Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-05-21
A QUEER ADVENTURE

Being the only occupant Of the carriage
in which l rode, 1 broke the tedium of
the journey by reading, in the dim light
of the chill December day, some of the
several periodicals with which l 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 we'll
known European capital. The reports
were alarmingly graphic, and an air of
insecurity was engendered by reading
them, for rumor had it that the rami-
fications of these champions of assassi-
nation were we'll nigh limitless, extend
ing into other lands besides their own,
and it was plainly limited that England
was shortly to receive a special share of
their attentions.
l read on until the growing darkness
rendered the operation too difficult to be
longer INDUCED il, and thon mused 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, l entered the
buffet attached to the station at which
had stopped, with the object of obtain
ing some needed refreshment. Having
eaten nothing since breakfast, l was
hungry, and looked round for something
substantial wherewith to appease my ap-
petite.
The only available thing besides the
usual sandwich was German sausage,
which | began to tackle without the
least compunction. Although not an edi-
BILE that l usually indulge into be cor
rect, l had never before tasted 1.-THE
inelegant polony seemed to my sharpen
ed palate quite toothsome food, and l
ate vigorously, and felt, as believed,
all the better for it when the time came
to resume my journey.
l had companion this time, 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 l 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 it.
On starting my fellow traveller made
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 to accept hospitality in this way
from a stranger, and it is a thing al
ways set my face against, but in this in
stance broke through my custom and
took the protfered 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 ensconced
when kind of drowsy stupor began to
creep over me, which steadily increased,
despite repeated efforts on my part to
shake it off. As sat in this semicon-
scious state my thoughts reverted to the
nihilistic literature had been reading,
and instantly it occurred to me that the
brandy had been drinking was drug
ged. The thought was not pleasant
one, and, somewhat alarmed by it, made
a further attempt to rouse myself from
the lethargy into which l was falling,
but without success. Suddenly l lost
consciousness entirely, and everything
became blank.
1t was only for few moments, how.
| over, for my senses returned as quickly
as they had left me, although my power
of action was quite gone. l seemed like
person under the influence of some
mesmeric spell, from which there was nc
escape. In this condition my gaze in
stinctively turned to my companion, anG
/ noticed, as l thought, a mysteriou.
change in his appearance. His complex
ion had assumed malignant air, hi.
eyes wore a wild look and round hi.
mouth there curled cunning smile.
As l sat watching him, he began tC
undo the parcel in his hands, and draw
ing away the paper in which it was in
NANSSA OAPOSSu W Wow u bOA apparently
made of tin. A little hinged door on on,
of its sides, which he presently opened
showed that the interior was filled witt
species of clockwork arrangement, anc
instinctively l guessed that the thing
beheld was one of those diabolical in
ventions which have come to be know
by the term of Internal machines.
On beholding this horrible engine O.
destruction, which, for aught l knew
might be fused ready for its dreadfu
work, my first thought was to stretcl
out my hand for the communication
cord, and, by stopping the train, let tn,
authorities know the manner of ma,
they were carrying; but, on attemptin.
to rise, l found that my limbs utterlS
refused their Office, and was as helm
I lass ~ tbppph / bal baa,,