The Fantasy Fan, December 1933: The Fans' Own Magazine — John Shaqi
The Fantasy Fan, December 1933: The Fans' Own MagazineVarious
History
The Fantasy Fan, December 1933: The Fans' Own Magazine
Various
Fan magazines; Fantasy fiction -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Fantasy fiction -- Periodicals
Said Claffin, "I guess this new bird it plenty tough. He murdered his
wife and two kids. That's even worse than 'cowboy' there."
Lawrie cut in sneeringly. "I don't agree with you. He didn't carve 'em
up afterwards like Williams did. Nobody in their right mind could do a
thing like that. I couldn't, and neither could any of the rest of you
fellows," he charged. No one answered. The others knew of the enmity
between the two, and a strained silence filled the place. Then at
last, Williams spoke, his voice hoarse, fairly quivering with rage.
"All right, Lawrie, you've said plenty. I'll remember it. And don't
forget this; you'll be next! You'll be next!" he repeated, harshly.
Lawrie laughed, mockingly. The guard coming down the hall put a stop
to further conversation for the time being. But now the quarrel
between the two was out in the open, and through the following days
and weeks, Lawrie seemed possessed of some imp of perversity and
taunted and gibed at Williams continuously. Much of the time, the
'cowboy murderer' lay on his back on the cot and stared sullenly at
the ceiling, only turning at times to throw Lawrie a venomous glance.
At times, Lawrie grew ashamed for taunting a doomed man, but something
inside of him, stronger than he, urged him on implacably. Once in a
while, he shuddered at the looks given him by the other, and silently
he blessed the bars that kept them apart.
Then came William's last morning. The prison chaplain came to
administer the last rites, but fled before the storm of curses that
met him. After his departure, a long silence fell that lasted till
they came for him. Even Lawrie was silent and sat soberly watching. As
they brought him out, and he passed Lawrie, he stopped and looked in.
His eyes, filled with immeasurable hatred, met those of Lawrie. On his
face was a malignant sneer.
"Remember, you're next," he said slowly, and passed on down the
corridor. Lawrie watched his retreating form till it passed from
sight. Claffin called across in a hoarse whisper. "What do you make of
this; Williams asked them to bury him with his spurs on. Funny, isn't
it?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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