The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-09-07
The
Fatal Chair
~ ERNEST LEVINE

copyush. isii western Newspaper unisa
Tho London policeman tapped the
sleeper on the sole- % the boots
There was no response. lie shook
HIN. The mans head lolied back on
the bench.
"blimey. he's deadI" he mutterei
But. ms he stared into the yellow
face. an awful awakening seemed to
occur The man sat W stif'iy staring
abou, him.
M You can't sleep there" said
the policeman. "Ge, OF or I'll have 10
run you In"
lie stared after the man as he tot.
tered away. 'Bllmey. he dld give me
scarei" he said
The sailor entered the salvation
Army shelter aud went 60 the bunk
assigned to him A little man with n
white beard. lying Ia the newt bunk
stared at him.
where are you from. mateyf" he
asked
"New York. u you gotta know"
snaricd the other
''Sailor. bain't YEP
"IIa. ! guess you'd like 90 know.
wouldn't yal" the newcomer snariei
Il put Il over on 'em. all right. all
right"
whats thatI Pu, wha, over whor'
demanded the little old man.
'Tomorrow az eight" answered the
sailor still with thu snari. half feroci,y
and half tlmldity In his solce lie
cluiched the other ~ the arm. lis
ten Tomorrow. at eight. they'll come
for me- 90 take the for a nice little
walk through a nice little door. ami
put me In a nice little chair--a chair
with arms And-they won't md the :
Get thar. boz"
Il dunno wha; yog'rc taking
about" whimpered the little old man
I'm afraid % you"
"You might as well be, DO I Amt
n dead man and Amt exactly alive
Listen. here III tell you. Gawd. I
gotta tell some one ="
Tell me" whispered the little old
man
I'm tell you ! didn't XIII her They
thought 4, was me. hut u was only IN,
hand had no control over H. II
was my hand that bit her with the
hammer. only they thought Il was me.
and that's Why they wanted O. send
me 90 the chair with the arms -ssef'
"rd been student afore they sen,
me there student ~ the Indian
sciences ! amt what you think I am.
That's the body ! took !, amt me.
I'm an dedicated understand ?"
TIN afraid ~ you You look like
a dead man" whlmperci the other
The sailor laughed "Aui. when
was In the cell waiting 90 be- sent o.
the chair with the arms, ! applied
lesson seven - the book --conccntra.
ton. got out % my body by night
and wen; wandering all over the
world. looking for a man who was
ready "a cash In
There was one on the Thames EN-
hankmeni. Jus, ready % drop N with
heart disease lie didn't know No
body knowed II but me. I saw him IN
my cell as plain a. ! see you nov
Then IL was lesson eight 20 the
book for mine III studied and stud.
led. and prncticrd and practic~d till
was all ready 10 slip qua OF my sheath.
II was ~ quick as a fash. | seed hts
soul going out ~ his hoiy-one. tSo.
like this"
You're crazy" said the little old
man You're crazy TIN afraid ~
you. don't want you 90 talk 10 me
no more"
You're going TO hear a." snarled
the sailor You gotta hear II now.
The minute he passed out | slipped IN
one. two like that left my old
carcass lying asleep In the cell. wait
ing for the warders 10 carry IL through
the nice little door into the nice little
room NJ eight o'clock tomorrow. And
her. am l.
II dunno as ] mishtn't have picked
better body being an dedicated man.
and things has ga sort ~ confused
but III remember ia time | guess lio'
hol ho" lie ruared In laughter
They'll think It's me tomorrow at
eight la the morning They'll have
another guess coming. though"
Don't you talk To the no more"
whimpered the little old man. I'm
afraid 81 you. I'm going TO sleep. I
am"
Eight o'clock boys Turn out :"
shouted the attendant
A. the clock struck. for a moment
look of fear came over the sailors
face. then he laughed. Il guess
fooled EN- h. said. which way you
going boT
I'm going east. hut I'm going
alone" plped the little old man.
"I'm going with you tlll two o'clock"
said the sailor. you come along ~
me may want you at two"
They started on and walked side by
side cut Of London. into Epping for.
est They sat down on a trunk. II
was two In the afternoon.
"You-you was lying, wasn't your
plped the little old man.
Course was lynn" snarled the
ether. I'm stick by YOU. You're q
good sort. DO. III"
suddenly. with an inhuman scream,
A. ~