The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-10
A QUEER ADVENTURE

nau Deen transactlhB some business IN
London. and was returning by the after
noon mail 10 my home in the country.
Being the only occupant Of the carriage
in which / rode, broke the tedium of
the journey by reading, in the dim light
of the chill December day, some of the
several periodicals with which / had
furnished myself at the bookstall pre-
vious to my departure from the station.
The papers at that time were full Of
accounts respecting some startling out
RACES committed just previously by a
band of desperate Nihilists, who, in
their own particular manner, were levy
ing war upon civilization in well
known European capital. The reports
were alarmingly graphic, and an air Of
insecurity was ongendered by reading
them, for rumor had it that the rami-
iications Of these champions Of assassi-
nation were well nigh limitless, extend
ing into other lands besides their Own,
and il was plainly limited that England
was shortly TO receive special share of
their attentions.
read on until the growing darkness
rendered the operation too difficult to be
longer INDUCED in, and then unused upon
what / had read until. half my journey
being accomplished. it became necessary
for me to change my train. With quar-
ter of an hour TO spare, I entered the
buffet attached to the station at which
l had stopped, with the object of obtain
ing some needed rofreshment. Having
eaten nothing since breakfast, / was
hungry, and looked round for something
substantial wherewith to appease my ap-
petite.
The ly available thing besides the
usual sandwich was German sausage,
which 1 began to tackle without the
least conjunction. Although not an edi-
bio that l usually indulge into be cor
rect, / had never before tasted 1.-THE
inelegant polony seemed to my sharpen
cd palate quite toothsome food, and
ate vigorously. and felt, as l believed,
all the better for it when tho time came
to resume my journey.
had a companion this time, a man
who, like myself, was closely wrapped.
and who occupied the seat directly oppo-
site to the corner one in which placed
myself. In his hand noticed that he
carried a small. oblong parcel. incased
in brown paper and tied with strip of
thin string, so arranged as to form a
loop for the fingers that held il.
On starting my fellow traveller made
q few commonplace remarks about the
weather, and later on, with an air Of
decided sociability, offered me his flask.
/ am aware that it is not ordinarily ad-
visable 10 accept hospitality in this way
from u stranger, and it is thing / al
ways set my face against, but in this in
stance l broke through my custom and
took the proGered drink, and then, draw
ing my wraps closely around me, snug
gled into my corner and tried TO make
myself comfortable for the rest Of the
ride.
had not been long thus onsconced
when a kind of drowsy stupor began TO
creep over me, which steadily increased,
despite repeated efforts on my part to
shake it of. AS l sat in this semicon-
scious state my thoughts reverted to the
nihilistic literature had been reading,
and instantly il occurred TO me that the
brandy | had been drinking was drug
ged. The thought was not pleasant
one, and, somewhat alarmed by il, ! made
a further attempt to rouse myself from
the lethargy into which was falling.
but without success. Suddenly / lost
consciousness entirely, and everything
became "A blank.
1t was only for few moments, how
ever. for my sonses returned as quickly
us they had left mo, although my power
of action was quite gone. u seemed like
q person under tho influence Of some
mesmeric spell, from which there was no
escape. In this condition my gaze in
stinctiyely turned to my companion, and
/ noticed, as / thought a mysterious
change in his appearance. His complex
ion had assumed a malignant air, his
eyes wore n wild look and round his
mouth there curled a cunning smile
As l sat watching him, he began to
undo the parcel in his hands, and draw
ing away the paper in which IL was in
closed exposed TO view a box apparently
made of tin. a little hinged door on one
of it's sides, which he presently opened,
showed that the interior was filed with
q species Of clockwork arrangement. and
instinctiyely guessed that the thing
beheld was ono Of those diabolical in
vcntions which have come to he known
by the term OF internal machines.
On beholding this horrible engine oil
destruction, which. for aught l knew.
might be fused ready for is dreadful
work, my first thought was 60 stretch
out ny hand for the communication
cord. and. hy stopping the train. let the
authorities know the manner Of mul
they were carrying; but. on attempting
to rise, found that my limbs utterly
refused their Office. and | was as help
less us though l had been bound hand
and foot Ny companion, evidently di-'
vining my intention, spoke:
"You are powerloss TO move, be SAID,
addressing me. 1.-THE potion imbihcd
from my flask is special decociicn
which will prevent action ON your pat
for some time to come. So sit still and
liston You know. doubtless, what this
Is, he continued, pointing TO the box.
which he had placed on the seat beside
him, "and most likely you guess what
am at the same time. In case yon do
not, will tell you at once that am
ono of that nohla hand who have for