Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-04-10
A QUEER ADVENTURE.

1t happened about seven gears ago.
l had been tranSacting some business
IN London, and was returning by the
afternoon mail TO my home IN the couu-
Try Being the only occupant OF the car
riaSe in which role. broke the tcdium
OF the journey by reading. in the dim
light OF the chill December day. seine of
the several periodicals with which I
had furnished myself at the bookstall
previous To my departure from the sta
ton.
The papers at that time were fun of
accounts respecting some startling out
RACES committed just previously by n
band of desperate nihilists. who. in their
own particular m1nner, we're Ievy,ne-
war upon civilization in a well-known
european "aPital. The reports svere
aiarmingly graphic, and an air of in
security was engvndered by reading
them. for rGmor had IL that the ram;fi-
cations wese welI-nigh limitless, ex-
tenuing into other lands besides their
Own. and il was plainly hinied that Eng
land was Thortiy TO receive a special
share of their attentions.
read on until the growing darkness
rendered the operation 40 difficult TO
be longer indulged in, and then mused
upon what had read vatil, half nv
Journey being accomplished, il became
necessary Tor me TO change nv train
With quarter. OF an hour to snare. I
entered the buffet attached TO the sta
ticn mt which hoS STOPPED. with the
object OF obtnining some needed re-
ireshment. Having eaten not hing since
breakfast, ] was hungry, and looked
round for something substantial where
with TO dppease my appetite.
The only available thing beside the
usual sandwich wns German sausage.
which began 20 tackle without the.
least compunctior. Although not nm
edible That usually indul-ed into be.
correct, 4 had never before tasted it.
the inelegnnt poloDy seemed TO my
sharpencd palate quite tooshsome food.
and 1 ate vigorously, hnd telt, as be-
iieSed, ali the better for il when the
time came TO resume my Journey.
l had companion this time. n man
whO. like myself. was closely wrapped
ana who occupied the seat directly on.
positc to the corner one in which
placed myself. In his hand 4 noticed
a4Aa4 he carried a small. obIonp parcel
tncased IN brown paper aad tied with
strip OF thin string. so arranged as 10
form loop ior the fingers that held il
On startirg, my fello1v-i raveler made
4 few commonplace Remarks about the
weather, and later on, with an air of
decided sociabhitS, offered me his flask.
am aware that it is not ordinarily adj
Sisable 10 accept hospitality in this way
from stranger. and it is n thing nj
ways set my face pgninst. but. in this
instance. broke through nv custom
and took the proffered drink. and then.
drawing my wraps closely around me.
snuggied into my corner. and tried 10
make myself comfortable for the re. ,
Of the ride.
had not been long thus cnsconcci
when kind of drovsy stupor began 10
creep over me, which steadily increased.
despite repeated efforts on nv part ,o
shake it off. AZ sat in this semi-con-
scious state. my thoughts reverted 10
the nIhiiistic literature had been read
ing. and Instantly IL occiirtcd to me that
the brandy | bad been crinI<ing was
dsrpgged. Tbs thought was not n pleas
9nt one, and somewhat alarmed by IL
made a farther attempF1o rouse my
self from the iethargy into which was !
falling. but without success. Suddenly
lost consciousness entirely. and every |
thing became blank.
II was only for few moments. how
ever. for my senses returned as ouicKIv |
"s they had left me. although my power |
of action Nns quite gone. ! seemed lik,.
person under the Influence of some |
mesmeric spell. from which there is no |
escape. In this condition my gaze in
StAnctiveiv turned to my companion.
and noticed, as ! thought. a mysteri-
Gus change in his appearance. His com
piexton had assumed n malignant air.
his eyes wore n wild look. and round !
his mouth there curlcd cunning smile.
AS ! sat watching him. he began to
undo the parcel in his hands. and draw
iEg away the paper in which il was in
closed. exposed TO view q box apparent
~ made Of tin. A little hinged door on
one OF its sides, which he presently
opened, showed that the interior was
hlied With species of cIockwork ar
Tangemei't. and instinctively guessed
that the thing beheld was one of those
diaooiIcal Inventions which have come
to be known by the term of internal ma
chimes.
,,OR. behclding this horrible engine Of
destruction. which. for aught knew,
might be fused ready for it's dreadful
work, my first thought was to stretch
out my hand for the communication
sord. and, by stopping the train. let tho
authorities know the manner of man
they were carrying; but, on attempting
TO rise, | found that my limbs utterly
refused their office, and was as help
less as though bad been bound hand
and fo9f- Ny companion. evidently I
divining my Intention. spoke
You arc poweriess to move he said.