The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-12-26

that meddling old fool Clegg! They'll
set him free. and he'll hunt me out; |
know he will. He won't forgive me
for that days work. He may be free
now. 1t may have been he who fol-
lowed me. But, mol That's a silly
thing to think. 1t takes weeks and
months to get a pardon. Maybe-may-
be they won't get it. after all"
He tried to throw or his desperate
feeling Of apprehension, chattering all
sorts of comforting reasons and ex-
cuses to himself as he scurried about
the rooms with aimless haste. Try as
he would. however, when the time
came he could not read-not even of bis
courage inspiring Napoleon. The howl
of the wind annoyed and appalled, him.
He caught himself listening intently
for sounds above and not of the storm.
A nervous, intermittent laugh broke
from his lips as he went OF cursing
himself for a fool to be so disturbed
by Graydon's report
"What have | to fear from him?
Why should | let that look Of his I'M
nerve me so? Why can't l forget it? 1t
If didn't mean anything. Pm g feoi
to think Of it. Nearly two years ago,
that was. Why. he may be- A new
thought chased the old one out before
it was formed. His eyes caught sight
of n Of his completed models stand
ing in the corne 1t vas the model
for the guillotine.
For a long time he sat staring at
the thing, a hundred impressions form
ing and reforming in his brain.
81 wonder If I'll really die before he
is liberated" he was saying dumbly to
himself. ~ wonder If / will. There's
no sign of 1t now. I'm strong and
we'll enough to live for years. Sup
pose he is freed inside Of a month or
two. What then? BY heaven. I'd be
losing the dearest hope OF my whole
life. My last sight of him-that beau
tiful vision behind the bars-would
be spoiled, undone, wiped out. He'd
be as free as L. I won't die inside OF
a month. I'm sure. He'd come here
and laugh at me, and he'd kiln me in
the end. God! | know he would. He'd
have the joy Of seeing my pain and
terror and defeat-he'd see me last.
I'd be bloody and crushed and
He checked himself in the midst Of
these dire forebodings to rise suddenly
and cross to the CHASTITY looking fran,
with the cords, the hinges and thu
. great broadax that lay harmlessly Il
= the grooves at the top. For man.
minutes he stood and gazed at the Ak
i his flesh as cold as ice. Then h
i tested the cords. The AK droppe'
n heavily to the block below.
"a The odor Of geranium leaves assailel
% his nostrils. With an ugly impulse h
,s turned and swept the pots from tn
al window box, scattering them over tn
hi floor.
He lifted the broadax to its placl
N teuderly, almost lovingly. by m
is soul. it's a beautiful piece Of worl
Il. It's as sure as the grave itself"
10 Again he stood Off and looked at th
Internal bit Of his own handiworl
m his eyes glistening with dread of th
40 thing. He turned and fed to the o.
IN posite side of the room, keeping h
pL. back toward the silent guillotine whic
In seemed to be calling to him. He glance
on slyly, fearfully, over his shoulder an
At then faced the thing deliberately, b
-. - htc ovau utnpinO
ed 1T is a quick way-a sure way"
oh muttered. 81 haven't anything to liz
.er for and but a few years at most. n
body cares whether l live or die-n
-ht even |. James Bansemer could not ba
ter me down, as he surely will If r
~ He crossed to an old chest and u
he locked its lid with feyerish haste.
ere bundle Of papers came up IN the graI
no Of his tense fingers. Casting dreadf
As glances at the lnsistent ak. he seat
he himself at the table and began looki
ief over the papers.
ION 'He won't take his fathers rott
ing money, but he'll take mine. It's hone
the 1t represents wages honestly, bittel
nto earned. There's more than $4,000
alf give him. He'll be surprised. Twer
t~housandr He laid the first paper,
ms, will drawn in favor Of Graydon b
rid semer, signed and addressed, upon
lad table and then carelessly tossed
Hls other documents into the chest. T"
as the Lord Harry, III have the best
rhe James Bansemer vet. His boy v
pom take my money even though he spul
be- his. Godl | wish l could see
vas when he knows all this. 1t would
an g%loriousF'
rom He fingered the document for a ri
air moment and then arose to renov'
unit coat and vest. These he hung away
text his closet with all his customary CO
NTH fulness. In the middle Of the room
rent stopped. his quiyerlng face turned
ward the gaunt thing Of execution.
| in feet seemed nailed TO the floor,
ring brain was urging him to 90 on with
horrid deed; his body was rebelling
over Suddenly he found his strength
mes limb. with a cultural howl he elias
par his hands to his eyes and fed bin