The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-15
ker, how long do you suppose it would

gin WILL, L SuOulQ nave W Idhe IAAo'
and he drew from his pocket large
iack-knife and opened the glistpning
blade. "and get atyour heart. [ have
always believed that the soul was
there"
And then followed a long disquisi'
ton upon the different opinions enter
taincd by philosophers and transcen-
dentalists in regard to the abode OF
reason. Ugh! My blood runs cold to
think of it. All the while his fingers
played with the gllstening blade.
'In the first place, I shall insert
this very delicately. and in scientific
manner dig your. heart out and send
it home to God. That will be the first
operation. And then (you see l have
studied anatomy, I shall unhinge
these fellows" And he caused the
joints Of the elbow to snap in man
ner truly professional. And, Parker,
you'll never know what hurt you"
II think not" said 1, laughing. But,
oh. heavens! how 1 shook inside.
But. what do you think"-and I kept
his eye firrnly-"what do you think
1 should be,.doing. while you arc at
tempting to make mince meat of me!
That looks esreal Damascus"
And 1 threwsan admtring glance at
the horrid thing hes brandishing
round his face. a.,
at is" said he. evident possessed
with a new idea. Now &tch. See
what good marksman n He
stood opposite the mirror.
81 aim at my heart in that glass.
Seer' And the maniac with strange,
rotary movement Of his arm, sent the
point Of the knife whizzing into the
very centre Of the glass, shivering it
into innumerable pieces. w..
b You can imagine how I must have
felt. He had not only one weapon
he could Snse fortmy destruction, but
thousand. What should 1 do? I
realized that est work quickly.
with a likhf1fs De- movement 1
picked pp the and, muttering
something about the heat Of the room,
raised the sash and dropped it into
the yard:
.Jhstih,' ssi6I, sternly. "cvery in
mate OF this hRuse will think you are
drunk. Now. Ne down on that bed,
while i pick up this glass. You are
in your stocking feet, and likely to be
cut every step you take"
g.".An right" he replied, Immediately
obeying. "The devil got the upper
hand that time"
q I guess I never did so much work
In sixts seconds, before or since. There
was no knowing how soon he might
change his mind. gathered up every
fragment and threw them after the
knife. NJ
"Eow I'm going to ring the bell and
order something to eat" said I, ap-
preaching the wire.
"This is my room, and will do
that" he replied, jumping from the
bed and giving the bell rope a twitch.
then stationed himself by the door and
called to the one who obeyed the sum-
mons:
Toast and tea for two. in a hurry"
And then. turning to me, while a
sardonic smile oyerspread his face:
Hygiene, Parker, hygiene! I am a
slave to hygiene. A man should al
ways die with his stomach in good
order. 4 dyspeptic can never know
anything about the kingdom OF
heaven"
Il will take the things said 1. as
| heard the man returning, hoping. In
this way. to slip out unharmed and un-
suspected.
NO, you don't! I'm quite capable
of attending to my own business"
He removed the key from his pocket
unlocked the door, and,with the quick
ness Of lightning, seized the waiter OF
eatablrs, turned and withdrew the
key. before l could make the least
motion to escape.
I poured out Il cup OF tea and hand
cd it to him. Again that longing. awe
struck expression oversprcad his fca-
lures.
Shall I? Shall Il" lie moaned,
looking hcavriward. mo. sir; they
say not. They say. Justin, you must
never more eat and never more it is. y
And in t..c twinkl!ng Of an eye toast
and tea found Il resting place beneath
the window.
Imawin" my horror when found the
careless attendant had left the large
iron toasting fork beside the plates.
When hn observed this a CLEAN OF
ticndiSh satisfaction shot from his wild
eyes.
Now. Parker" he Kissed close to
my car, well now see what you will
! be doing while I am making, not at
tempting to make mincc-meat of your
carcass" How the poor fellow had
remembered my exact language.
"Of course" he continued, Il can
rot do it rs scientifically with this
nronSed affair as with the knife. but
you might as we'll say your prayers,
my boy. Two minutes from this time
| shall hold your soul in my hand"
Justin, my dear fellow, that's a
nasty weapon to kill fellow with.
Let me give YOU my revolver
NO, YOU don't" he roared. "No,
YOU don't! Now or never! With this
or nothingw And the maniac bounded
to my side.
| seized his wrist and shrieked for
help. In n second more the door was
broken in by Il party Of friends and
was released from my prrilous posi-