The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-06-25
,a,l,e 7gnri,ss Ega,aasnr.
An Aa,en.n.. 5n q .sailwnr Narrt.


An Adventure 5u "a Halfway carriage
1t must be confessed that it is a very pro
volling thing to receive letter on Christmas
morning calling you two hundred miles away
on immediate and important business" Yes.
it is a very provoking thing, iudccd-at least,
50 | foundit, both Ia anticipation and ia very
deed but there wasno help for it. Shocks,
my lawyer wrote and told me that if, on.
the Z5th, 7 was not 1T C., shodd probably
lose nevernlind what, but something which
induced me to pack my portmanteau in all
haste, send for hanson, and drive to the X.
Y. T. Station When | arrived there found
that J was just too late for the train had
to CATCH aud that the next one did not start
for three quarters Of an hour. Iuwardly ours
ing my ill fortune, went to the waiting room,
and endeavored to make myself as comforta
BILE as could ;ebut, dispite all my attempts
think never knew time to pass so slowly
in all my life, except a certain twenty min
utes about which am going to tell
Although, as | said, the time went very
slowly nevertheless it did 90; and, in pro
cess Of time, found myself snuglv enscouced
in first class carriage which had but one
occupant besides myself cheerful looking,
little old man, with grey hair and strange,
restless look about the eyes. Directly got
into the carriage he addressed me in q faInil
lar way:
ga merry Christmas to you -
''The same to you" said J. rather gruftiy,
as | was not in the best of humors and did
not feel inclined to be cheerful and neighbor-
ly.
''Why, bless me sir" said the little old
man. renewing the attack, you have not
anything whercwith to keep yourself warm
on this cold winters day: ALLOW me to offer
you one of my travelling wrappers always
take care to be we'll provided with such things
when go on journey And my compan-
ion took from his side rolIed-up rug, unroll-
ed it, and taking small mahogany box from
the folds, and threw the rug to me.
''Thank you, sir, said I, feeling in spite
ofmyself a shade more cheerful
80, no thanks no thanks do it for my
own benefit, not yours assure you
How do you make out that"
"Why, / like to have a comfortable face
opposite me- and, besides the grand expert
ment, you known"
'.What grand experiment p | said, some
what startled by the mans excited manner.
90, nothing, nothing" said he, coloring
violently; 'only that is to say-exactly, are
you Freemason%
''NO, sir"
Not a Freemason? Why, bless me you
ought most certainly to become one"
"Why sop
Because You would then know that they
have got a sort Of that is to say--in fact, a
secret"
81 know that already"
''Really I declare you are the most extra
ordinary man | ever met we'll I've got a Sc
cret, too and that's my grand experiment"
AS it's 4 secret | suppose you will not
tell me what it is ?"
80, yes, ! viii though, but-perhaps had
better not never mind IN tell You; it is
simply this, to discover what are the differ
ent feelings Of different persons on different
occasions
81 should hardly call that an experiment "
''WouIdn't you now Curious that; yes.
very curious, for, to tell YOU the truth, don't
myself know whether | am quite justified in
calling it an experiment But enough Of that
matter for the present. May ask where you
are going toy
10 c."
''Have you friends there ?"
''Nonc, am sorry to say. l am called
there ON some disagreeabIe, though import
ant business
''7hen may have the pleasure Of your
company TO dinner when we arrive there ?"
4
pleasure in accepting your Kind invitation"
Bythe-by, do YOU know how many times
we stop before we reach CO" ...-
"0nly twice as thia is an express train
once at NJ, at 2 o'clock, and the second
time at F., at D."
"And when are we due at c."
AT half past six, / believe"
''Thank you"
Thus for time our conversation ended
but we often renewed it again and I began
to regard my companion as clever, kind
hearted. though rather eccentric old man
Some time after we had passed NJ my
eccentric friend composed himself for a sleep
and was soon snoring, and it was not long
before | followed his example my dreams
were troubled. First Of all, | drcamt that ]
was being hung then that was being hand
cutfed and, last Of all. that a great weight
was upon me, and that something was press
ing heavily upon my chest. | then woke
with a start to find myself bound hand and
foot, With rope passed round my neck, and
fastened to the umbrella rack behind, III sucl
manner that, if struggled in the least,
should inevitably choke myself; and my fel
low-travelier was standing over me, with out
knee ON my chest
what are YOU doing" said but INV
sentence was cut short by gag. which M
eccentric friend thrust into my mouth aud IL
ed behind my head lie then stood away Il
look at his handiwork, with eyes glazing like
those of a wild beast and his whole frame
trembling with excitement
'.Now," he said, with wild laugh, nov
shall be. able to try my grand experiment
now | shall be able to find out whether tn
heart can be extracted while man is aliv
without killing him Twice have failed
but the stars have told me that third tim,
l shall not fail Q, fame glory. Immortality
have you in my grasp! What pitiful fool
do you turn pale and tremble? If you do die
you will die glorious martyr to science; anC
# Won live. Won and | will share the glory O