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

Jaws set. his eyes staring
1T is quick way-a sure way" he
muttered. II haven't anything to live
for and but a few years at most. No
body cares whether live or die-not
even l. James Bansemer could not bat
ter me down. as he surely will. if r.
He crossed to an old chest and IN
locked its lid with feverish haste \
bundle of papers came up in the grasp
of his tense fingers. Casting dreadful
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 $4,000 to
give him. He'll be surprised Twenty
thousandw He laid the first paper, his
will drawn in favor of Gra.~lon 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 of
James. Bansemer yet. His boy will
tdhG NY llOlleN GNCn tlOQHn cpuL
his. God! l wish l 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 q 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 quivered
there, shuddering and struggling, he
could not have told. In the end-and as
suddenly as he had fled-he leaped up
and with a shrill laugh dashed back
into the other room.
There was no hesitation in his body
now. With 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. wei
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 a chair greai
sigh Of relief broke from his lips
There" he gasped. Its over; It'll
over! Ny head is on my shoulders
Il really is after all! 1t Is not rolling
into the corner-no, mol By my head
my own head, too-it was close cal
for you, Elias broom. Now I'll tak'
what comes. Ill wait for James ban
semer! Ill stick it out to the end.
he comes, he'll find me here. w
conquered the Internal death tina
stood waiting so long for me in tina
corner, and / never suspected 1t either
How near it was to me! 1t stood ther
and waited for me to come. 1t knew
that / would come sooner or later
But I've smashed it. It's gone! 1T
not therev'
With eager hands he gathered Vi
the pieces of wood and cast them Int
the stove. AS the remains or tina
frightful minister Of death crackle'
and spit with defeated venom Ella
broom calmly pulled on his worn dress
ing gown, lighted his pipe and cooke
his feet upon the stove rail, seren
look in his eyes. a chuckle In hi
throat