The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-04-17

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addressing me. The potion imbibed
from my flask is a special deeocuou
which viii prevent action on your part
for some time to come. So sit still and
listenl You know, doubtless. what this
is he continued, pointing to the box,
which he had placed on the seat beside
him, "ahd most likely you guess what
/ am at the same time. In case you do
not, VIII tell you at once that lam one
of that noble band who have for their
object in life the emancipation Of man
kind from the tyranny of authority"
SIN other words, you are a nihilist--s
dynamitard p I suggested.
use those terms if you like" he re-
piled. ''There is nothing In a name.
Acts are the things whereby men are
judged. Hear what I have to sayl The
society to which I belong has decreed
the immediate doom of an authOrita-
tive rule, and with that object has dis
patched emissaries far and wide to car
~ Quits behests. A big blow is shortly
to be struck, and there is not a country
in the whole Of Europe which viii es-
cape it. Russia, Germany, Austria,
France, all are condemned, and even
England, the vaunted home of the free,
is not to be exempt. AT the present
moment, there are 90 picked men,
armed with the most deadly bombs, in
London itself, awaiting the signal to
commence. One more worker is re-
quired, aud I am commissioned TO find
some one to supply the want. ! have
done so, and my choice falls upon you!"
started IN my seat at these words,
uttered IN fercely earnest tone. He
concluded:
"You, yes, you must become one OF
Us; must enroll yourself under the BAN
ner Of emancipation, and strike blow
for Hberty!"
"And what if I refuse ?" inquired, as
quietly as my excitement would allow.
He leaned forward, and Kissed rather
then spoke in my ear:
of you will not do this, then you
yourself are doomed Mark me, un-
less you join OH ranks you will never
leave this train alivei"
"Who will prevent me?" I asked,
again making a vain endeavOr to rise.
81 will" he shouted. fercely.
81 defy you!" I exclaimed, with a
Armnes I did not really feel, thinking
that a determined attitude might posi-
bly, overawe him, for assassins are in
variably towards. I was mistaken in
my man, however, for on hearing my
words ne put his hand under the cloak
that enveloped him and drew forth q
poniard, the, sharp-pointed edge OF
which he felt critically with the tip OF
his finger.
Il will give you one minute il which
to consider your decision" he said,
"and if at the end of that time you re-
main obdurate, then this blade goes
straightway through your heart!"
In order, I suppose, to amuse himself
during the interval he pricl1ed several
holes with the point of the instrument
in his arm just above the wrist, from
each of which the blood squirted in
small, purple jets, showing how sharp
was the weapons edge. In a little while
he said:
"The time is up. What say you now?"
what I said before" replied. 'Do
your worst"
Instantly he sprang to his feet and
clutched me by the throat.
Coward" I cried, half choking, as
was, and struggling in his iron grasp.
The epithet seemed to madden him,
for his face became liyid with sudden
rage, his eyes glared wildly and his
breath came in thick and hurried gssps.
"You shall never say that again!" be
shouted, tightening his hold until the
blood swelled up in my face and my
eyes seemed ready to burst from their
sockets.
With the energy Of despair 7 made
one final attempt to recover my power
of action, and felt that I was succeed
ing. The effect of the potion was evil
IDENTIFY working off, and with use re-
turning to my limbs I realized that
now was my time. Concentrating all
the strength had into one tremendous
effort, managed to free myself from
his grip and Immediately closed with
him. We struggled violently together
for a few seconds, neither gaining the
mastery, and then 7 stumbled and we
both fell to the ground, he uppermost
It seemed that my hour was come, for
in his hand be held the deadly weapon.
As I saw the cleaning blade descend in
one swift stroke I raised my voice and
shouted
Tickets, pleased All tickets readyl"
1t was the summons of the collector.
I rubbed my eyes and looked around
There was my fellow traveller sitting
orufaTIvr m, Fho cooR o-voes4e v.o--, -Jfv, -