The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-23
The Bet" "A Short Story
By ANTON IScHEKOEF

It was stormy November night
The old banker walked restlessly mp
and down the floor of his library. His
thoughts went hack to . night fifteen
years before. when he had given q,
great dinner.
Around his table were sitting learn
ed and noble men whose thoughts and
aims had always been to further the
progress of humanity. Conversation
drifted from one subject to another
and at last the subject OF capital pun
ishment was brought up. Several Of
the guests thought 1t should be abol-
ished and imprisonment for life made
to take its place.
II cannot agree with you," said the
host. II have neither tried one nor
the other. but do think that capital
punishment 10 more just and more
humane than imprisonment for life.
The one kills the criminal instantly,
the other inch by inch"
Both are to be equally condemn
ed" said one Of the guests, 'for both
take away from q man his life and
you have no right to take from a man
what you cannot give back"
Among the guests was a young law
yer Of twenty-five, who had remain
ed silent and merely listened to the
arguments of the others. Now he sud-
denly said: "Yss both capital pun
ishment and imprisonment are bad.
but given the choice I would choose
imprisonment To live even. If only
like . plant, is better than not to
live"
NO." cried the banker, Il bet two
million roubles. you would not let me
put you in q cell for five years Of your
own free WILL"
III you are In earnest" said the
lawyer, Il take the bet, though not
for five but for fifteen years."
Accepted" exclaimed the banker.
the fifteen years"
Accepted" said the lawyer, "youf
millions against my freedom"
And thus this insane bet began.
Now that the fifteen years had al.
most passed the banker asked him.
self: ''Why did accept this insane
wager? What did gain by this man
losing fifteen years of his life and
two million roubles? Nothing has
been proved by it. On my part it was
merely q whim and on his. poor
mans craving for wealth."
The prisoner had been given two
rooms In q wing of the bankers house
For fifteen years he must not leave
them, must not see any visitors, hear
any human voice. receive any letters
or newspapers. He was permitted to
play and read books, write letters
drink wine, smoke and eat what he
pleased. Anything he wished he must
write down and pass the order
through window in silence. He was
to remain in his prison from Novem
Der 14th, 1870 at noon until November
14th, 1885 noon. The smallest attemp,
to break the rules was to release the
banker from his obligations.
! The first year the prisoner was yer,
well satisfied. He played the piano
day and night. but never touched wine
or tobacco, while he read love stories
novels. detective stories and plays.
The second year he stopped playing
and asked for classical books. In tn.
fifth year he again began to play ant
did little but eat. drink and sleep.
During the last half of the sixth
year he studied languages, histor.
and philosophy and during the fou
next years he read more than 60,
volumes.
The tenth year the prisoner sat mo
tionless at his table reading the bible
The banker thought 1t strange that ,
man who had read 600 scientific vol
umes In four years should spend NOR
} than year on one single book tina
was SO easy to understand.
] During the last two years the pris
oner read q great deal, but was no
very careful in his selection Of hi
books.
The banker remembered all thes
; things. The next day at twelv,
o'clock the prisoner was to be set fire.
and receive his two millions.
If pay him, I shall be a RUNE,
man." he thought.
Fifteen years before the none,
would have been q mere trifle to him
! but speculations had eaten up his 70,
tune and now he was feverishly watch
/ ing the stockticker every day in cor
slant dread of sudden ruin.
That damned wager" the white
: haired man mumbled, pressing hi
hands against his face In despair
why Is he not dead? Now he Is 4
: years old. He will take my last Ii
: peck. marry and enjoy life. He, tn
i pauper. will speculate on the exchang
where used to be king. while 1. tn
J ruined. will have to accept Chart
} from him. It Is too much! His lif
, means disgrace and bankruptcy to m.
! His death"
q Outside the clock struck three. Tn
, banker listened. Everyone In tn
house was asleep. With the air Of
: man committing . crime he took fro1
: his safe the key of the door that ha
not been opened for fifteen years. H
3 found the seal unbroken and locke
through the window into the prison
t er's room. There was q faint ligf
. from . single candle. The prisone
was sitting at his table, his BAG
. turned towards the door. On the tabl
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