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


addressing me. "The potion imbibed
from my flask is special decoction
which will prevent action Oh your part
for some time to come. So sit still and
listen You know doubtless, what this
is" he continued, 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, will tell you at once that 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 nihilist--
a dynamitard?" suggested.
"Use those terms if you like, he re-
piled. "There is nothing in name.
Acts are the things whereby men are
judged. Hear what l 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 country i'll ths
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, in London itself, await
ing the signal to commence. One more
worker is required, and am commits
stoned to find some one to supply the
want. I have done SO, and my choice
falls upon you!"
I started in my seat at these words,
uttered in a tiercely earnest tone. He
concluded
"You; yes, you must become one Of
us; must enroll yourself under the ban
ner of emancipation, and strike blow
for liberty!"
"And what il I refuse?" inquired,
as quietly as my excitement would al
low. He leaned forward and Kissed rath-
or than spoke in my ear:
eff 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 a vain endeavor to rise.
II Wilt" he shouted tiercely.
81 defy you" 1 exclaimed, with a
firmness / did not really feel, thinking
that determined attitude might posi-
bly, overawe him, for assassins are in
variably towards. was mistaken in my
man, however, for on hearing my words
he put his hand under the cloak that EN-
veloped him and drew forth poniard,
the sharp pointed edge of which he felt
critically with the tip of his finger.
II will give You one minute in which
to consider your decision" be said,
"and if at the end of that time you re-
main obdurate, then this blade goes
straightway through your hearth
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 s edge In little while he said
"The time is up! What say yor
now:"
"What I said before, replied. sd
your worst'
Instantly he sprang to his feet AM
clutched me by the throat
"Coward!' I cried, half choking as
was, and struggling in his iron grasp.
The epithet seemed to madden him
for his face became livid with suddeI
rage, his eyes glared. wildly and hi
breath came in thick and hurried gasps
"You shall never say that again y HI
shouted, Tightening his hold till thu
blood swelled up in my face and IN.
eyes seemed ready to fly from thei
sockets.
With the energy Of despair made ont
final attempt to recover my power OF &C
ton and felt that Twas succeeding. Thu
effect of the potion was evidently work
ing off, and with use returning tom!
limbs / realized that now was my time
Concentrating all the strength l had in
to one tremendous effort, managed t
free myself from his grip and immedi
ately closed with him. We struggled
violently together for few seconds
neither gazing the mastery. and then
! stumbled aud we both fell to the ground
be uppermost. 1t seemed that my hou
was come, for in his hand he held tn
deadly weapon. As saw the cleaning
blade descend in one swift stroke,
raised my voice and shouted:
"Tickets, please! All tickets ready !
1t was the summons Of the collector
rubbed my eyes and looked around
There was my fellow traveller sitting
quietly on the seat opposite, regarding
me with an amused expression Oh hi
face.
"Been sleeping?" he queried as m,
gaze caught his.
II suppose have" was my hazy re
ply.
"And dreaming, too" he added
with a smile. "Unpleasantly ! shoul
guess by your manner!"
It was SO. The substantial repast 0
which I had partaken had beenH til
means Of bringing on heavy slumbe
which lasted right on to my journey
end, and the fearful adventure through
which / had been passing was not, as
had imagined it, thing Of reality, bu
only horrid nightmare, engendere'
: by the reception of mass of indigesti
BILE food into constitutionally dyspep
tic stomach.
My companion Of course was no NOR
q nihilist than was. The only fusibl
LIZ no