The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-28
TERROR ~ MAURICE LEVEL
500 ~ - - - - The FrankA yco)

. crowded his brain OF late that Barton
4 had almost accustomed himself 20 them
He realiz6d vaguely that they were en-
gendg-ed by the nerve-racki1s strain
TO which he was subjected In a meas
urc he reioiced al them. too After
al, he had started out with a definite
plan Of experiencing ali the pleasures
and the tortures Of criminal Now
ne felt himself transformed into q beast
which had been CornereS and which IS
creuchtngY ready 10 spring at its Dur-
suers and 10 sell its life dearly
The terrible drama Of its capture IN
folded itself to his vivid imagination
He saw himself Cuffed and kicked BY
brutal gendarmes. he felt their hot
breath in his face And with 1t all he
tasted that sense OF herCiSm which
every man must feel who fights behind
a barricade, asking for 10 quarter and
vet knowing 10 2 certainty that his hour
has struck.
He rose from the bed and walked 70
the window without daring 10 pull
aside the curtains, he looked down into
the street A man was slowly walking
up and down IN front Of the hotel For
q moment be thought that he was seen
and shrank instinctively- He kept his
eyes on him, however Presently the
man did look up Icy perspiratiOn
driDped from BarIon's forehead There
could no longer be any doubt. The man
one was BaT1Oni BE tried hard to dis
pei the thought, but he could not rid
himself Of it Again he saw visions OF q
struggle with the police
In the hour Of his greatest peril a man
becomes a child again because he real
sizes his weakness Whatever may have
been his experience in the world, the
first impressions OF infancy are never
wholly obhterated- Crack the enamel
which IS baked upon Us In the furnace
Of experience and you will discover the
helpless child beneath
Barton felt himself pOwerIess, puerile-
~ So He could not think clearly Such
was his ear that he actually began to
believe he was dreaming In this pain
fUi moment he was eInOtiOnally and in
I telleCtually as guilty as the real muir
derer- He played the part with the
same sincerity and convection as he had
once played as a boy that he was a gen
eraI leading a victorious host to battle,
a scout who pursued wicked train rob
bers on the plains an Indian who thirst
ed for white mems blood OF a detective
from whom no criminal could hope to
escape He was afraid Of the sound OF
his own voice. afraid Of his own move
In childish way he enacted a whole
drama OF q crime which ne did not
! commit and his ultimate capture for
Z the benefit OF an imaginary spectator
who was none other than himself He
played the heavy part IN LEat tragedy
the part OF the guilty, bounded man
He was watched from without Men
stood on guard at the door OF his house.
others were stealing up the stairs
Suddenly fancy gave place 10 reality
He did hear actual steps on the stairs.
He distinctly heard the tread Of heavy
heels The noise ceased for a moment,
only 10 be resumed He heard a half
stified voice not far from him. he
caught a few snatches.
Hes IN here Look out No noise -
Then there was silence again. he
was convinced now that he was cor
nered- There were spies beneath his
window He could not hope to esca De
oy that means There was a door next
to the fireplace which led into the
neighborlng room II was barred and
bolted- There was no time TO break il
open There was only the door leading
to the hallway Should he open il and
rush at his assailants with lowered
{ head? It seemed his only chance.
He took his revolver. cooked II, and,
crOuchfng IN a corner near the window.
he waited until the door should open
The voices. imaginary or real. were
more distinct now Some one spoke.
If he shows fight you know what's
to be done
There was silence again. Not q wheel
turned in the street All life seemed
he could hear the steady ticking, tick
ing, ticking OF a clock
There was a sharp rap at the door.
Despite its SuddenneSs, Barton was not
alarmed The idea flashed on him that
perhaps 1t was the chambermaid- 1t
seemed absurd that the police We're
| lurking behind that door And vet his
common sense aold him the CONTRARY.
! he yielded TO the call OF reason.
clutched his revolver more firmly and
| brsced himself.
There was a second knock. followed
! BIZ the same silence Then the door
opened suddenly. He had expected 70