atlantic guardian

"That's not right, Nick."
"No? I'll decide what's right for
me."
uYou want to go to heaven don't
you, Son?"
"I've lived in hell ever since I
saw the light of day. It don't make
no difference now."
"Nick, I can't believe you really
feel like that."
HListen, Father," the mimicking
was absent this time. "Ever since
I was knee high, you and your
kind, pillars of the church, have
never given me and my kind a
chance to live like human beings,
always after us like bloodhounds.
Do you think a starving boy stops
to think whether he is going to
hell or heaven when he grabs that
forbidden loaf. Do you think a
man stops to think of his debt to
a society that never allows him to
payoff the mortgage that shackles
him from the time he breathes the
air of so-called freedom. Freedom!
that's a laugh! I am going to hang
tomorrow for killing a dame. I
have to pay my debt they tell me,
a life for a life. 'Thou shalt not
kill,' Alright, so what? I'm going
to swing. But don't think I'm
scared and want to be fortified by
your comfortable pretty phrases,
your mealy mouthed prayers, your
sanctimonious gestures."
Nick's voice had dropped to a
low murmur. Yet every word was
spoken with vehement malice.
HI'm sorry, Nick, I would like to
think that you were all right with
God when you went."
"I'm alright with myself."
"Do you want me to send a
message to your mother?"
"That old hag!" Nick laughed.
"Sure, tell her that her darling
boy wishes her success in her
SEPTEMBER. 1948
latest establishment on New
Gower Street. Tell her I'll see her
in hell. I'll have it all fixed for
her down there."
Father Lundon checked the
angry words that rose to his lips.
uNick, it's evident you don't want
me here. If your tormented soul
needs ... " Nick's laugh cut off
the priest's words. HSure, sure,
I'll send you a special delivery."
Waiting for the warden to open
the cell door the priest reached
into his pocket and drew forth an
object which he passed to Nick.
HIn the meantime meditate on this,
my son." It was a small gold
crucifix. Nick held it for a
moment his face working. Then
with a laugh he threw it at the
closing door where it was deflected
from the bars into a corner of
the cell. It lay on the dusty floor,
gleaming dully in the yellow light.
Nick began to pace the floor
now, back and forth.
When the warden, accompanied
by Father Lundon and four guards
approached the cell at zero hour
Nick was still pacing the floor.
The guards entered the cell and
placing themselves, one in front,
one behind and one on either side,
waited for the warden to speak.
"Are you ready, Nick?" the
warden asked.
"What difference is it going to
make, if I say I ain't?" Nick asked.
uCome on boys." The warden
motioned the guards to follow him.
With the warden in front and the
priest in the rear, the party walked
to the door at the end of the
long passage. Opening the door
they entered the prison yard.
The witnesses had already
gathered before the scaffold The
morning air was cold.
17