Show By ROLAND BURNHAM 8 e Author of The Room with th Little Door and The Vice Admiral of th Blue ue Why yen of ot course ho he hoD heB r D had another name but It did not B r matter to us s It l oe n Aias just from t tho day Him In through the big aw fl on the thc Ihle ot of the door do r until wo we lay 11 back on our cots cols In the tho rod rt down dawn of at another day the n nwe heard take BenjamIn out on we the other side HIde through tho Iho LillIe Door brought to M when they 1 In bo ho us laughing It was wae Cham Chamber Tho Death not nt the thc usual way maUI matter Tho rho man ber lJ t is no retains tho girt gift of at hu huor 1101 or in III Us Its Is I wonderful Hut lut still more wonderful i the tho human this to being ho can nto under tho same samo circumstances From the time that wo Ben caught a glimpse of or hi nil lean leall form his mn iU black head headid teeth wo wod id 11 Ills rows ros of at I him with ull the Intensity of nf d Hl hotter better to welcome Ho ilaa as r III funny to look I all hr h could not cast u 1 shadow hado co coHa thai thul Ha k tUi Ih l you could not see seo him In tho Iho UrK rJ so 0 childlike that the law might on have a baby won for fol which Ben was destined d to make maIm our lUI acquaintance was ne that thElt of c i 1 waiter Tho ho walter waiter and ami hlf hiI had hod previously punched Den fur I w fax minutes and within an un lICh Inch i io Dt o Ills his life Tho altercation wis l over oer overa I a plate o Qt haul t Inger impelled d Him to 10 feet even H Bo So did ld society B pm PI It s tl ally a 11 child killed tho waiter in h 11 ut anger Society killed Benjamin Benjamini i antl dispassionately ul wars Insisted that the tho hum wan 3 01 bad Ild Hi III use I e that word bill hui I maintain that the ham In whatever was tho sweetest part parI ot o iho J was wal n a happy halpy coon The rho for formalities which must be gone through th KLOH bLon Joining our colony nUN filled Mm with wonderment lie He joked with all Ih lib H with th a If I n clerk In Inthe Inthe the outer who took his IO and measured him for tal clothes Next the butch physician who thumped l lJ J and una him again and naked him ull un sorts of or questions Then tho buck who Is the good chaplain came cumo ami all took his pedigree J anew and was very anxious to know how and whore where hu had been baptized Last of ot nil all Benja Benjamin min m I Od through tiro oro ex x peri perls s and returned r to his cell L Aw Jw Aw Aw AI chuckled Benjamin Aw Aw I Bonders who will bo ho tho next man what measures mo me moThe meTho The Tho undertaker murmured tho keeper 1 Bon stopped laughing Ho looked Indignant for a moment I Is going to sol get a IL new II trial next full fall foi fot sure he announced Wo Wl had hoard heard that story star before On tho Iho night wo we Initiated Benja Denja Benjamin min mil Tho mayor of tho Death Cham Chamber ber L r made ma lo an address n of vel 1 1 called him my brother I laId him how proud 1 and harp happy he ho ought to 0 be 11 I dilated upon tho Joys jOs ot o ex existence 1 In which thoro tholo was no work wok where one uno could slumber and rat eat and again oguin and have havo a white mOil man run and nn I light QUI our pipes for tor us ut r rI In I IS called AVe 0 presented Ben with witha a brown broil apron ap oll on which tho Joe doc 1 ii t hid h 1 mu i L sable dove doo tho motto Damn the thc Jury JUl In let leI I rs rM i tu 1 I et e t dmu d arO too the solemn u oth ith of Qt ia MS 1 He promised 1 o i obey lI tho o mayor Im Implicitly At mf wo we taught him the proper names for everything around us n t l to him tho Iho mystery fC roC th Door I III the beautiful men up of the Pan Pall which was as hidden Just b ond This served for a short space of time to keep him Interested But Bul It did 1111 not last long Jt It is ts bad enough for fOl a man mall ot oC Intelli Intelligence gence to be bc In prison yet rrt such a n one lIC ran can Interest himself Self Imposed la may ml be assigned He Ho can read I and write try to Interest In life stories about him But what of Iho uneducated 11 man who his thoughts 1 What hn I Is hI he h to do In the Tombs when ho he trial hope hOle Is II left hope ot es os escaping cUlling caping consequences s There IB Is n chance of acquittal then there Is hope thoro la Is life II fOr Just JURt ns as the tho Is true Irue in III the thc states prison and pen penitentiaries pome occupation Is pro provided vided fume sume sort of ot companionship and Ind n II of at hope a looking for forward forward ward in to release nut But surely urel the tho Rood good Ile le who countenance death cham lannot realize what It to toan toan an Ignorant man mall when they the condemn him to idleness nna solitude In tho t mom of oC waiting Granting the tho right to deprive him of his life has hili the stahl the right to take tak J his reason first firstI I know u man thero once who could lint 1101 read or write Ho spoke a Inn lall tillage which