Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 115: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE hoarsely, a wild look in his eyes. “I'll do anything that will keep me out of the chair.” “You promise that after death, if pos- ble in any way, you'll come back and communicate with me?” asked Dr. Ralling as he handed the phial over. Lankford nodded affirmatively. “Tl admit that I am a coward,” said the doctor. “ But I am anxious to bring this thing to a test. I want to know if I’ve been wrong all these years. Possibly I have done enough already to merit eternal pun- ishment. I don’t know. I’m still doubt- ful. By giving you this poison I’m really doing a good deed. The State will get its pound of flesh; it ought not to object.” “Why are you doing all this—why are you so anxious to know if there is a here- after?” asked Lankford huskily. “Tf I’ve been wrong, life won’t be worth a row of pins to me,” stated the doctor calmly. ‘“ My wife was everything to me. Nothing else matters. If I believed now that she is somewhere waiting for me, I would take my own life to-day. But I am afraid. I want to make sure. That’s the whole thing. It is your duty to let me know. “Let me suggest that you wait a little while—at least a day or so,” the doctor said as he rose to go. “ It might look suspicious if your death occurs too soon after my visit.” Lankford did not answer. He sat with his face cupped in his hands, staring at the floor as the door closed behind the doctor. “Perfectly rational,” said Dr. Ralling to the warden as they shook hands. “ But in a highly nervous state as a natural result of what he has gone through.” The Thursday afternoon paper contained @ vivid account of Lankford’s death in the State penitentiary. Dr. Ralling read the item eagerly. A shaded light which threw its rays straight down and cast a dim glow about the room illuminated the study. U TEST. U Sat 585 “ Death was due,” ran the account, “ to heart failure, according to the investigation held this morning. The prisoner was per- fectly normal when seen about nine o’clock last night. A careful examination of the body showed that death was caused by nothing other than natural causes. Lank- ford was to be electrocuted Friday morning, having been convicted of murder in the first degree at the last term of court.” Dr. Ralling laid the paper aside. Si- lence reigned, save for the ticking of a small clock on the mantel. Occasionally the cut- out of an automobile sounded from the street or the distant wail of a locomotive was faintly audible. Suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Dr. Ralling started and sat upright. “Come in,” he called. The door opened slowly. Before him stood Amos Lankford. Even in the dim light Dr. Ralling recognized him instantly. He tried to cry out—the words stuck in his throat. “Lankford!” he gasped. The form in the doorway seemed to nod slightly. The answer seemed to paralyze the doctor for a moment. Then with a quick motion he reached into his pocket and brought forth a small phial, similar to the one given Lankford. The liquid in this container, however, was of a brown color. Placing it to his lips, he swallowed quickly. A mo- ment later he slumped forward in the chair. “ That’s just how it happened,” he con- cluded to the officer. ‘‘ When I opened the door he looked at me like I was a ghost. He said something, and then jerked the bot- tle out of his pocket and drank what was in it. Must have been terrible; he was dead when I got to him. My name? Lank- ford is my name—Adrian Lankford. I un- derstand Dr. Ralling visited my brother at the penitentiary a couple of days before he died.” Lv} Next Week’s Complete Novelette will be _ THE WAY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. stoic onic of this famous river have always won high favez Will: " Py oy ey By Raymonp 5. Seuenes) |