Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-01-17
LITTLE STORIES OF LIFE
AClOSE SHAVE.
By GEORGE e. MILES.
A o SHAVE.
eY GEORGE E. MILES.

expressions in his last letter, however.
nave made me very uneasy"
Barker interrupted mis- reading to
stare at the dark face bending over
hold the razor away from his neck.
Damn it!" he angrily muttered.
you don't need to get your face SO
fellow"
y want to see the white skin better"
said Files with n smile which exas-
perated Barker, who lifted his arm to
push away the mar that held the irr1-
tating steel.
Files manner suddenly changed in
a way that sparalysed Barker, whose
wrist WAS caught firmly. turned IN
ward under the arm of the chair none
too gently. and held firmly by the
"fag."
Don't novel" commanded the latter
roughly-'"the razor might hurt YOU"
Barker instantly became quiet. Some
tMng unusual had suddenly crossed hia
mtnd and he felt a choking in his throat
which Frustrated his energies. There
wa an expression in the glittering eyes
that ne had seen before, and the
smile which accompanied 1t completed
his Decentralization.
You see it," laid Files with n hard
and mirthless laugh.
See, what" Barker managed to ut
ter.
You see 1t in my eyes! You know
what 1t means!" and there appeared In
the black orbs a look which haunted
Barker for many a mont afterWard.
tie had never seen al insane man. He
had never seen murder incarnate In tho
human eye. but he recognized it now
and could not utter y word for the
beating of his heart.
DO you know" said Files. with =
confidential air. what a strange ATM
ity there is between shining. beautiful
hard steel and white, soft flesh? For
Gods sake. don't get pale that way:
IT only makes your skin whiter!"
He was no longer looking at Bar
ker's ashy ace, but at his neck. against
which the razor blade still pressed.
Don't move our other hand!. he
commanded again. lit will be the sig
nal! oh: what a beautiful skin!" he
muttered In a sort Of ecstacy. 1T u
like white velvet. soft and smooth. A
white velvet robe and Il crimson scarf!
The blood il waiting to burst through
and make the scarf" His hand shook
violently.
Barker was no coward. 1t was all
over with him, az he thought, but with
Il s%uperhuman effort he steadied him.
self.
Say. Files said he quietly. "You
him it's the bright red and soft white
that are sc attractive, but It isn't any
thing of the kind. The most delightful
." wv IVsu iG 1OONA
flowing over your WI skin. not some
body eIse's. Did you ever try it?'
No" said Files DULY; ut hurts too
uch
No. ii doesn't. You simply draw the
razor across your own throat enough
10 start a few drops. You know what
the professor said yesterday abou pain
and pleasure being akin. 1t ia. the tick
ling small pain which creates tho in
tense thrill of delight
slAu1,. tl- ,N-. ,-t-. "a a.
razor and carried IL doubtfully towards
his own throat AS II to try the &
tion. 1t was a supreme chance. and
Baiker leaped upward. catching the
arm of the mad student before he could
recover from his surprise. A great gush
of blood flooded Barker's face. binding
his eyes; for i'm his effort to escape he
had unwittingly forced the sharp blade
across the throat of Files, cutting 1t
from ear TO ear. Ere Barker could
wriggle entirely out OF his chair the
mailman a fallen ON him, tearing
ferociously at his throat with his teeth.
The struggle was over I'M a III and
when the door was thrown open by an
excited crowd attracted by the noise.
both men lay Inert upon the floor, one
of them dead.
When Barker from his
swOon and told the story of his dread
full experience he was believed and JUS
tilted by all: but he has never been
able to quite satisfy his conscience on
Il single point connected with his "close
shave as he calls it. with poorly as
sumed lightness: Was he morally re-
sponsible for the tragedy tina cost the
life Of Razzin Files because OF that last
suggestion he made to him?" 1t il q
query that constantly recurs to him
and disturbs his dreams.
Meantime Barker has learned to
shave himself.