Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
ON THE VERGE OF CRIME


There was q wild. hunted look In the
photographers eye when the first OF the
days sitters appeared the other morning
The photographer looked as II he needed a
change Of air and scene.
'fwIl they all say 1t again today?' he
muttered. gloomiIy, placing his palm to his
fevered brow.
The first sitter was large, rosy-cheeked
man.
Well" said the large, rosy-cheeked man,
''you can just be prepared to have your
camera broken{ How's that, hey? Ha, ha.
ha!' and the large, rosy-cheeked man
shook merrily all over. mot so bad. eh?
Yes. sir: you can just be prepared to have
your camera broken. See the point? Ha,
The photographers teeth snapped. but a
forced. vacant smile appeared upon his
wan features.
I'D as lief have tooth pulled any day
as to have my picture TAKEN went on the
large, rosy-cheeked man.
The Photographers hands opened and
closed -convulsively, but he remained calm
enough to make two negatives or the large,
rosy-cheeked man.
"Merciful heaven" groaned the photogra-
pher when the first sitter had departed,
ARE they all going to say 1t again today
Am 1 to be compelled to push my features
into gieeful grins every time
His agonized reflections were broken by
the entrance of the second of the day
sitters. She was young and very lovely,
and trimming over with laughter
Il am afraid your lens will suffer- she
said, archly, to the photographer, handing
him the ticket the reception room girl hao
given her.
"Oh, hardly that" moaned the photogra-
pher, forcing another weird grimace to his
pallid features.
do you know" went on the blithe young
ha Ia N,
Il really believe that I'd as soon have a
tooth pulled as to have my photograph
TAKEN" and then she gave vent to peal upon
peal of silvery laughter.
"Ha, hal" hoarseiy calculated the photog-
rapher.
my mind is giving way!'' said the pho
tographer to himself, as he took the TWO
negatives of the lovely young thing to the
dark room 'I.shall not be able to hold out
much longer"
The third sitter was gay young fellow
Just blaze away, old fellow" said the
gay young fellow, looking the photographer
| in the eye and waiting for the latter to go
off into shrieks Of merriment, land If l
don't tell me that I didn't warn you In ad-
vance,
"Ha!" said the photographer, with the
mockery Of smile usually worn by the
man who says That's good
taken, isn't it?' continued the gay young
dentists parlors particularly, but blamed
| II l don't believe I'd rather have tooth
pulled than to get photographed"
Shall 1 kick him into ribbons where he
himself, stepping behind a piece of photo
| graphic scenery in order to hold communion
with himself. Shall 1 take him by his two
ears and pound his head on the floor until
he is unconscious"
With difficulty, however, he restrained
himself. When he reached the dark room.
with the two plates which he had made of
| the youth in the golf rig, he once more
placed his palm to his fevered brow.
Well he finally said, half to himself,
''as well now as later on. I haven't got
much to live for. anyhow. It'll go hard on
! the wife and children to have me ascend
| the gallows, but there's no help for it."
| Looking furtively around the dark room.
| he seized a long, cleaning knife from u
| drawer, and placed 1t in his hip pocket.
Il don't care If it's man. woman, child or
| dog, he muttered; 1.-The next animal ed
| thing that makes either one of those re-
| marks to me-the one about breaking he
| camera or about preferring to have .. tooth
pulled to being photographed never GO
| ing to leave this gallery alive!''
| There was an expression of awful deter
/ mination on his countenance when the pn =
] tOgrapher emerged from the dark room 10
| receive sitter No. t. This sitter was a
| short, squat, smooth-faced man with bovine
| eyes. He didn't say a word. but merely
| handed his little ticket to the wondering
| photographer, with pleasant smile. The
| photographer looked at the man in surprise.
| but the sitter. while he continued to smile
! pleasantly. appeared to have nothing what
| ever to say.
| BUST three-quarter or full length?' In
| quired the photographer suspiciously,
thinking thus to draw the quiet man on to
| his terrible fate.
! But there was no reply
| Profile or full face?' asked the photoe-
| rapher
| The squat man made no reply, but, sud
denly looking up, he observed that he
| photographer was addressing him. Then
| he pointed to his mouth and ears to ind!-
! cate that he was deaf and dumb
| With wild shrek Of demoniac laughter
| the photographer grasped the handle of his
| long. cleaning knife. handed 1t hilt fore
most to the mute. and burst into a torrent
! of grateful tears
| You have saved me from becoming a
murderer" he gasped, just as If the 1nute
| could hear him