Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-08-24

VI SUBJECT dis i IlIu GNcIs SCSU llllu,
but not one sound came forth.
There" said he, as he "nished, II
played them! p This in a sepulchral
Whisper. "They asked me, Parker.
You can't sing here, but the moment
your foot touches the green grass over
yonder you will sing like bird, Par
ker-a bird uncaged-a bird set free,
and everybody will listen, Parker he
continued, and wish could describe
that instantaneous change of express
sion from sadness, almost hopeless
ness, to defiance and madness Par
ker, how long do you suppose it would
take me to send you to kingdom-come
that is, to send you in tirst-class
style, in a mastery manner? TO be-
gin with, I should have to take this"
and he drew from his pocket large
iack-knife and opened the glistenlng
blade. land get at your heart. l have
always believed that the soul was
there"
And then followed long disqusi-
ton upon the different opinions enter
tanned 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 glistening blade.
I'm the first place, I shall insert
this very delicately, and in a 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, shall unhinge
these fellows" And he caused the
joints of the elbow to snap in a man.
ner truly professional. "And, Parker,
you'll never know what hurt YOU
Il think not" said I, laughing. But,
| oh, heavens! how l shook inside.
But. what do you think l kept
his eye tirmly-"what do you think
1 should be doing while you are at
tempting to make mince meat of me-?
That looks like real Damascus
And l threw an adnlring glance at
the horrid thing he was brandishing
round his face.
1T is" said he, evidently possessed
with new idea. Now, watch. See
what good marksman 1 am" He
stood opposite the mirror.
II aim at my heart in that glass.
See" And the maniac with strange.
rotary movement of his arm, sent the
point of the knife whizzing into the
very centre Of the glass, shiverlng it
into innumerable pieces.
You can imagine how I must have
felt. He had now not only one weapon
he could use for my destruction, but
a thousand. What should l do? /
realized that 1 must work quickly.
With lightning-like movement J.
picked up the knife, and, muttering
something about the heat of the room,
raised the sash and dropped it into
the yard.
Justin" said I, sternly, "every in
mate of this house will think you are
drunk. Now. lie down on that bed
while pick up this glass. You are
in. your stocking feet, and likely to be
cut every step you take
"All right" he replied, Immediately
obeying. THE devil got the upper
hand that time
l guess l never did SO much work
in sixty seconds. before OF since. There
was no knowing how soon he might
change his mind. I gathered up every
fragment and threw them after the
knife.
Nov I'm going to ring the bell and
order something to eat" said l, APP
preaching the wire.
This is my room, and l 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 hurry"
And then. turning to me, while a.
sardonic smile overspread his face:
Hygiene, Parker, hygiene! l am a
slave to hygiene. A man should al
ways die with his stomach in good
order. A dyspeptic can never know
anything about the kingdom of
heaven"
Il will take the things" said I, as
heard the man returning, hoping. in
this way, to slip out unframed and IN
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
catablcs. turned and withdrew the
key. before I could make the least
motion to escape.
| poured out a cup of tea and hand
ed it to him. Again that longing, awe
struck expression overspread his fea
lures
Shall I? Shall To- he moaned.
looking heavenward. "No. sir: they
say not. They say. Justin. you must
never more eat and never more it is
And in fac twinliling Of an eye toast
and tea found resting place beneath
the window.
Imagine my horror when l found the
careless attendant had left the large
iron toasting fork beside the plates.
When he observed this CLEAN of
tiendish satisfaction shot from his wild