Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-29

himself Tor fool to be SO disturbed
by Graydon's report. IA
what have | to fear from himT
Why should l let that look Of his I'M
nerve me so? Why can't forget 1t? 1t
1T didn't mean anything. I'm fool
to think Of it. Nearly two years ago,
that was. Why he may be- new
thought chased the old one out before
it was formed. His eyes caught sight
Of one of his completed models stand
ing In the corner. 1t was the model
for the guillotine.
For long time he sat staring at
the thing. a hundred impressions form
ing and reforming in his brain
II wonder if I'll really die before he |
is liberated" he was saying dumbil tr !
himself. IL wonder if | will. There's |
no sign of it now. I'm strong and !
well enough to I've for years. Sup
pose he is freed inside Of a month or
two. What then? BY heaven. ia be
losing the dearest hope OF my whole
life. My last sight of him-that beau
tiful vision behind the bars-wc"ld
be spoiled, undone, wiped out. Aud
be as free as I. | won't die inside OF
| month. I'm sure. He'd come here
and laugh at me. and he'd kill ME in
the end God! l 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 riss suddenly
and cross to the CHASTITY looking frame
with the cords, the hinges and the
great broadax that lay harmlessly In
the grooves at the top. For many
minutes he stood and gazed at the Ak.
his flesh as cold as ice. Then he
tested the cords. The az dropped
heavily to the block below.
The odor Of geranium leaves assailed
his nostrils. With an ugly impulse he
turned and swept the pots from the
window box, scattering them over the
floor.
He lifted the broadax to its place
tenderly, almost lovingly. by my
soul. It's a beautiful piece Of work
It's as sure as the grave ITSELF"
Again he stood of and looked at the
Internal bit Of his own handiwork
! his eyes glistening with dread Of the
thing. He turned and fed to the op
posite side of the room, keeping hit
, back toward the silent guillotine which
! seemed to be calling to him. He glanced
slyly. fearfully, over his shoulder ant
j, then faced the thing deliberately, hi
Jaws set. his eyes staring.
ut IL a quick way-a sure way. o.
; muttered. II haven't anything to liv'
for and but few years at most. NO
body cares whether l live or die-no
= even I. James Bansemer could not bat
"" ter me down, as he surely will. If T.
He crossed to an old chest and IN
). locked its lid with feverish haste.
!, bundle Of papers came up In the gras
:. of his tense fingers. Casting dreadfu
glapces at the insistent AK. he seate
= himself at the table and began lookin
~ over the papers.
= "He won't take his fathers rotte
= money, but he'll take mine. It's homes
It represents wages honestly. bitterl
" earned. There's more than $4,000
:. give him. He'll be surprised. Twent
!. thousandw He laid the FIRST paper. b
va will drawn In favor Of Graydon BAL
~ semer. signed and addressed. upon II
j. table and then carelessly tossed II
other documents into the chest. II
=, the Lord Harry. I'll have the best
~ James Bansemer yet. His boy WI
take my money even though he spur
70 his. God! l wish l could see hi
~ when he knows all this. 1t would
,lf glorious!
He fingered the document for ten
-. moment and then arose to remove
"a coat and vest. These he hung away
I'd his closet with all his customary cal
Tic fulness. In the middle of the room
90 stopped, his quivering face turned
.he ward the gaunt thing Of execution. y
,or feet seemed nailed to the door. h
no brain was urging him to go on with t
"a. horrid deed; his body was rebelling.
nm Suddenly he found his strength
om limb. With a cultural howl he clasp
ar. his hands to his eyes and fed blind
nnt into his bedroom. Hurting his loi
ext shivering frame upon the bed. he tri
nth to shut out the enticing call OF I
ont thing Of death. How long he culver
there, shuddering and struggling.
In could not have told. In the end-and
ing suddenly as he had fled-he leaped
and with a shrill laugh dashed ba
yer into the other room.
mes There was no hesitation in his b<
par now. Win maniaeai gee NC i1S'
lrse upon the devllish contriVance !"
,v'n corner. tearing the Ak from Its pl
n. with ruthless hands. Throughout
me building rang the sounds Of smash
free wood. furious blows Of steel VI
fol- wood. and high above the din ar
silly the laugh Of Elias broom. In two n
and utes the guillotine lay In chips
nay splinters about the room.
Dropping back against the wall.
rate with perspiration. a triumphant
, all upon his face. Elias surveyed