they
could, TO conceai it from the speaker. His
honor wheeled around in his chair, so that
the jury could not see him, and his large
frame could be seen shaking all over with