Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-06-29
Mists!l
A Queer Fellow Traveller.
4 TRtE STORY.

Some wears ago | had occasion 10 take
a long Journey Ia the norih-a lDurue,
Which would in,olNr mV travelling a..
night fcw days heiorr had received
an invitation fram a friend of mine. - ho
lived n, a town NhICh had to pass, Ia
dine and slay the nigh, at his house an
invitation Which gladly accepted. a. IL
would prove Pheasant break IN the mo-
noiout oi the JuufncA- ! fe,ah rd. inrrr-
fore. 10 81 strange matters To srTNc
at hls holse .n time FOR dinner, and procrcd
10 my destination neat morning. When the
dan arrived ! Was ,erN busy 30. after
huuied lauoh. packed up Tea ncor,>arics
and rushed of 10 Eustou, Shrfr ! arrived
Wlth just two minute, Ia spare. | asked Tor
nv tram, winch the conductor pointed out.
adding, III YOU don't hurrS up ar. Noull
lose II ! took hIs advice and Jumped into
the neaTvrt car, the door Of y hlch slooI
open, and ia Which there Was but one other
occupant. | scttlrd NV self Tor nv Journey
and for the first time had LEISURE to observe
u, iclluw-,ravelcr. \o~ rather prldr nv
seli on beng Judge Of phtsIugnomS. and
nv hrsi impressions Of hum Wcrr the reverse
Of pheasant lie Sas rVidenti, a hdgety
nervous sort of man he had restless gray
eyes, Without much expression IA them I;
ShIie bic hair a reddish hue. lie vas
dressed in a long ulster. which | though.
quite unnecessary, for. though It vas late IN
the wear. the weather vAs by no means cold.
There on the seat beside him a small
oaken buN. strongly bound with brass and
his eyes we're constantly glancIng frous' his
box 10 me IN way thai did no, at all
Ike. tesan to have visions OF plots, IN
frrnal machines, and ! do not know vhAt.
After regarding me steadily for a fe~ min
utrs. be SAID
is It possible. sir. that YOU arr not
aware Of tins car beiag reserved for State
officials ?"
| looked around, and seeing no indication
OF the fact, replied that
Il was not aware Of such being the
case
Then. SIR" he replied. Il must beg Of
you instantly 20 vacate II, and leave me
here in solitary silence"
Considering that the train was going at
the rate Of about 4O miles an hour, and
would not stop until it reached a small
station half va, to nv destination IN about
all hours time, could not quite see why
should comply with his request, or rather
command; and ! frankly told him so. ad-
AAA% bAAAA A4- as MUCH Fl-ht kfEETc NE
had, and did not intend moving"
lie replied with a most solemn air.
Then yow fate be on your own head"
This began TO frghten ME, for the man.
manner convinced ME that he mus, be IN
sane ; and the prospect Of an hours Jour
ney in car with mAdman vas not calcu-
lated TO raise my spirits. However. put a
bold face on the matter, and affected to he
engrossed with my newspaper though in
reality | was watching his every movement.
He suddenly seized hold Of the wooden box
and held il on his knees, mumbling some
inarticulate words, then suddenly replaced
it beside him. In doing so | caught
glimpse Of the butt Of pistol sticking out
of his pocket. | had nothing more defen-
siye than an umbrella and a roll Of papers,
which, IN consequence of their length, was
compelled to carry in my hand. Presently
he began again.
Have YOU studied the marvellous powers
of electricity, NAV | ask ?"
| replied in the negative.
IL have" said he land have arrived at
such pitch of perfection that, aided by the
contents Of this box, could blow this train
and everybody in it TO infnitesimal atoms"
But" | hszarded, show about your
self?"
81 should calmly mount into the air and
survey the scene without injury"
"How ?" said l.
That he replied, sis my business look
To yourself"
Pleasant this, for me However made
some remark which seemed 10 satisfy him
and he lapsed again into silence | felt
more than ever convinced of his madness,
thinking be had probably escaped from some
private asylum. for he was evidently gen.
tleman; yet | could not understand what
the box could be which he guarded so
jealously. | felt very sorry for him. in spite
of my dangerous situation. | then tried
another tack, and made several common
place remarks to him to all of which be
answered in monosyllables, suddenly burst
ing out with
''Do you dare to address me, sir, without
having first disclosed to me who you are
Your temerity surprises me :"
| thought it best to humor him, and
handed him my card, on which was inscribed:
-. b. Smith,
"Ha, guessed you were Smith you
look like one blacksmith, if may Judge
by the smuts on your face" Here he broke
into a maniacal laugh. When he had finish
ed laughing, he said: "Do you want to
know who | amp"
said | thought | might as well know
his name, if he did not mind.
"Weli." said he, leaning forward. and
peering into my eyes, keeping one hand on
tine box, .when you first jumped ints the
carriage | was the Khan of Tartary; but
the wonders Of electricity are such that
am even now changing; l may be anybody
in q few hours or even minutes" suppose
| looked surprised. for he went on: "Ah,
you look surprised; but perhaps, you will
hardly believe that my temper quite depends