Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-09-15
The
Fatal Chair
BY ERNEST LEVINE

But, as he stared into the yellow
face, an awful awakening seemed to
occur The man sat up stifHy, staring
about him.
Hi You can't sleep there said
the policeman. Get off or I'll have to
run you in"
He stared after the man as he tot
tered away. 'Blimey, he did give me
scare" he said.
The sailor entered the Salvation
Army shelter and went to the bunk
assigned to him. A little man with a
white beard, lying In the next bunk
stared at him.
where are you from, matey?" he
asked.
New York, If you gotta know"
snarled the other
sailor, bain't ye?'
"Ha. guess you'd like 70 know
wouldn't va :" the newcomer snarIed
81 put It over on EN-. all right, all
right"
whats that? Put what over who?"
demanded the little old man
"To-morrov at eight" answered the
sailor, still with the snarl. half farocitv
and half timidfty, in his voice. He
clutched the other bv the arm lis
ten Tomorrow. at oight thpv'u come
for me. to take me for nice LITTLE
walk through nice little door. and
put me In nice little chafr-o chair
with arms. And-tbey won't find me
Get that boz"
II dunno what you're talking
about" whlmpered the little old man
I'm afraid Of YOU"
you might as well he. bo ajn't
a dead man and I amt exactIv alive
Listen. here, I'll tell Won. Gawd 7
gotta tell some one :"
Tell me" whisnprpd the uttle old
man.
TIL tell you. | didn't XIII her. They
thought It was me- but II was only my
hand. | had no control over II II
was my hand that hit her with the
hammer, only they thought it was me.
and that's why they wanted to send
me to the chair with the arms-see2"
I'D been a student afore they sent
me there; student Of the indian
sciences. I amt what Won think am.
That's the body I took. II amt me.
I'm an dedicated man-understand ,"
I'm afraid of you. You look like
a dead man" whimpered the other.
The sailor laughed. and when l
was in the cell waiting to be sent to
the chair with the arms, I applied
lesson seven Of the book-concentra
ton. l got out Of my body by night
and went wandering all over the
world, looking for a man who was
ready to cash in.
There was one on the Thames en-
hankment, just ready TO drop off with
heart disease. He didn't know. No
body knoWed 1t but me. l saw him In
my cell as plain as | see you now.
Then it was lesson eight Of the
book for mine. I'd studied and stud
led, and practiced and practiCed till I
vas all ready to slip out Of my sheath.
It was rs quick as flash. l seed his
soul going out Of his bOdy-One, two,
like this"
you're crazy said the little old
man. You're crazy. I'm afraid Of
you. l don't want you TO talk to me
no more
you're going to hear it," snarled
the sailor. You gotta hear it now.
The minute he passed out | sIipped In
one, two-Iike that. left my old
carcass lying asleep in the cell, wait
ing for the warders to carry it through
the nice little door into the nice little
room at eight o'clock tomorrow. And
here am I.
81 dunno as l mightn't have picked
a better body being an eddicated man
and things has got sort Of confused
huf I'll remember in time. | p1ness Ho,
no, hon He roared in laughter
They'll think it's me tomorrow at
eight In thp morning. THEY'LL have
another guess coming. though"
Don't Won talk TO me no more"
wbimDered the little Old man. I'm
afraid Of Won. Pm going 10 sleen 7