, 1896-04-11

sN> "a
cord. and. by stopping the train, let the
authorities know the mann sr of mar
they were carrying; hut. on attempting
TO rise, / found that my limbs utterly
refused their Office, and l WIS as help
less as though l had heeu bound hand
and foot. My companion, evidently di-
vining my intention, spoke:
You ere powerless to move, " he said.
addressing me. THE potion imbibed
from my flask Is a special deroction
which Will prevent action OIL your part
for some time to come. Sc sit still and
listen! You know. doubtless, what this
is" he confirmed, pointing to the box,
which he had placed on the seat beside
him, land most likely you guess what
l am at the same time. IN case you do
not, l Will tell you at unce that l am
one OF that noble band who have for
their object in life the emancipation OF
mankind from the tyranny of author
ity!'
"In other words. you are a uihiljst-
a dynamitard?" l suggested.
Use those terms if you like" he re-
piled. There is nothing in a name.
Acts are tho things whereby men are
judged. Hear what | have to say! The
society to which l belong has decreed
the immediate doom of an authoritative
rule, and with that object has dispatch
ed emissaries far and wide to carry out
its behests. A big blow is shortly to be
struck, and there Is not q country in the
whole OF Europe which will escape it.
Russia, Germany, Austria. France, all
are condemned, and even England, the
Wanted home of the free, is not TO be
exempt. AT the present moment there
are 80 picked men, armed with the most
deadly bombs, i'll London itself, await
ing the signal to commence. One more
worker is required, and l am commits
stoned to find some Il to supply the
want. l have done SO, and my choice
falls upon you!'
l started in my seat at these words,
uttered i'll a tierccly earnest tone. He
concluded:
You; yes, you must become one of
us; must enroll yourself under the BAN
ner OF emancipation, and strike a blow
for libertyr'
"And what if l refuse?' l inquired,
as quietly rs my excitement would al
low. He leaned forward and Missed rath-
er than spoke in my ear:
1T you will not do this, then you
yourself are doomed! Mark me, unless
you join our ranks you will never leave
this train alive!'
"Who will prevent me?" l asked,
again making q vain endeavor to rise.
II WILLY he Shoutel fiercely.
II defy you'll exclaimed, with a
firmness I did not really feel. thinking
that n determined attitude might posi-
bly, overawe him, for assassins are in
variably towards. Twas mistaken in my
man, however, for on hearing my words
he put his hand under the cloak that en-
veloped him and drew forth a poniard.
the sharp pointed edge of which he felt
critically with the tip of his finger.
II will give you IL minute in which
to consider your decision" he said,
"and if at the end Of that time You re-
main obdu:f,e, then this blade goes
s~traightway through your heart"
In order, l suppose. to amuse himself
during the interval, he pricked 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
weapon edge. In u little while he said:
"The time is up! What say you
now?"
"What l said before" replied. "Do
your worstr"
Instantly he sprang to his feet and
clutched me by the throat.
Coward T. I cried, half choking rs /
was, and struggling in his iron grasp.
The epithet seemed to madden him.
for his face became livid with sudden
rage, his eyes Rlared wildly and his
breath came in thick and hurried gasps.
"You shall never say that again" he
shouted. tightening his hold till the
blood swelled up in my face and my
eyes seemed ready to fly from their
sockets.
With the energy of despair l made one
final attempt to recover my power Of &C.
tion and felt that l was succeeding. The
effect Of the potion vas evidently work
ing of, aud with use returning to my
limbs l realized that now vas my time.
Concentrating all the strength l had i'll
to one tremendous effort, I managed to
free myself from his grip and immedi-
ately closed with him. We struggled
violently together for a few seconds,
neither gaining the mastery, and then l
stumbled and we both fell to the ground,
he uppermost. 1t seemed that my hour
was come, for in his hand he held the
deadly weapon. As I saw the cleaning
blade descend in one swift stroke, l
raised my voice and shouted:
Tickets, please! All tickets ready!"
1t was the m Of the collector.
I rubbed my eyes and looked around.
There was my fellow traveller sitting
quietly on the scat opposite. regarding
me with an amused expression Oh his
face.
Been sleeping?" he queried as my
gaze caught his.
81 suppose 1 have" was my hazy re-
ply:
"And dreaming. too" he added.
with "A smile. "Unpleasantly I should
guess by your mannerp
It was 80. The substantial repast of
which I had partaken had been the
means Of bringing OF a heavy slumber
which lasted right on to my journeys
end. and the fearful adventure through
which l had been passing was not. az 1
had imagined it, a thing Of reality. but
only a horrid nightmare. engendered
by the reception of q mass Of indigesti-
BILE food into a constitutionally dyspep-