Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-04-10
A QUEER ADVENTURE.

1t happened about Seven YEARS 1Ro.
had been trnnsncting some business
in London. and was returning by the
AFTERNOON mail to my home IN the couu-
try. Being the only occupant OF the err
riaSc in which rosie. broke the tcdium
OF the journey by reading. in the dim
light of the chill December day. sciue of
the several periodicals with which |
had furnished myself at the bool,stall
previous to my departure from the sta
tion.
The papers at TINT time were full of
accounts respecting some startling out
fages committed just previously by u
band of desperate nihilists, who, in their
own particular mnnner, we're levying
war upon civilization in a well-known
European capital. The reports were
alnrmingly graphic. and an mir of in
security IVES engcndered by reading
them. for rumor had II that the rnmifi-
cations ire'c wel!-nigh limitless, ex-
tending. into other lands besides their
own, and II was plainly hinied that Eng
iand was ?hortiy to receive n special
share of their attentions.
read on until the growing darkness
rendered the operation !no difficult to
DC longer intliilged in; and then mused
upon what l had read Until, half my
journey being accomplished, IL became
necessary for me to change nv train.
With quarter of an hour to spare,
entered the buffet attached to the sta
tion mt which huc stopped, with tho
object OF obtnining some needed re-
freshment. Having eaten nothing since
breakfast, ! was hungry, and looked
round for something substantial where
with to appedse my appetite.
The only available thing beside the
usual sandwich wna German sausage,
which | began to tackle without the
least compunction. Although not an
edible that usually INDUCED into be
correct, had never before tasted it.
the inelegant poIony seemed to my
sharpencd palate quite toothsome food,
and ate vigorously, Ind felt. ns be-
liered,- all the better for IL when the
time came to resume my journey.
had companion this time. n man
who. like myself. was closely wrapped.
and who occupied the seat directly op.
positc to the corner one in which 1
Pfneed myself. In his shand 1 noticed
that he carried a small, oblong parcel,
ancased in brown papcr and tied with u
strip or thIh string, so arranged MS to
form n tooPios, the fingers that held i:
;, On starting, my felloy-iraveler made
= few commonplace REMARKS about the
weather, and later on, with an air of
decided sociabiiity, offered me hir flask.
| am aware that it is not ordinarily adj
Sisable to nccept hospitality in this way
from a strnnger. and It Is n thing nj.
ways set my face agninst. but, In this
Instance; broke through my custom
and took the proffered drink, and then,
drnsvihg my wraps closely nround me.
Struggled into my corner. and tried 10
make myself comfortable for the re.
Of the ride.
had moi been long thus cnsconccd
when kind of drowsy stupor began To
creep over me, which steadily increased.
despite repeated efforts on my part To
shake 1t off. As snt In this semi-con-
scious state. my thoughts reverted to
the nihilistic literature had been read.
ing. md Instantly il oce.iftcd to me that
the Sfhhdy had been drinking was
dr0gged. Tho thought was not n pleas
Snt one. and somewhat alarmed by IT,
I made farther attemptto rouse my
self from the lethurgy into which was
falling, but without success. Suddenly
lost consciousness entirely, and every
fling became a blank.
.it wns only for fe,v moments. how
ever. for my enses returned as quickIy
us they had left me, although my power
of action WINS quite gone. I seemed like
person under the Influence of some
mesmeric spell. from which there is no
escape. In this condition nv gaze in
stinctivcIy turned to my companion,
and noticed, ds thought, mysteri-
GUS change in his appearance. His com
plcxion had assumed malignant air,
his eyes wore a wild look. and round
his mouth there 6urled cunning smile.
AS stft Watching him. he began to
undo the parcel in his hands. and draw
| ing away the paper in which il was in
{ closed. exposed 10 view box apparent
Iy made Of tin, A little hinged door on
lone of its sides, which he presently
opened, showed that the interior was
filed With species of clockwork ar
rdngemeit. and instinctively guessed
that the thing beheld was one of those
dinbolicai inventions which have come
to be known by the term of internal ma
chimes.
.,0a. 6ehciding this horrible engine OF
destruction. which. for nught knew,
might be fused teddy for it's dreadful
work, M first thought was to stretch
out my hand for the communication
cord. and. by stopping, the train. let tho
authorities know the manner of man
they were carrying; (; but, on attempting
to rise, l found that my limbs utterly
refused thejE- Office, and was as help
less ,as though had been bound hand
and fcot. Nix c9npapion. evidently
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