no one understood und What Vhal M as there for him to 10 do Ho could not 1111 1 hmo havo n pot pet Time nUN after tits atH have ha r been beon brought br In 11 toi fOl tf n fort 1 royally rO treated treat with universal sal Hili kindness ln won In loell but at tho opportunity they would run away awn Sometimes M when hon tho warden 1011 visited vl us his doff doA would follow hut only to tin th door Everywhere 1 else pl o In ho U t at his hiM master hoots heels but UP h always stopped Just the tho fl death Uh chamber tho warden him In Ho HI molt nt lit tho lit little tle and howled No amount or of coaxing could set got him to tn make malIc S IO know It wan or a sixth sense or 01 second but thuy nil all know bitten with the tho or i 1 Inoculated him Bonja B m 1 found that I persistently por I I I 0 1 I nn Tt BE s h Of 1 rIC pU t 10 cc h I 1 I 1 m Jt I Therefore Bon decided that ho L ho he would study also all o Ho lIo would Improve hla mind by b a It course of solid sol hi reading f I several days clas of at serious delibera deliberation deliberation tion Benjamin concluded ho he would honor tho law la He III would become h a II class lawyer lawor His trial had lasted lusto 1 two whole days so he knew almost III most all about law It would bo easy CaR CaRAll All Benjamins lawyer had done for him or 01 could do cia wn to nil his hla money and In object to every everything eer thing tho district attorney lId did ThIs looked perfectly ct simple to Benjamin His subsequent series 8 of objections till with despair Ho He objected forcibly consistently perpetually perpetual until wo nearly districted Then Thon Benjamin got KOt tired It wan US too Ion easy 18 After Attora a short application of his to the tho luw hl cHIne to the tho conclusion sion slon that It was not lIot worth while to waste further energy eller on BO 80 simple n 11 study Ho lIo decided that ho he would II proficient In the healing art a rt He III would study stUll hard anil become a grent physician Ho folt ho he was US es cs especially equipped for this profession Had ho he not assisted at a n necropsy nc with his razor hence my m acquaintance with him Moreover Benjamins lawyer had called his sanity Into question Benja Benjamin min had Imd hIm examined by b Ho know ull their secrets In fact ho could make malte such examinations him himself self All the tho thing necessary to success In Benjamin know knew hut ho to me that ho waff a trill weak on chemistry tr ho considered me lIle Just tho man n to tearh him I not to bother him with everything Thero rn wore just a few fow things a n physician need know O OJ I J placed myself entirely at nt his dispo disposal sal suI ho he asked mo me how to malte rum 1 assured him nothing was easier I explained d Is from which fermented 1 fur fill further ther told him that yeast casl would mako tho sugar formont forment Benjamin nil right to o fur tur nn an tho went but hul hud had no xo so he for fr It All that be lIe between tween Benjamin good honest hOllest brewed Honor all ull that that Implied was a n trill In the tI way IY of at en Ben Benjamin jamin wan 1111 a It happy man Ho lie anti anticipating omo great Joy to como Into his hs life But nul ho hI did 1111 not get tet the Ho Ut waited patiently for a 1 short time Ho objected 1 but It did dl I not como This was dreadful Benjamin very an angry gry n Im 1111 so mol till Roland ho he said that Iho t I can an smell my m own blood I Im of at my Ho lIe brooded fur for awhile then he h ap mo me figuratively again What hat else cnn can I uso ul e Something Ive 10 got ho 1 plaintively A dont Jont know I sold said have hao to experiment Ben Uen did dl l experiment He lIe put into his hili of sugar broad and meal nl at ollaI things I lont know what It ll dont lont forment he culled culle J out to tomo tome mo me Keep It In a warm place I advised him So Benjamin tool took It to bod with him that night It was wat glorious summer Something must have havo happened to It for Benjamin declared thu tho next morning that ho could smell tho rum Yes sir sure Pounds of ot roal rejoicing ing Ill Issued from his little cage Now I replied all you ou havo huo to do du doIs duIs Is to distil It Then I explained n 1 still but hUl Ben lIell thought ho could 1 not manage it or 01 per perhaps haps hUI ho hc could not walt wait Anyway he h drank his decoction the way a It was 11 For a n fow days Ben was a n very CI 11 man mun manIt It was after his recovery that ho he do de elded to prepare himself for the minis ministry try Ho He took up theology Ho lIe a II very CI religious man Ho drove tho chaplain who visited us ut every eoj day crazy craz with his questions lit constructed rile tOIl sermons what Is 18 worse ore he preached I Ithem them to us I Judging from our remarks to Benjamin he had no right whatever to the tho Uti ot at popular preacher I put on all my m tobos and as us mayor of Death Douth Chamber older d him to stop It was then thell that I learned of a of at