Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-02
A QUEER ADVENTURE

It happened about seven years ago.
had been transacting some business III
London. and was returning by the after
noon mail to 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 I had
furnished myself at the bookstall pre-
vious to my departure from the station.
The papers at that time we've 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 alarningly graphic, and an air OF
insecurity was ergendered by reading
them, for rumor had it that the raml-
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 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 a quar-
ter of an hour to spare. entered the
buffet attached to the station at which
I had stopped, with the object OF obtain
ing some needed refreshment. Having
eaten nothing since breakfast, was
hungry, and looked round for something
substantial wherewith to appease my APP
petite.
The only available thing besides the
usual sandwich was q German sausage,
which I began to tackle without the
least ccmpunction. Although not an edi-
BILE that usually indulge Into be cor
rect, I had never before tasted 1.-THE
inebgant polony seemed to my sharpen
ed palate quite toothsome food, and
ate vigorously, and felt, as I believed,
all the better for it when the 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 I placed
myself. In his hand I noticed that be
carried small, oblong parcel, incased
in brown paper and tied with strip OF
thin string, 80 arranged as to form
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 sooiability, offered me his flask.
/ am aware that it is not ordinarily ad
visable to accept hospitality i'll this way
from a stranger, and it is thing I al
ways get my face against, but in this in
stance broke through my custom ant
took the proffered drink, and then, draw
ing my wraps closely around me, snug
gled into my corner and tried to maxi
myself comfortable for the rest Of thu
ride.
had not been long thus ensconcet
when kind of drowsy stupor began Il
creep over me, which steadily increased
despite repeated efforts on my part t.
shake it of. As sat in this semicon
scious state my thoughts reverted to thu
nihilistic literature I had been reading
and instantly it occurred to me that thu
brandy I had been drinking was drug
ged. The thought was not a pleasan
one, and, somewhat alarmed by it, mad
a further attempt to rouse myself from
the lethargy into which I was falling
but without success. Suddenly I los
consciousness entirely, aud everything
became blank.
It was only for few moments, how
ever, for my senses returned as quickl,
as they had left me. although my powe
Of action was quite gone seemed lik'
a person under the influence Of SOM
mesmeric spell, from which there was n,
escape. In this condition my gaze in
stinctively turned to my companion, an,
noticed, as thought, a mysteriou
I 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 ] sat watching him, he began t
undo the parcel in his hands. and draw
ing away the paper in which 1t was in
closed exposed to view box apparentl,
made Of tin. A little hinged door on on
Of it's sides, which he presently opened
showed that the interior was filed will
q species Of clockwork arrangement, an,
instinctively ! guessed that the thing
beheld was one Of those diabolical i'll
ventions which have come to be know
by the term Of Internal machines.
On beholding this horrible engine o
destruction, which, for aught ] 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 th'
authorities know the manner Of maj
| they were carrying but, on attempting