Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-13
! A Close Shave
} HOW A MANS HAIR STOOD ON
: END AND THEN DROPPED OFF.

John Rhett, the hapdsomest
young man in the county, he of the
raven locks and with the beautiful
black mustache that the women
adored-John Rhett walked into
the barber shop in Yorkville for a
shave.
1t was a cold day, and there were
three or four of his friends, besides
several tonsorial artists, standing
around the stove at the time, but
the man who always did his work
being idle, he walked directly over
and threw himself into the COM
Portable chair.
The barber was a tall, well built
young fellow by the name of Henry
Casey, whom Rhett had known for
a long time. The usual preparatory
process was gone through with, and
then he sharpened his razor and
went to work, but he started off in
manner that made Rhett uncom-
Portable from the first. This was
due to the unusual and seemingly
reckless way in which he handled
the razor. There was entirely too
much flourish about it to make one
feel easy. He would whirl it round
in one or two circles before it touch
ed the face and then take it off
again in the same artistic style.
This may have looked very pretty to
spectator, but to the person who
formed the center of these concen-
trio circles Rhett thought it was
anything but pleasant. At first he
was inclined to think the fellow was
drunk, but he soon dismissed this
idea, for the work was being done
well and skillfully and as no drunk
en- man could do it. Finally he told
Casey that he didn't like any such
hourishes around his head and to
stop it.
But the only reply he received
was the press Of the barber's finger
against his throat and short, hiss
ing ''keep STILL"
This made Rhett mad, and he
started to express himself very for
chilly, but when he looked up at the
man who stood drawing the razor
over his face his anger gave way to
a far more fearful feeling. The
words died on his lips, and sudden
chill crept over his body.
He had looked into the wild, ex-
cited eyes of a maniac.
"Don't you move or say word.
If you do, I'll cut your throat"
came again in suppressed whisper
as that sharp, cunning face bent
near to his.
"Do you know" said the barber
as he kept on with the work-"do
you know that this will be your last
shave; that | intend to kill you
with this same razor the moment |
have Finished?
'1 have long wanted to make the
experiment." he continued as he
went rapidly on, ''just to see how
quickly it could be done. Perhaps
you think ! am crazy, but you are
wrong. | only want to do this work
in the interest of science. | believe
it will prove to be the most painless
and quickest of all deaths. If l
succeed today, as ! expect to do, my
method may become the public mode
of execution in this country, sup
planting the gallows. You see what
an honor it will be to have started
such a reform in capital punish
ment. My name will become i'm
mortal There will be none of the
suspense attending executions now.
none of the terrible scenes at the
gallows. You simply take the con-
demned man in for shave, and be-
fore he knows it he is in eternity"
Then commenced a fierce and
hidden game between those two-a
game in which one knew the prize
for him was life and, if he lost, the
profit death.
Henry" said the young man,
and he smiled, though his heart was
beating fast, "you shouldn't try to
frighten good customer in that
way. You know you wouldn't kill
an old friend like me-"
"I'll show you, Mr.. Rhett," half
shrieked the barber, and the gleam-
ing eye grew fercer and the voice
trembled with passion.
Rhett saw that this had only add
ed fuel to the fame, and he began
to despair of conciliating the mad
man.
eyes," said Casey, and his wild
hand grew wilder and the razor
pressed harder upon his victims
face; Eyes, you must die this very
hour for the sake of science. Why,
it will be noble death. You ought
to feel ,honored to perish in such
cause"