Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-06-08

ton, the hands OF tho big clock pointed
to half past i. | hailed cab and
learned that there was time for me 30
take my trunk with me.
| At that moment it appeared in the
arms Of two porters, who were carrying
it with tho greatest care. Confound
them, how slow they were What fool
ever accused tho railway companies of
handling baggage roughly? hastcned
toward the men, exclaiming:
"Be quick now =
had hardly uttered the words When
a heavy hand was laid on my shoulder
and turning round to see the cause of
such familiarity found myself face to
face with gendarme.
"What is the matter with you 7"
asked in amazement.
"Matter enough replied the man in
jeering tone, Tightening his hold
"You will see y
Behind the gendarme came two rail
way officials. They stopped over nv
trunk solemnly. turned their heads as il
listening, then stood up and exchanged
a glance, which plainly said, There is
no doubt Of it,"
"They are crazy" thought. but then
u horrible conviction flashed through
my brain.
Whether the men were sane or not,
one thing was sure, it was 40 minutes
past IL.
At all hazards ! must make my es-
cape. shook myself free Of the gen
darme's grasp and knocking over two
or three people in my flight dashed
madly away, but was stopped by two
custom house officers, who seized me by
the collar. | was dragged, protesting
and gesticulating, back to whore my
trunk stood There was evidently a
mistake somewhere.
''Let me CO. | cried. ''let me go.
and swear | will come back in an
hour"
Tho gendarme's lips described smile
behind his thick moustache as he took
possession of mo again. this time with
both hands.
''Come now, don't try that" said one
of the railway officials. "You may as
well confess. You arrived from New
York in great haste and under suspi-
oious circumstances. Who are you 4?
What have you in this trunk p
"Clothes, nothing but my clothes"
answered, speaking worse French than
usual in my agitation.
ono explosives :" insisted the official.
Explosives What for | am not
pyrotechnist nor chemist"
Then what is the meaning of this
strange noise Inside your trunk there
is sound of machinery--in short, an
Internal machine. Yesterday the Lon
don police arrested four American an-
archists who had similar articles in their
possession. You are known to be one
Of tho gang"
| listened in speechless wonder to his
words. looked at my trunk and my
wonder increased to stupefaction as |
heard metallic tick, tack inside. Sud-
denly there was loud report, like sig
nal for an explosion.
beware the bomb |" shrieked some
one. Officers and porters scattered in
all directions, and even the gendarme
moved away. alone remaiacd, like
hero. | tore open the trunk and pulled
out the clothes in feverish haste. All
at once felt something hard inside a
nightshirt, and the next moment drew
out and exposed to view little clock.
| had unknowingly packed up the
hotel keepers property, and it was strik-
ing the alarm six hours behind time
"Confound the old turnipr' cried,
throwing it down furiously was an
swered by II loud peal Of laughter from
the spectators.
Then putting my head down like an
old wild boar that scents the hounds,
dashed toward the cab again and sprang
in, shouting to the driver:
"rll give you louis il you get me
to Place de Ia Bourse before noon.
Seven minutes and half later the
cab was tearing up to Stock Exchange.
| jumped out, few up stairs to tho Sem
aphore Office, burst into the room like
hurricane and remarked ia stentorian
tone:
''llere am, gentlemen!"
The next instant the first stroke Of
noon sounded from the exchange clock.
-7ranstated from tie French