按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the ceiling； which could be connected with a small metallic rod projecting
from a cap which was to be placed upon his head。 When this connection
was established Duncan Warner's hour was come。
There was a solemn hush as we waited for the coming of the prisoner。
The practical engineers looked a little pale； and fidgeted nervously with
the wires。 Even the hardened Marshal was ill at ease； for a mere hanging
was one thing； and this blasting of flesh and blood a very different one。
As to the pressmen； their faces were whiter than the sheets which lay
before them。 The only man who appeared to feel none of the influence of
these preparations was the little German crank； who strolled from one to
the other with a smile on his lips and mischief in his eyes。 More than
once he even went so far as to burst into a shout of laughter； until the
chaplain sternly rebuked him for his ill…timed levity。
〃How can you so far forget yourself； Mr。 Stulpnagel；〃 said he； 〃as to
jest in the presence of death？〃
But the German was quite unabashed。
〃If I were in the presence of death I should not jest；〃 said he； 〃but since
I am not I may do what I choose。〃
This flippant reply was about to draw another and a sterner reproof
from the chaplain； when the door was swung open and two warders
entered leading Duncan Warner between them。 He glanced round him
163
… Page 164…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
with a set face； stepped resolutely forward； and seated himself upon the
chair。
〃Touch her off！〃 said he。
It was barbarous to keep him in suspense。 The chaplain murmured a
few words in his ear； the attendant placed the cap upon his head； and then；
while we all held our breath； the wire and the metal were brought in
contact。
〃Great Scott！〃 shouted Duncan Warner。
He had bounded in his chair as the frightful shock crashed through his
system。 But he was not dead。 On the contrary； his eyes gleamed far
more brightly than they had done before。 There was only one change；
but it was a singular one。 The black had passed from his hair and beard
as the shadow passes from a landscape。 They were both as white as
snow。 And yet there was no other sign of decay。 His skin was smooth
and plump and lustrous as a child's。
The Marshal looked at the committee with a reproachful eye。
〃There seems to be some hitch here； gentle… men；〃 said he。
We three practical men looked at each other。
Peter Stulpnagel smiled pensively。
〃I think that another one should do it；〃 said I。
Again the connection was made； and again Duncan Warner sprang in
his chair and shouted； but； indeed； were it not that he still remained in the
chair none of us would have recognised him。 His hair and his beard had
shredded off in an instant； and the room looked like a barber's shop on a
Saturday night。 There he sat； his eyes still shining； his skin radiant with
the glow of perfect health； but with a scalp as bald as a Dutch cheese； and
a chin without so much as a trace of down。 He began to revolve one of
his arms； slowly and doubtfully at first； but with more confidence as he
went on。
〃That jint；〃 said he； 〃has puzzled half the doctors on the Pacific Slope。
It's as good as new； and as limber as a hickory twig。〃
〃You are feeling pretty well？〃 asked the old German。
〃Never better in my life；〃 said Duncan Warner cheerily。
The situation was a painful one。 The Marshal glared at the
164
… Page 165…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
committee。 Peter Stulpnagel grinned and rubbed his hands。 The
engineers scratched their heads。 The bald…headed prisoner revolved his
arm and looked pleased。
〃I think that one more shock〃 began the chairman。
〃No； sir；〃 said the Marshal 〃we've had foolery enough for one morning。
We are here for an execution； and a execution we'll have。〃
〃What do you propose？〃
〃There's a hook handy upon the ceiling。 Fetch in a rope； and we'll
soon set this matter straight。〃
There was another awkward delay while the warders departed for the
cord。 Peter Stulpnagel bent over Duncan Warner； and whispered
something in his ear。 The desperado started in surprise。
〃You don't say？〃 he asked。
The German nodded。
〃What！ Noways？〃
Peter shook his head； and the two began to laugh as though they
shared some huge joke between them。
The rope was brought； and the Marshal himself slipped the noose over
the criminal's neck。 Then the two warders； the assistant and he swung
their victim into the air。 For half an hour he hunga dreadful sightfrom
the ceiling。 Then in solemn silence they lowered him down； and one of
the warders went out to order the shell to be brought round。 But as he
touched ground again what was our amazement when Duncan Warner put
his hands up to his neck； loosened the noose； and took a long； deep breath。
〃Paul Jefferson's sale is goin' well；〃 he remarked； 〃I could see the
crowd from up yonder；〃 and he nodded at the hook in the ceiling。
〃Up with him again！〃 shouted the Marshal； 〃we'll get the life out of
him somehow。〃
In an instant the victim was up at the hook once more。
They kept him there for an hour； but when he came down he was
perfectly garrulous。
〃Old man Plunket goes too much to the Arcady Saloon；〃 said he。
〃Three times he's been there in an hour； and him with a family。 Old man
Plunket would do well to swear off。〃
165
… Page 166…
ROUND THE RED LAMP
It was monstrous and incredible； but there it was。 There was no
getting round it。 The man was there talking when he ought to have been
dead。 We all sat staring in amazement； but United States Marshal
Carpenter was not a man to be euchred so easily。 He motioned the others
to one side； so that the prisoner was left standing alone。
〃Duncan Warner；〃 said he； slowly； 〃you are here to play your part； and
I am here to play mine。 Your game is to live if you can； and my game is
to carry out the sentence of the law。 You've beat us on electricity。 I'll
give you one there。 And you've beat us on hanging； for you seem to
thrive on it。 But it's my turn to beat you now； for my duty has to be
done。〃
He pulled a six…shooter from his coat as he spoke； and fired all the
shots through the body of the prisoner。 The room was so filled with
smoke that we could see nothing； but when it cleared the prisoner was still
standing there； looking down in disgust at the front of his coat。
〃Coats must be cheap where you come from；〃 said he。 〃Thirty
dollars it cost me； and look at it now。 The six holes in front are bad
enough； but four of the balls have passed out； and a pretty state the back
must be in。〃
The Marshal's revolver fell from his hand； and he dropped his arms to
his sides； a beaten man。
〃Maybe some of you gentlemen can tell me what this means；〃 said he；
looking helplessly at the committee。
Peter Stulpnagel took a step forward。
〃I'll tell you all about it；〃 said he。
〃You seem to be the only person who knows anything。〃
〃I AM the only person who knows anything。 I should have warned
these gentlemen； but； as they would not listen to me； I have allowed them
to learn by experience。 What you have done with your electricity is that
you have increased this man's vitality until he can defy death for
centuries。〃
〃Centuries！〃
〃Yes； it will take the wear of hundreds of years to exhaust the
enormous nervous energy with which you have drenched him。
166
… Page 167…