Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-09-04

move stlhiy upon the stage.
He heard the hated voice chanting
monotOnously the explanation OF his
teats.
II am the human salamander," he
said. 'the man who Is impervious to
Ere. heat and electricity. Now ! grasp
those glowing balls. white heated by
| 5000 volts from your own city power
house, i've times the amount required
to electrocute the ordinary man.
''To touch me now would mea In
slant death. Now ! blow flames from
my mouth TO prove that my body is
like a raging furnace. Now l ignite
this cloth from my finger tip, this
cigar. this candle. Now
Il was really a m%ystlfying perform
ance, but Andrew at FIRST paid little at
tention to It.
lie only knew that his enemy was
before him, u%nsuspecting, and in his
power.
But toward the last Of the act an
idea began to form. an Idea so devilisli
that at first he recoiled from It, but so
| satisfying to his almost insane craving
for revenge that he could not rid him
self of II.
1t was a continuous vaudeville show.
and he sat through two performances.
When he finally left the idea had
shaped itself. But as yet his unaccus-
toned mind only dallied with 1t.
The knowledge that he could do the
thing was a pleasing tidbit to his i'm
aglnation. Its actual performance was
impossible as yet.
It Is an old, old story. Night after
night he came to the GRiety, sat un-
needing through the first few acts. sat
with strained attention through the per-
Torrance Of the Salambos, nursing his
hatred, gloatlng yer his enemy, accus-
toming his mind to the at first impos-
sible deed.
He could not sleep; he could not eat;
he could think Of nothing but his re-
venge.
One Of Andrews many occupations
had been hat of a telephone linesman.
so he went about his task that night
in a workmanlike manner that excited
no curiosity In the minds OF those that
happened to notice him.
He had timed the performance accu-
rately.
At the exact moment hat John Bar
ton appeared on the stage Of the Galety
in the character Of the SalambOs An
drew reached the top Of a high pole
Just outside OF the theater.
He seated himself astride the cross
piece bearing the heavy cables, lnsu-
lated. but alive with deadly energy.
From one OF these cables a small
wire brunched of into the Gnlety, sup
plying that building with light and
also, rs Andrew had learned. with the
electricity used by the Salambos in his
act
Andrew, equipped with insulated
pliers and heavy rubber gloves, remov-
ed the insulation from the small wire
and FROM another cable with practlced
hands.
Then he attached another short wire
he had brought with him to the eX-
posed stretch of cable.
He waited a moment There vas a
burst OF applause from within the the
alter.
He knew what that marked. the first
exhibition OF immunity on the part OF
the SalambOs. the selling OF the cleo
trically heated balls.
Instantly he dropped the wire from
his pliers upon the exposed surface Of
the wire that led into the Gaiety.
knowing that It would send 10000 adj
ditional volts Of electricity crashing
through the body of his enemy.
There was a cracking sound like q
thousand frecrackers.
A sudden white light flared through
the screened windows Of the theater.
The applause died out to a ~sickening
silence. and Andrew heard the sound
OF a heavy fall.
Then came sudden screams and
hOarse shouts aud a sharp slam that
Andrew knew for the hasty dropping
OF an asbestos curtain.
From out the exits Of the theater
poured a panic stricken mob. and
Andrew dropped unObserved into It's
midst. And. MS he listened to the ex-
cited ordinations that came to him
from every side. his madness dropped
from him. and he saw himself for what
he was-a murderer
"Its what comes Of playing with
deathr' said one man.
"It must have killed him instantly, .
said another. "Why, when he dropped
there seemed nothing left OF him. His
clothes went TINT quick. like a dash
Lord, 1 a see Il now"
Here come the iremen. Make way
make way there"
Andrew skunk away up a side street
OF a sudden he was very sick.
He leaned weakly against the side o.
a building. and men passing though.
him drunk.
Why had he done TT Why, why
Revenge7 Revenge on whom2 Fol
what7 De could not remember.
He had killed the SalamboS. they
said Who was the salambOs3 WhaI
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