perfidy on his part Benjamin hud had crossed his fingers when hr had ha 1 taken the thc oath to 10 respect my tn high of oC In my m rapacity I appointed n a commission to try him foi tal heresy horell Every I ery man there Insisted upon Ulon par Ing IlIg a brief for tOl the hut but no ono would tho word for Benja Benjamin min mIll so 1 Dually hud had to bis hili defence f fHe He wan III tried convicted hilt but It made no difference I sentenced him to but ho he kept right on preaching We expostulated with Benjamin Wo 0 pleaded wo coaxed tilt threatened hilt but It Il IH useless u He IQ preached d and 11 and 1 ranted until we Wl had no peace O duy or aI night I 1 had something non nol to t worry about What could I do to La stop bin hili How of at eloquence At last 1 had It I dug du a pit for Cor my colored brother I 1 him ho loll 1111 Ho to care calC for fOI our welfare or JI own for tor that matter matterI r rI I 1 to ho he very 01 busy husy ono During his hili usual ll II w ot oC hl spiced rhetoric I was unusually Benjamin became Ho Hoeven even crun paused occasionally as Ill though to 10 listen lUlen for fill my indicating voice Finally FIlial when ho could stand the suspense hIli IH no longer after ho hail caught of ot me mI us as I 1 went to tho bam ballI and furtively about though to bo hu mini no one watch watching ing mo Benjamin me IIII n note Ho He wanted to know what I 1 wn doing I Ills hili with n II word a magic word 1 Ben with JUKL one word wim Iol y In five ho hili poll poli policy cy C shop shuJI He cut tho number from hla hi and wan Ial ready cudy for fol Would You hI wo 0 piny pillY with hint Would we lie Ih swore to be bo I doubtful A follower of ot the It did not look will At t length I r allowed tearful I I pleadings to overcome o III 6 my 11 I would in online nover to 10 preach again Would he hll stop preaching for ver out hili hand It grasped his hili Bible Ho I I ho HI u nevor II fiN Benjamin 1 hl life to III Hi Ih game III 0 Ho ot till hi cane RII He 11 wire are lie he was wall it at midnight tho Iho three number constituting ing III tho Iho winning gl 1 drawn it 11 um IS a IL moment I were won 1011 and lout all 1111 bold M ecu I was lucky thu Iho Benjamin died owing mo over VOl I 1 met with very ry great dining my lilY life All 11 of or hit bin waiting willI hilt hours constructed which could cOll I not lose for could not th the ot bin hIli own Thin ho boRun bin hili opu 11 dream bonk with a I lg Ig U It wan wn u II cyclopedia work Should I th of ot n II chicken or u II watermelon or 01 a II a dand u II graveyard a fI u II or n II unman he Willi very VOl to tn have inn of and toll tollus us u about them Ih In III n WilY way not 1101 to tn b ha to ru would turn to bis III man manuscript u nolo tho r Dillon and play them to tl win for fl r Willi li exact y j i IJ 1 8 connected with omens so Benjamin B do But Bul In spite of his hi Joy jO over tho grime thoro was ono one deep narrow In my colored color life To get tho necessary number he ho had been com compelled to tn destroy his calendar to tho very H last numeral Do not this III I U I at 1111 deprivation to I a II man In prison There hrc Is II not a It single cell In tiny uny prison oll anywhere that doe not lIot contain n It calendar IH I never a n primmer who cannot II you nU at ill once the yuan months and days dB that have lIlY 11 since he enter I V the Moors oot Nut Not olio who does not count thy thu days Ila behind blI 11 ml the 1113 before to that day of days which hU h freedom IB J von clI where wo 6 wore were for we 1 could not count ahead to any hll the calendars were ete our wel welcome come COllie friends friend They rhe n II part of or Hint world In which we lived and yet dead So Benjamin set at about with hIli natural cunning and made men An with willi the chaplain who was not n t In the policy secret Ho lie told that kind I rl Hint ho 11 hud destroyed his calendar which b truth and that ho he a 11 new one The h chaplain It II It lt 18 a 1 beauty bogan bc g II with Ith n 11 Benjamin took n day dayon on from hl ln to It Ho JIo let 1 lt It I H to counted count every everyday day chI since hv hall had beon In the death chamber I HO I was Betting up 1111 to he said Than h ho bethought himself of ot the U future U It was waR Juno 1 uno Benjamins case hud had been heard by th the CUlt court of or who had adjourned for fOl long vacation d cl lon tho judgment which meant so eo mu h to toI I I would 1 b hJ handed 1 down tho Hist few r 1 iu or r er mire 1111 th would him ft now trial How long would that bo hIJ began to c tho days 1111 June Juneth th e was 0 B 1 text thorn ther July with lf It text INti t Cretin Jan with about r rono ono no neighbor tb th October Oc to lr Ben turned over 0 1 tho P pK K I wan the tho text test Tho of In IM donth There was Willi nn tin omen omon rOI Bon never played polley n Ren ReI neier did td hut hilt lon at his and count tho J till October J N I wi il Mm I s 1 HE JOKED THE i KIS |