Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

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then faced the thing deliberately, his
jaws set, his eyes staring.
ut is quick WA sure way ne
muttered. Il haven't anything to i've
for and but few years at most. NO
body cares whether l live or die-not
even !. James Bansemer could not pat
ter me down, as he surely Will, II =
He crossed to an old chest and I'M
locked its lid with feyerish haste.
bundle of papers came up in the grasp
of his tense fingers. Casting dreadlui
glances at the insistent ak, he seated
himself at the table and began looking
over the papers.
HE won't take his fathers rotten
money, but he'll take mine. It's honest.
1t represents wages honestly, bitterly
earned There's more than $2o,ooo 10
give him. He'll be surprised. twenty
thousand" He laid the first paper. his
will drawn in favor of Graydon Ban
semer. signed and addressed, upon the
table and then carelessly tossed the
other documents into the chest. by
the Lord Harry, I'll have the best or
James Bansemer yet. His boy Will
take my money even though he spurns
his. God! L wish / could see him
when he knows all this. 1t would be
glorious!'
He fingered the document for tense
moment and then arose to remove his
coat and vest. These he hung away in
his closet with all his customary care
fulness. In the middle of the room he
stopped, his quivering face turned to-
ward the gaunt thing of execution. His
feet seemed nailed to the floor. His
brain was urging him TO go on with the
horrid deed; his body was rebelling
Suddenly he found his strength Of
limb. With a cultural howl he clasped
his hands TO his eyes and fed blindly
into his bedroom. Hurting his long,
shivering frame upon the bed, he tried
to shut out the enticing call of the
thing of death How long he quiyered
there. shuddering and struggling, he
could not have told. In the end-and as
suddenly as he had fled-he leaped up
and with shrill laugh dashed back
into the other room.
There was no hesitation in his body
now. With q maniacal glee he rushed
upon the devilish contrivance in the
corner, tearing the AK from its place
with ruthless hands. Throughout the
building rang the sounds of smashing
wood, furious blows of steel upon
wood, and high above the din arose
the laugh of Elias broom In two min
utes the guillotine lay in chips and
splinters about the room.
Dropping back against the wall, wet
with perspiration. a triumphant grin
upon his face. Elias surveyed the
wreckage. His muscles relaxed and
his eyes lost the dread that had filled
them. The smile actually grew into
an expression of sweetness and peace
that his face had never known before
AS he staggered to Il chair a great
sigh of relief broke from his lips.
There" he gasped. ITS over; its
overl My head is on my shoulders
it really is after all! 1t is not rolling
into the corner-no, no! BY my head
my own head, too-it was a close cal
for you. Elias broom. Now I'll take
what comes. I'll wait for James Ban
semer! I'll stick it out to the end. Il
| he comes, he'll find me here. Pv,
conquered the Internal death thai
stood waiting so long for me in thai
corner. and l never suspected it either
How near it was to mel 1t stood Their.
and waited for me to come. 1t knew
| that | would come sooner or later
But I've smashed it. It's gone. 1t:
not there!''
| With eager hands he gathered VI
the pieces of wood and cast them int
the stove. AS the remains of tina
frightful minister of death cracked
and spit with defeated venom Elias
broom calmly pulled on his worn dress
ing gown. lighted his pipe and cooked
his feet upon the stove rail, seren,
look in his eyes. chuckle in hi:
throat.