The record-union., 1897-04-25

ties gave me matter for reflection dur
ing the rest Of the journey.
1t was dull gray evening, with
wicked wind blowing and hourly IN
creaSing in strength. The weather
forecasts had been so ominOus that sew
eral out of the small number OF our
passengers declined to cross, ana Tor
those who did adventure there followed
three hours purgatory. Before we
were halfway across my sole compan-
ion on deck became the most aDJecl
spectacle of Indebtedness l ever beheid.
He stayed there only out of sheer IN
ability to rise from his seat, looking
cut from his railway rug with ghast-
ly green face that got greener when he
looked at me and saw | was enjoying
myself Poor beggar; 1 knew how he
felt, and tried not to be ostentatiously
jolly Presently, however, a lurch took
me unawares and threw me down on
the seat beside him, while my favorite
briar-root shot from my lips across the
deck and disappeared forever.
Hard luck! he gasped between his
groans. Then, after fumbling bit, he
pulled out cigar case. TRY this he
managed to say.
This was shoveling Goals of fire on my
head L felt. and L thanked him heart
lily feeling my gratitude growing
warmer and warmer with each Whit L
drew of the choicest and most fragrant
cigar l ever put light to. 1t lasted
through the rest of the crossing, and
when We proposed to go ashore | was
only too glad to have a chance of oblig-
ing him in return. He was fairly
cramped and helpless, and had actual
~ to lift him to his feet and drag him
on to the pier.
DO you mind putting me into car
riage?" he asked. Il am afraid to be
left alone
The guard found an empty compart-
ment. and we laid him at length on the
seat. 1t was the express train to town.
and the guard took care that no one
should get in with us.
He wasn't a lively companion, lying
out limp and speechless opposite, but
he was civil Have another cigar.
You'll like this one better than the last,
il you don't mind rather a full flavor. -
He selected one out of a handful and
offered it me, then turned over on his
side and went to sleep.
1t was curious tobacco certainly, or
perhaps my head was still little queer
from the pitching and tossing. 1 began
to grow sleepy-deliciously sleepy-with
an odd, pleasant numbness stealing
over every limb. That was the change
from the battering sea wind to the
warm, stuffy carriage, 1 thought. I
would have opened the window, but my
legs refused to stir. My small port
manteau stood on the seat beside me. l
slid down sideways till my elbow rested
on it and my head on my hand. The
smoke seemed to get into my eyes and
ears and wrap me round in a comfort
able woolly vapor: my head went mid
dle-noddling forward, and the cigar
slipped from my lips, but 1 made no
effort to catch it. Presently l was con-
scious that my fellowtraveler was up
and about What a fidget he was TO
be sure! Closing that last inch of Win
dow just as if there could be any
craught. He shut up both ventilators
and then stopped and looked at me. l
shut my eyes tight to avoid the fatigue
CT talking, but opened them when he
moved away and lazily watched him.
He was unscrewing a little brass box,
which 1 recognized as a lamp for heat
ing curling-irons; l had seen il at the
hairdresSer's. Was he going to trim
his mustache, or what? Perhaps to
brew himself some tea or soup some
how.
He poured in the methylated spirit and
lighted it, then carefully measured out
of a little bottle some darkish stuff and
dropped it on the flame. Holding the
lamp at arms length, he placed ii on the
portmanteau and showed it toward my
face. Did he want to fumiGate me, and
why? With a sudden effort l managed
to twist my face up so as to get a view
of him. He was shrinking into the
furtherest corner, holding his handker-
chief over his nose and mouth. l felt
1 must have this explained: but mean
while the blue vapor from the lamp was
drifting in pale clouds around me, filling
every breath | took with d sweet suffo-
eating flavor, altogether delicious. some
thing like the cigar only more powerful.
My limbs. from being numb, grew lea
den. l could not have stirred a finger
TO save my life. Still l was not insen-
sible. though a droWsy dullneSs suffused
my brain; one corner of it-one tiny
patch of brain matter-felt alert and
watchful though powerless. | knew
when the man in the corner began to
stir. and / saw him bending over me-
holding his handkerchief over his mouth
and nostrils He rested one hand on my
forehead and lifted up my eyelid with
his thumb. I did not resent it; I was
quite Indifferent as to what became OF
me. Then he carefully and deliberately
felt me all over, my breast and my sides
till he came TO my belt Round and
round me went his fingers prodding and
rubbing till he found what he wanted
i couldn't life an eyelid in protest-didn't
want TO.
Luckily l was doubled up awkwardly
for his purpose, and he could do nothing
with one hand. Besides. seemed to
see that in spite of the cover over his
mouth. the vapor was taking effect upon
him. and he swayed about diZzily. He
staggered back to his far corner and
lowered the window for a moment, not
long enough to do me any good. He then
tied the handkerchief over his face. 50
as TO leave both hands at liberty. and
approached me again. This time he
lifted me easily. and when l tried tC
speak. began TO unfasten my waistcoat
or I thought he did. I could not be
sure Black darkness closed in upon me
surging up like a sea and swallowing
mel was LOST was dead
Then came a sound like thunder and a
shock as of a pail of iced water flung
over me. / suppose one was the grind
ing of the brake as the train was brought