The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-25

And this wild wager was closed! The
| light-minded millionaire banker was de-
lighted by the wager. At the supper ia
BILE he said to the lawyer, in a jesting
tone:
Think it over. young man. before it
is too late Two millions are but
trif1e to me, while you are risking to
lose three or four years of the best part
of your life. I say three or four years,
because l am sure that you couldn
stay there any longer than that And
then, you must not forget that volun-
tary imprisonment is worse than COM
pulsory imprisonment. The mere
knowledge that you have a right to
leave the cell will infest your life am
sorry for your
And the banker paced up and down
the cabinet. recalling all this, and ask
ing himself:
What is the use of this wager? what
is the use of the fact that the lawyer
has lost fifteen years of his life, and
have to throw away two millionS2 Can
this prove to the world that capital
punishment is worse or better than i'm
prisonment for life2 No, it cannot 1t
is nonsense. it is absurd. On my part
it was the whim of a rich man-on the
part of the jurist it was nothing else
than greediness. ~
Then he recalled all that happened
after the evening described 1t was de-
cided that the lawyer should be impris-
oned in one of the wings of the bankers
house. in the garden. 1t was agreed
that for fifteen years he had no right
to cross the threshold of the wing, to
see ANYBODY, to hear human voices, or
to receive letters or newspapers. he
was permitted to have musical 1nstru-
ment to read books, to write letters, 10
drink wine and smoke TOBACCO. ne
could communicate with the world IN
no other way than through small Win
dow which was made especially for TINS
Everything he needed-books, music
notes. wine etc.-he could get by ask
ing for it in a note. and everything was
to he handed to him through the little
window According to the contract,
wherein each and every detail was emu
merated, the jurist was to stay IN lne
cell exactly fifteen years-from ~
O'Clock, November IA. 1870, until Il
o'clock. November IA, 1885. The slight
est effort on the part of the Jurlst 10
break his contract in any way was 10
free the banker from his oDhgatloh 70
pay him the two millions
Tomorrow at II o'clock he is 10 De
free. According to the agreement, l
have to pay him two millions. IL give
him the money, I am ruined man;
Fifteen years age he had countess
millions in his possession; now ne was
afraid to ask himself whether he had
more money or debts. Risky Specula-
lions had reduced his affairs to lnsis-
nificance-and the once fearless, sen
confident proud millionaire now shud-
.sThat accused wagerl' muttered the
old man, clasping his head in despair.
''Why did not that man die He is Az
wears old now He will take away from
me the last I have; he will marry; he
will enjoy life: he vii speculate on the
exchange, and 1, like beggar, will look
on with envy. and will hear every DAY
the same phrase: I am Obliged to you
for the happiness of my life, allow me
to help your No, that is too much!
the only thing that could save me from
disgrace and bankruptcies the death
of this mani
The clock struck 8. Everybody was
asleep in the house, and nothing save
the rustling of the trees near the win
dows broke the silence of the night
The banker walked over to the safe
noiselesslv and took out the key of the
door, which had not been opened for
fifteen years. Then he put on
his coat and went out of the house
1t was dark and cold in the garden.
The rain was falling. A brisk wind
blew into his face. The banker strained
his sight, but he could not see anything.
When he came up to the wing, he