The record-union., 1892-11-26

terIous box. That same instant there
issued, from the bowels of the box, a
more uncomfortable screech than any l
bad previously heard. 1t took me so COM
pIetely by surprise that l let the match
iaIl from my hand TO the floor. The
room was in darkness. I stood, wilt
not say trembling, istening-conslder-
ing their volulne-to the eeriest shrieks l
ever heard. All at once they ceased.
Then came the tick, tick, tick again.
struck another match and lit the gas.
Pugh had left his puzzle box behind
him. We had done all we could together
10 solve the puzzle. he had lett IL be-
hind to see what 1 could do with 1t alone.
SO much had it engrOssed my attention
that | had even brought it into my bed
room in order that | might, before retlr-
ing to rest, make final attempt at the
solution OF the mystery. Now what pos
sessed the thing?
As | stood and looked and listened one
thing began to be clear to me, that some
sort Of machinery had been set in motion
inside the box. How it had been set in
motion was another matter. But the box
had been subjected to so much handling,
10 such pressing and such hammer
ing, that 1t was not strange if, after
ali, Pugh or i had unconsciously hit
upon the spring which set the whole
thing going. Possibly the mechanism
had got SO rusty that it had refused to act
at once. 1t had hung fire, and only after
some hours had something or other set
the imprisoned motive power free.
But what about the screeching? Could
there be some living creature concealed
within the box? Was | listening to the
cries Of some small animal in agony?
MOmentary reflection suggested that the
explanation Of the one thing was the ex-
planation OF the other. Rust!-there was
the mystery. The same rust which had
prevented the mechanism from acting at
once was causing the screeching now.
The uncanny sounds We're caused by
nothing more nor less than the want OF a
drop or two Of oil. Such an explanation
would not have satisfied Pueh; it salts
fed me.
Picking up the box, 1 placed it to my
ear.
4 wonder how long this little
performance is going to continue.
And what is going 10 happen
when it Is good enough to cease? /
hope"-an uncomfortable thought oc-
cUrred to me-''I hope Pugh hasn't
picked up some pleasant little novelty in
the way Of an Internal machine. TT would
be a first-rate joke if he and l had been
endeavoring to solve the puzzle Of how
to set 1t gOlng."
l don't mind owning that as this re-
L III
puzzle on the dressing-tahle. The idea
did not commend itself to me at all. The
box evidently contained some curious
mechanism. 1t might be more curious
than comfortable. Possibly some agree
able little device in cl0ck-WOrk. The
tick, tick, tick, suggested clock-work,
which had been planned to go n certain
time, and then-then, for all l knew.
ignite an explosive, and-blOw uD. 1t
would be a charming solution to tire
puzzle ii it We're to explode while | stood
there, in my nlghtshirt, looking on. 1t is
true that the box weighed very little
Probably, as l have said, the whole affair
would not turn the scale at couple
of ounces. But then its very lightness
might have been part of the ingenious in
VentCr'S little game. There are explosives
with which one can work a very salts
factory amount of damage with consider
able less than a couple Of ounces.
While | was hesitating-I own it'll
whether | had not better immerse Pugh'S
puzzle in 4 can Of water or throw it out of
the window or call down Bob with a re-
quest to at once remove it to his apart
ment, both the tick, tick, tick and the
screeching ceased, and all within the box
was still. If it was going to explode, it
was now or never. InstinctivelY L moved
in the direction of the door.
! waited with certain sense of anxiety
I waited in vain. Nothing happened. not
even renewal of the sound.
Il wish Pugh had kept his precious
puzzle at home. This sort of thing tries
one's nerves."
When l thought that | perceived that
nothing seemed likely to happen, | re-
turned to the neighborhood OF the table.
| looked at the box aSkance. | took it
up gingerly. Something might go off at
any moment for all / knew. 1t would be
too much Of q joke if Pugh's precious
puzzle exploded in my hand. | shook it
doubtlully; nothing ratified. l held 1t to
my ear; there was no sound. What had
taken place? Had the clockwork run
down, and was the machine arranged
with such diabolical ingenuity that a GER
tain interval was required after the clock
work was run down before an explosion
could occur? Or had rust caused the
mechanism to again hang fire?
after making all that commotion the
thing might at least come open." I
banged the box viciously against the cor
ner Of the table. l ielt that l would ra-
ther that an explosion should take place
than that nothing should occur. One
does not care to be disturbed from ones
sound slumber III the small hours of the
morning for trlte.
''Pve half a mind to get a hammer and
try, as they say in the cookery books, an
other way"
Unfortunately had promised Pugh to
abstain from using force. l might have
shivered the box open with my hammer.
and then explained that it had fallen, or
got trOd upon, or sat upon, or something,
and 50 got shattered, only | was afraid
that Pugh would not believe me. The
man is himself such an untruthful man
that he is in a chronic state Of suspicion
about The truthfulness eff others.
"Wpll il VOII' IRE not uOipp tO b1ONv ~,
or open, or something, l'll say good
night"
/ gave the box q final rap with my
knucl1les and a final shake. replaced it
on the table, put out the gas, and re-
turned TO bed.
[ was just sinking again into slumber
when that box began again. II was true
that Pugh had purchased the puzzle. but
it was evident that the whole enjoyment
Of the purchase was destined to be mine
1t was useless to thinksof sleep while that
performance was going on. l sat up in
bed once more.
at strikes me that the puzzle consists
in finding out how it is possible to 90 TO
sleep with Pugh's purchase in your bed
room. This is far better than the old
fashioned prescription of cats on the
tiles"
1t struck me the noise was distinctly
louder than before; this applied both 10
the tick, tick, tick, and the screeching.
Possibly" 1 told myself, as ] relighted
the gas, ''the explosion is to come of
this time"
turned to look at the box. There could
be no doubt about it: the noise was
louder. And, if [ could trust my eyes, the
box was moving-giving a series OF little
jumps. This might have been an optical
deluslon, but 1t seemed to me that at
each tick the box gave q little nd.
During the screeches-which souAded
more like the cries OF an animal in an
agony of pain even than before-if it did
not tilt itself first on one end, and then on
the other, / shall never be willing to trust
the evidence of my own eyes again. And