Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-04-15


Why should let that look Of his I'M
nerve me so? Why can't forget itf 1t
1T didn't mean anything. I'm fool
to think of 1t. Nearly two years ago.
that was. Why. he may be- A new
thought chased the old one out before
1t 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, 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. II wonder If / will There's
no sign Of ii now. I'm strong and
well enough to live for years. Sup
pose he is freed inside Of month or
two. What thenf By heaven I'd be
losing the dearest hope of my whole
life. Ny last sight Of him-that beau
tiful vision behind the bars-would
be spoiled. undone, wiped out He'd
be as free as I. l 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! I 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 frame
with the cords, the hinges and the
hot 1ou ho 1y 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 ak 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 beautiful piece Of work.
It's as sure as the grave itself"
Again he stood off 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 his
back toward the silent guillotine which
seemed to be calling to him. He glanced
slyly, fearfully, over his shoulder and
then faced the thing deliberately, his
jaws set, his eyes staring.
at is a quick way-a sure way" he
muttered 1T haven't anything to live
for and but a few years at most. No
body cares whether I live or die-not
even I. James Bansemer could not bat
ter me down, as he surely will, If r.
He crossed to an old chest and I'M
locked its lid with feverish haste. A
bundle of papers came up In the grasp
of hts 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
| thousandr 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 of
James Bansemer yet. His boy will
take my money even though he spurns
his. God! / wish / could see him
when he knows all this. 1t would be
gloriousv'
| 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
fitness. In the middle of the room he
stopped. his quivering face termed 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 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 fied-he Ieaped up
and with a shrill laugh dashed back
into the other room.
There was no hesitation In his body
now. With a maniacal giee he rushed
upon the devilish contrfvance in the
corner, tearing the AK from it's 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, triumphant grin
upon his face, Elias surveyed the
wreckage. His muscles relaxed and
his eyes lost the dread that had filed
them. The smile actually grew into
an expression Of sweetness and peace
that his face had never known before
AZ he staggered to chair great
sigh of relief broke from his lips
'Therew he gasped. Its over; it's
Overt Ny head u on my shoulder
1t really n after all! It u not rolling
into thu cornes-no, no! BY my head
my own head, too-it was q close call
for you, Elias broom Now III take
what comes. IN walt for James Ban
ssrner! Ill Sttck It out to the end Ii
be comes, he'll md me here. I've
conquered the infssnal death that
stood waiting 20 long for me In that