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Show A TOAST TO DEATH. . . BY AUSTIN OLSEN Old John sat before a cold fire-! place thinking of what he was about to do. Life no longer possessed any allure al-lure for him; he longed for the quiet rest of death and tonight would see his wish granted. But no, not yet, his papers and the will, they must be signed before be-fore . Old John walked stiffly over to a small black wall safe and knelt down in order to open it. As the safe door opened, his thoughts drifted back to last night and a picture formed in his mind a picture of Joey, his lazy, selfish, and seldom sober son. Again as on that fateful night, he heard himself him-self saying: "You're not fit to be a son of mine, you simpering, half-drunken fool!" "Why can't you leave me alone?" It was Joey's voice Old John heard now. "You're old. For God's sake die and leave me alone!" "So you could squander my money. Fool!" Old John was shouting now, his face livid. "Never a cent of mine will you get!" But enough of this idle thinking-, he could not change what had already happened, but he could and would make it up to Joey. The will would not be changed i Joey would receive everything. A tired figure of a man, Old John made his "way over to his desk where he mixed a drink a drink that would pay his passage into that mysterious land of never-never. never-never. Suddenly he whirled, setting the deadly drink on the desk before him. "Who's there? Oh, Joey! Come in, I" The sentence was never finished, finish-ed, for Old John was falling to the floor, a small black hole above his temple, marring the look of incredulity on his face. Joey glanced at the will and smiled. The old man hadn't had time to change it and the safe was open. Well, robbery sounded like a perfect motive. Yes, the old man had played right into his hands. "Hello!" Joey spoke in a tight, strained voice. "A drink mixed and ready. Well, a toast, old man, a toast to the things to come." He smiled and lifted the sparkling glass to his lips. |
