The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1909-04-21
cuApTER XXxII-Continued.

ht
to me-. ,,,,. A. ,,,,.
= had driven the crowds from the
- ..s.ta Eighth avenue sidewalks We're
sssarted except for the people who
- - obliged to brave the storm. AS
,,saoy, hurried south to his lodgings he
,soome possessed of racking belief
49, come ore was following close upon
-. heols-sone one who was rushing
~ 10 deal him murderous blow in the
sacr The old man actually broke into
frantic run in covering the last half
block.
n was not until he was in his rooms,
Nth the door bolted. that he could rid
timself of the dread. The fire had
rone ont. and the light was low. His
,seth chartered and his hand shook as
no raised the wick in the lamp. The
nalsv of inexplcable fear was upon
him Kneeling before the stove. he be-
ean TO rebuild the fire. His back was
award the door, and he turned an
snxious face in that direction from
fine TO time. Footsteps on the stair
vay sent a chill through his gaunt
frame. They passed on up the next
fight. but he waited breathlessly until
he heard the door of the apartment
above slam noisily.
For half an hour he sat huddled In
front of the stove without removing
bis hat and ulster.
an @l,<x l,xo I-T to win q
and over again to himself. sometimes
aloud. "Why should he have par
don? What are the laws for? Curse
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. no. That's a silly
thing to think. 1t takes weeks and
months to get pardon. Maybe-may-
be they won't get 1t. after all"
He tried to throw Off 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
be would. however. when the time
came he could not read-not even of his
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.
nervous, intermittent laugh broke
from his lips as he went on cursing
himself for fool to be so disturbed
by Graydon's report. h
What have | to fear from him
Why should | let that look of his I'M
nerve me so? Why can't forget it? II
1T didn't mean anything. I'm a fool
TO think OF 1t. Nearly two years ago
that was. Why. he may be- new
thought chased the old one out before
II was formed. His eyes caught sight
Of one Of his completed models stand.
ing in the corner. 1t was the mode
Tor the guillotine.
For a long time he sat staring al
the thing. hundred impressions form,
ing and reforming in his brain.
i wonder If I'll really die before be
Is liberated" he was saying dumbly te
himself. II wonder If will There's
no Sign of 1t now. I'm strong and
well enough to live for years. Sup
pose he is freed inside of a month OF
TWO. What then? BY heaven. I'd bt
losing the dearest hope Of my whole
me. My last sight of him-that beau
uiul vision behind the bars-wouid
De spoiled. undone. wiped out. He'd
w as free as l. | won't die inside OF
month. I'm sure He'd come here
ana laugh at me. and he'd kill me ir
.ne end. God! I know he would. He'G
nave the Joy of seeing my pain and
error and defeat-he'd see me last
ia be bloody and crushed and
de checked himself In the midst ol
mese dire forebodings to rise suddenly
and cross to the gAastly looking frame
with the cords. the hinges and thu
great broadax that lay harmlessly II
'ne grooves at the top. For manI
minutes he stood and gazed at the Ak
us hesh as cold as ice. Then h'
tested the cords. The Ok dropped
ueavny to the block below.
Inc odor of geranium leaves assailet
us nostrils. With an ugly impulse b.
turned and swept the pots from tn
window box. scattering them over tn
door.
de lifted the broadax to its place
enderly, almost lovingly. by m
soul It's a beautiful piece of wori
aus as sure as the grave itself"
again he stood of and looked at IN
niernal bit of his own handiwork
us eyes glistening with dread of tn
ening. He turned and fed to the or
posite side of the room. keeping hl
oack toward the silent guillotine whic