The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-03-25
A QUEER ADVENTURE.

IN London, ana was returning by the
afternoon mail to my home in the corn-
try. Being the only occupant of the car
riage in which 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
had furnished myself at the bookstall
previous to my departure from the sta
ton.
The papers at that time were full OF
accounts respecting some startling cut
RACES committed just previously by a
band of desperate nihilists, who. in their
own particular manner, were levylng
war upon civilization in well-known
European capital The reports were
alarmingly graphic, and an air of in
security was engcndered oy reading
them, for rumor had it that the ramifi-
cations we:c we!!-nigh iilnitless, ex-
tending into other lands besides their
own, and it was plainly limited that Eng
land 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 l had read until, half my
journey being accomplished, it became
necessary for me to change my train.
With quarter of an hour to spare, |
entered the buffet attached to the sta
ton at which L hao stopped, with the
object of obtaining some needed re-
freshment. Having eaten nothing since
HIM 1nolyod
round for something substantial where
with to appcase my appetite.
The only available thing beside the
usual sandwich was German sausage,
which 1 began to tackle without the
least compupctiOn. Although not an
edible that / usually INDUCED into be
correct, l had never before tasted it
the inelegant poloDy seemed to my
sharpencd palate quite toothsome food,
and 1 ate vigorously, and felt, as / be-
lieved, all the better for it when the
time came to resume my journey.
1 had companion this time, man
who, like myself, was closely wrapped,
and who occupied the seat directly OPP
posite to the corner one in which L
placed myself. In his hand noticed
that he carried small, cblong parcel,
incased in brown paper and tied with a
strip of thin string, so arranged as to
form loop for the fingers that held it.
On starting, my fellow-t raveler made
a few commonplace remarks about the
weather, and later on, with an air Of
decided sociability, offered me his flask.
I am aware that it is not ordinarily adj
visable to accept hospitality in this way
from stranger, and it is thing al
ways set my face against. but, in this
instance, broke through my custom
and took the proffered drink, and then,
drawing my wraps closely around me,
Struggled into my corner, and tried to
make myself comfortable for the rest
of the ride.
had not been long thus enscoEced
when kind of drowsy stupor began to
creep over me, which steadily increased.
despite repeated efforts on my part to
shake it off, AS l sat in this semi-con-
scious state, my thoughts reverted to
the nihilistic literature had been read :
ang, and instantly it occurred to me that
the brandy had been drinking was
drugged. The thought was not pleos-
ant one, and somewhat alarmed by it
I made farther attempt to rouse my
self from the lethargy into which was
falling, but without success. Suddenly
lost consciousness entirely, and every
thing became blank.
1t was only for few moments, how
ever, for my senses returned as quickly
:s.s they had left me, although my power
of action was quite gone. Iseemed like
a person under the influence of some
amesmeric spell, from which there is no
escape. In this condition my gaze in
stinctively turned to my companion,
and I noticed, as I thought, a mysteri-
GUS change in his appearance. His COM
plcxion had assumed malignant air.
his eyes wore wild look, and round
his mouth there curled cunning smile
AS sat watching him, he began to
undo the parcel in his hands, and draw
ing away the paper in which it was in
CLOSED, exposed to view box apparent
1y made of tin. A little hinged door on
one of it's sides, which he presently
opened, showed that the interior was
filled with a species of clockwork ar
tangeme1,t, and instinctively guessed
that the thing behold was one of those
diabolical inventions which have come
to be known by inc term of Internal ma
chimes.
On behclding this horrible engine of
destruction, which, for aught knew,
might be fused ready for its dreadful
work, nv first thought was to stretch
out my hand for the communication
cord, and, by stopping the train, let the