The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-14

scious? Was 1t time now-now? Was
MacDonald's finger alread: reaching
out to that little white button which
would send him into eternity?
He struggled again, gnashing furious
ly at the thing which covered his
mouth. tearing the flesh of his wrists
as he twisted at the ropes which bound
him, choking himself with his efforts
to loosen the thong about his neck.
Exhausted again, he sank back. pant
ing. half dead. As he lay with closed
eyes little of his reason asserted it.
self. After all was he such a coward
as to go mad?
Tick. tick. tick!
His watch was beating at furious
rate. Was something wrong with it?
Was 1t going too fastf He tried to
count the seconds. but they raced away
from him. When he looked again his
gaze fell on the little yellow tongue Of
fame In the lantern globe. 1t was not
the steady. unwinking eye Of few
minutes before. There was 81 sputter-
Ing weakness about it now. ana as he
watched the light grew fainter and
fainter. The fame was going out A
few minutes more and he would be in
darkness. At first the significance OF
1t did not come to him. Then he
Strengthened himself with jerk that
frightened the thong about his neck un-
til it choked him. Hours must have
passed since the lantern had been plac
ed on that rock. else the oil would not
be burned out of it now.
For the first time Howland realized
that 1t was becoming more and more
difficult for him to get breath The
thing about his neck was tightening
slowly, inexorably, like a hot band Of
steel. and suddenly. because Of this
tightening. he found that he had re-
covered his voice.
This rawhide Is pinching my Ad-
ANS APPLE
had slipped down. and his words sound
ed Hollow and choking in the rock
| bound chamber He tried to raise his
voice In a shout. though he knew how
futile his lOudest shrieks would be,
The effort choked him more His suf
fering was becoming excruciating
Sharp pains darted like redhnt needles
through his limbs. his back tortured
him. and his head ached as thought a
knife had cleft the base of his skull
The strength of his limbs was leav
ing him. He no longer felt any sersa
tion in his cramped feet He meas
ured the paralysis creeping up his legs
inch by inch. driving the sharp pains
before 1t, and then groan OF horror
rose to his lips.
The light had gone out.
As IL that dying of the little yellow
fame were the signal for his death
there came to his ears II sharp hissin:
sound: spark leaped up into th'
blackness before his eyes. and il slow
creeping glow came toward him owe
the rock at his feet.
The hour, the minute, tbt second
had come, and Macdonald bad press
ed the little white button that was t
send him into eternity. He did no
cry out now. He knew that the end WI
very near, and in its nearness he foun'
new strength. Once he had seen
man walk to his death on the scaffold
and as the condemned had spoken hi
last farewell. with the Moose about hi
neck, he had marveled at the clearnes
Of bis voice. at the fearlessness Of thi
creature In his last momens on earth
Now he understood. Inch by inc
the fuse burned toward him-a fif1
OF the distance quarter. now il thir'
At last 1t reached half-was almos
under his feet. Two minutes more {
life. He put his whole strength ono
again in an attempt to free his hand
This time his attempt was cool. stead
masterful. with death 100 SECOND
away. His heart gave sudden burS
ing leap into his throat when he fe
something give. Another effort. ar
IN the powder choked vault there rar