The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-06-21

events which the night was destined to
bring forth?
The clock pointed to $3.50, showing
that the whole dread scene through
which l had passed that evening had
consumed barely 25 minutes, though
naturally the space of time had seemed
like hours. Eight-thirty. 49,. In 20
minutes more, the memorable clock
ticking out the minutes so patiently
would have brought its minute hand
round to the fatal stroke, the bomb
would explode-and then. A feel
ing of nausea rose in my throat as the
hideous reality beat it's horror into my
brain, and L strove with all my might to
shut out the black thoughts which over
whelmed me.
For the first ten minutes the agony of
waiting was softened somewhat by the
hope that something might happen to
save me. But when the ten minutes
had passed, my soul grew sick, and a
dull feeling of resignation took hold of
my being. My time had come; my
course was run; my hour was at hand.
Let me face death like a man, for, in
spite of my profession, 1 retained some
of the instincts of manhood, and / re-
solved to meet the end as quietly as
though thousand eyes watched my
exit.
Fifteen -,lutes to nine. The
minute h.sd seemed to linger long
time, and sudden hope raced through
my mind that prechance the clock
might stop. But a second later [ saw
with a pang that my fancy had de-
ceived me, for the cruel hand moved on,
and now, o Heaven, another minute
was registered!
Thirteen minutes to nine! An icy
feeling shivered through my body-my
tongue clave to the roof of my mouth
nausea seized me with a mighty grip.
In three more minutes the explosion
would occur, and should have gone out
to the great mystery which laps the
shores of this worlds life. Three min
utes more!
My eyes began to swim, red light
was in them, burning them like live
coals-a thousand fiendish voices
buzzed in my ear-but above them all
there rang out the tick-tick of the
clock, every second bringing me nearer
and nearer to the end.
tried to grasp prayer, but my lips
were parched and could not have moved
even il the gag had not held them rigid;
l tried to frame silent supplication to
the Almighty for deliverance, but my
mind could not work coherently, and
the entreaty languished unmade. A
feeling of measureless despair envol-
oped my soul, and then, as the minute
hand of the tiny clock glanced towards
the fatal figure, a faintness clutched
my being, white mist was in my eyes,
and Inconsistencies mercifully claimed
my senses.
When l recovered, the room was full
of policemen, and Inspector Grierson,
one of my best pals, was kneeling beside
me, holding some liquid to my lips. His
fat, honest face was full of sympathy
as he exclaimed, cheerily:
Drink that, Mr.. harrington, and
don't try and talk till you feel a bit bet
ter. There!" he added, encouragingly
as the raw brandy brought back sem
blance of life to my cheeks you're
looking livelier already. By
George! you've had the narrowest
squeak that man ever had in this bust
ness"
'''The bomb, the bomb, asked, faint
ly, "where is it? What has become of
it? Why didn't it explode?'
The inspector pointed to a bucket of
water in the corner of the room.
''The bomb is there" he answered,
quietly, land can do no harm now. The
rascals have escaped, bad luck to them.
Did they tell you at what time they had
set that little bit of machinery to ex-
plode?"
''Most certainly they did," made an
swer, as I slowly raised myself from
the floor; "at ten minutes to nine pre-
cisely.'
''Then your escape is all the more in
eXplicable," returned the inspector,
''for we did not arrive here until nine
o'clock exactly, as arranged with you"
81 am as amazed as you are, said /;
''surely the clock could not have been
wrong. 1t was quite new, for the man
Menskoff told me he had purchased it
only this morning in Edinburgh
On hearing these words, Inspector
Grierson uttered low whistle, and an
Illuminating intelligence shone in his
face.
''Great Scott" he exclaimed, slapping
his knee, 81 see it ALL"
''See what?" l shouted, mad with eX-
element. ''See what?"
"Why, the explanation of your saliva
ton. You say that clock was bought in
Edinburgh. Well, you may not know it,
but it so happens that Edinburgh time
is just 13 minutes behind the London