The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-17

to nv mind--dungeons, chains, torture
and wretches mad from long captivity.
81 was about to tell you my curious ex-
! perience," he said, returning TO his nat
ural manner while gazing at the girl,
as | said, strange presentiment of danger
suddenly came strongly upon me. A
/ powerful impulse either from without or
| within took complete possession of me,
! and / acted according to its dictates, fully
/ aware that my reason was dormant for
/ the moment, and not caring to take the re-
/ sponsibility OF opposing my will to this
/ mysterious impulse. Perhaps you had
doubts OF my entire sanity for the mo-
ment. But surely you have known of
these mystic impulses"
Sometimes called emotional insanity"
| suggested
~ do not understand that term" he
/ said doubtfully; but, believe me, il was
not insanity; it was wholly in my power
/ TO resist the impulses had ] wished TO do
so, in which case you and and that beau
/ tiful girl would have been mangled by the
explosion"
after the explosion took place had
no doubt OF your complete sanity" | said.
"But after Transporting Miss Gurrell 10 the
bow so precipitately you seemed 10 con-
suit your timepiece, and then ehveloped
her head in your scarf Just as the ex-
/ plosion occurred-was that also mystic
] impulse?'
Explain it if you can" he said calmly.
"All was impulse up to the moment I
/ turned and told you all to wait. That was
| all / could say, for felt that something
/ thing would soon happen to give a suffi-
/ cient reason for an act that / had per-
/ formed blindly. Now listen, and / feel
/ that you will not doubt me. ] am a sick
man, near to death, whose only happiness
| is to obtain a moments release from
! almost constant pain. / am a Russian by
/ birth. j resided in ST. Petersburg for
many years, amid scenes OF elegance
and wealth, until | was sent TO Siberia
! fOr so-called political crimes. l toiled for
/ years in deadly mines, where death set
] his mark upon me. Men do sometimes
/ escape from that dreadful place some
times eastward through Kamtchatka, some
/ times southwark through China, some
! times downward through hell. Ii l had
/ strength, l could tell you things that
would horrify you; but | dare not think
! OF them. Can you wonder that a shat
/ tered being like me should be affected by
subtle influences that stronger organiza-
/ tons would not feel? have been frank
with you, and have touched upon a sub
! ject very painful to me, because | value
| the regard of all good men,"
l left my singular companion and re-
| turned TO the beech somewhat perplexed.
! His actions had excited grave suspicious
in my mind yet it was possible that had
| wronged him. As | approached the fire,
! heard the authoritative tones of Mr..
! Gurrell, who was addressing his officers
and sailors.
Remember he was saying, 'that
! you're still in my employ just the same as
| if you were on board one of my steamers.
! | expect TO signal vessel within twenty
! four hours. Your pay will go on Just the
/ same, although you may lose some time.
! So, Mr.. Second Officer, you will set your
men at work putting up a cabin on the
beach near the fire Here's a plenty of
driftwood you can use, and you can cut
lot OF willow brush from the creek yonder
/ to make the roof. Mr.. Purser, you will
! prospect along the beach and the rocks,
and see if you can find anything fit to
eat"
Mr. Gurrell had fully recovered from
his struggle in the surf, and his charac-
teristic vigor and ability were cropping
out His daughter was sitting on timber
by the fire, looking quite warm and rosy,
and prettier than ever, with her long
brown hair falling on her shoulders. Near
her was the young striker, who was say
ing something to her at which she
laughed.
After giving orders to his men, Mr.. Cur
rell saw me. and at once took me aside,
with a serious look on bis face.
"You are Ponsonby Falrplay Monk, the
writer" he said. 81 know you by your
reputation. although I've never met you
before You have been up the hill yon-
der. We are on an island, suppose
neither land nor sail in sight, Ell? Well,
] shall hoist signal on the peak presently.
Do you know what island this is?''
My geography is wholly at fault, " l re-
piled.
"'You are we'll acquainted with Ivan
Sevruga, l believe" he said, with a keen
look.
"The name is entirely strange to me-"
"He is that bilious-looking fellow who
swan ashore with lone, my daughter, ex-
planned Gurrell.
"Oh, indeed, did not know his name"
] said. II never saw him until yester-
day"
"What is your opinion of that explo-
sion ?" asked Gurrel, bluntly.
I'm rather at a loss for an opinion"
replied. / then related to him the expla-
nation Of Sevruga bad given me of his
singular behavior at the time of the disas-
] Dcf. duITbll lOOhtu luCTSQulOub anu SdlO
"It's all lie, depend upon it. He's a
dynamite crank, but I've got him now, and
he shall not escape.
"But dynamite cranks do not usually
trust their precious carcasses in the steam
ers they demolish,' l suggested. This
seemed to make a profound impression
on Mr.. Gurrell, and after scowling for a
moment he said:
That's so. OF course it might have
been done impromptu when he found
that l was on board. Still, believe he's
innocent after all Then it must have
been the other one"
''Who?" asked in surprise.
collins" murmured Gurrell, that
young fellow OF the fire. He's one of my
striking employees, coniound him. Now,
here is my other supPosition; If Sevruga
isadynamiter he is probably skillfhl
one, and would not commit any blunders.
| If he placed a bomb in the steamer set by
clockWorks, of course he would give him
self time to get off at the first port which
is San Pedro, and the bomb would explode
after the vessel had continued her voyage.
Now, believe that is just what Collins
intended to do but being bungler, his
fireworks went of prematurely. / know
positively that Collins intended TO land AT
San Pedro, while Seyruga was booked for
San DIEGO"
"You seem to be well informed regard
ing these men,"