> pleasant stranger was a great admirer Browning. Suddenly he looked at his itch. “Oh,” he exclaimed, “IJ must be *~ and he bounced out of the room, turn- g at the door to smile, “I'll see you later.” When I stepped through the little door to the high-walled courtyard of the gaol, “my surprise, the first man I saw was my iend of the breakfast table. He rushed ) to me; “You didn’t know you had the nour of breakfasting with the public -ecutioner,” he said. “T certainly did not!” “Well,” he chattered on without noting ie chill in my reply, “I have a favour to k of you.” I shuddered. “This is the first time I have performed the execution of my duty on the Pacific cast,” he continued, and I took mental ote of the appropriateness of the word >xecution.” “T find conditions here are identical with ose under which my uncle established a Fishermen’s Lodge Oyster River _. Vancouver Island - & * f Ww £8 veg F cy-Elsey,Proprietor LICENSED PREMISES HEADQUARTERS ANCIENT “ORDER™ OF “PEACHES ——— ANKER’S SECOND-HAND FURNITURE STORE We specialize in UPHOLSTERING AND REPAIRS 516 Third Avenue North Port Alberni, B.C. eee PORT MOTORS LTD. Dodge-DeSoto — Dodge Trucks Complete Stock Chrysler Corporation Parts and Accessories e 4th and Angus Port Alberni, B.C. ee Good's Sugar Bowl Cleanliness and Courteous Service Light Lunches Ice Cream, Tobacco and Confectionery The Best of Fountain Service You can obtain your copy of “THE SHOULDER STRAP” here PORT ALBERNI, B. C. HIRTEENTH EDITION world’s record in executions in England in 1887,” he said. “I’m out to establish a new world record. You see this police constable. He has a stop watch. I want you to stand beside him and see that the instant the condemned man’s foot touches the gravel when he comes through that door that the watch starts, and that it stops the second the trap is sprung.” The request was such a relief to what I expected he was going to ask me to do that I consented. Then Arthur ran up on to the scaffold. He faced the grim little crowd, rubbing his hands together and smiling agreeably, he addressed them: “Gentlemen,” he said. “This is a wonderful country you have out here—and such glorious weather! This is the first time that I have visited you” —“‘and I hope the last” gloomed a man beside me —‘and, as conditions are similar to those when my uncle established a world’s record in executions, I am hoping to break that record today to celebrate the first time I have visited the Pacific Coast. “Now, gentlemen,’ he said, growing serious, “when the condemned man appears you will kindly lift your hats—not neces- sarily out of respect for him, but for the law. “Usually it is the custom to screen the foot of the scaffold so that you can not see the condemned man after he disappears through the trap, but owing to the fact that this is my first time here and I am hoping to establish a new record, I have left the screen off, so you can see everything.” Just then the door opened. As the Flying Dutchman’s foot touched the ground I saw the watch hand move. Accompanied by a Salvation Army officer and the sheriff, he moved across the yard to the ramp that reached to the scaffold. I glanced at Arthur. inward, a black cap in one hand and a leg strap in the other. As they reached the trap, Arthur sprang into action; there was a black flash as the cap went on and, almost at the same time, the strap went about the Dutchman’s legs. The Salvation Army officer had only time to murmur the first three or four words of the Lord’s Prayer when the trap was sprung. Almost before the rope tightened, Arthur, with hand uplifted, shouted, “Time.” “Forty-seven seconds,” answered constable, and he was correct. “Gentlemen, gentlemen,’ beamed proud Arthur, again rubbing his hands, “you have been privileged to witness 11 seconds clipped from the record set by my uncle. You have seen a new world’s record in hanging.” And that’s how I first met my friend the hangman. -the A LADY who lived in India was having some wiring done by a native electrician. He came to her over and over again for in- structions. Finally, in exasperation, she said: “You know what I want. Why don’t you just use your common sense and go ahead.” He made a grave, courtly bow and said: said: “Madame, common sense is a rare gift. I have only a technical education.” He was crouched . With Compliments to the By ©, FOMIQs, * Denis O’Brien * PORT ALBERNL, B. C. WING'S TAXI Phone 432 5 and 7-passenger cars at your service, day and night Stand: Corner Ist and Argyle PORT ALBERNTL, B. C. REDMAN MOTORS LTD. Dealers in CHEVROLET and OLDSMOBILE CARS and Chevrolet Trucks P.O. Box 383 PORT ALBERNI, B.C. With Compliments to the B.C. Police G. F. DAVIDSON PORT ALBERNI KING EDWARD HOTEL A. M. AFFLECK, PROPRIETOR “KR Home Away From Home” LICENSED PREMISES Box 246 PORT ALBERNI Phone 733 B.C. When in Alberni, Gas Up at Allen's SuperService GAS and OIL REPAIRS TIRES Telephone 535 ALBERNI B.C. Page Twenty-nine