The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-17

| taken place HAD the clOcNWOrk run
down, and was the machine arranged with
such diabolical ingenuity that a certain
interval was required, after the clockwork
had run down, before an explosion could
occur d? Or had rust caused the hiechan-
ism to again hang fire?
''After making all that commotion the
thing might at least come open | banged
the box viciously against the corner Of the
table. felt that l would rather that an
explosion should take place than that moth
ing should occur. One does not care to
be disturbed from one sound slumber in
the small hours of the morning for trifie.
'I'vc halt mind to get hammer, and
try, as they say in the cookery books, an
other way
Unfortunately had promised Pugh to
abstain from using force. | 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 so got shattered, only was afraid that
Pugh would not believe me The man is
himself such an untruthful man that he is
in chronic state of suspicion about the
truthfulness of others.
swell. if you re not going to blow up,
or open, or something, Tllsay good night,
| gave the box final rap with my
knuckles and final shake, replaced it on
the table, put out the gas, and returned To
bed.
I 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 his purchase was destined TO be mine.
1t was useless to think of sleep while that
performance was going on. | sat up in
bed once more.
''It strikes me that the puzzle consists
in finding out how it is possible to go to
sleep with Pughs 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 to the
tick, tick, tick, and the screeching.
Possibly told myself, as relighted
the gas, ''the explosion is to come off this
time
turned to look at the box. rhefe
could be no doubt about it; the noise was
louder. And, if could trust my eyes, the
box was moving-giving series of little
jumps This might have been an optical
delusion. but it seemed to me that at each
tick the box gave little bound. During
the screeches-which sounded 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 surely the
box had increased in size; could have
sworn not only that it had increased, but
that it was increasing, even as stood there
looking on. 1t had grown, and still was
growing, both broader, and longer, and
deeper Pugh, of course, would have at
tributed it to supernatural agency; there
never was man with such a nose for a
ghost. could picture him occupying my
position, shivering in his night-shirt, as he
beheld that miracle taking place before
his eyes The solution which at once
suggested itself to me-and which would
never have suggested itself to Pugh =
was that the box was fashioned, as it were
in layers, and that the ingenious mechan-
ism it contained was forcing the sides at
once both upwards and outwards. took
it in my hand ! could feel something
striking against the bottom of the box,
like the tap, tap, tapping of tiny hammer.
''This is a pretty puzzle Of Pugh's. He
would say that that is the tapping of
death-watch. For my part have not
much faith in death watches, et hoe genas
on,ne, but it certainly is a curious tapping.
l wonder what is going to happen next ?"
Apparently nothing, except continue
ton of those mysterious sounds. That
the box had increased in size, had, and
have, no doubt whatever | should say
that It had increased good inch in every
direction, at least half an inch while had
been looking on. But while stood look
ing its growth was suddenly and percepti-
bly, stayed it ceased to move Only the
noise continued.
II wonder how long it will be before
anything worth happening does happen
| suppose something is going to happen
there can't be all this to-do for nothing
If there is anything in the iufeTnal-ma-
| chine line, and there is going to be an ex-
plosion, / might as well be here to see it.
think I'll have a pipe"
I put on my dressing gown. lit my
pipe. sat and stared at the box. /
dare say sa. there for quite twenty min
utes when, as before, without any sort of
warning, the sound was stilled Its sud
den cessation rather startled me-
Has the mschanism again hing fire
Or, this time, is the explosion coming
off, 1t did not come off nothing came
off "Isn't the box even going to open?"
1t did not open. There was simply 81
lence all at once, and that was ALL sat
there in expectation for some moments
longer. But | sat for nothing. rose
| took the box in my hand ] shook il.
This puzzle is puzzle" held the
box first to one ear, then to the other. |
gave it several sharp raps with my knuckles
There was not an answering sound, not
even the sort of reverberation which Pugh
and | had noticed at first. 1t seemed
follower than ever. 1t was as though the
soul of the box was dead. IL suppose if
put you down, and eztinguish the 9as
and return to bed, in about half an hour
or so, just as | am dropping off to sleep,
the performance will be recommended.
Perhaps the third time will be lucky
But / was mistaken-there was no
third time When I returned to bed that
time returned to sleep, and was allowed
to sleep there was no continuation of the |
performance, at least so far as know.
For no sooner was once more between |
the sheets than ! was seized with an ire
sistable droWsiness, q drowsiness which SO
mastered me that II imagine it must
have been instantly-sank into slumber
which lasted till long after day had dawned. |
Whether or not any more mysterious