Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-05-03
CHAPTER VII.

but for such action offering a bait to
Sims blasted curiosity" grumbled
Weems, as he fumbled in the dark for
the key, which he presently found hang
ing at the side of a door post. What
would have become of me if he had TAX
en- it into his prying skull to open that
package containing the clock-work con-
trivance?"
He made his way into the room, and,
striking a match, lighted a candle that
CHANGED to be at hand, after which he
glanced around him with eager and sus-
picious eyes.
The room was large, dusty and almost
bare of furniture. with a single window
looking across the shed to the stables.
There was, indeed, nothing in the room
but an iron bedstead, provided with plain
and cheap bedding, washstand of the
same material two chairs, and a number
of packages, including a large hair trunk
and two bales of wool, the latter contain
ing, perhaps, hundred pounds each, and
neatly packed in canvas, but with the
contents protruding at the ends.
Weems first drew out the hair trunk,
and, going carefully under the upper con-
tents, brought to view a strong wooden
box about eighteen inches square, which
he placed on the bed. He then produced
from the bottom of the trunk four heavy
cylindrical packages, about the size Of
ordinary fruit cans, padded and swathed
in wooden wrappings; and, in conveying
these also across the floor he handled
them as gingerly as though the slightest
rough jar of one of them might be capa
BILE of blowing him to atoms.
"Therep he muttered, seating himself
by the bed, and surveying the packages
he had placed on it. Let me see; not
yet eight o'clock. My nephew will scarce
~ turn up here before ten, if he once gets
to drinking freely with those newcomers,
and thought l detected a lurking devil
in his eye as / was quitting him. That
will leave me ample time to prepare my
little bale of wool for shipment on the
Scarborough, as there is no telling when
/ shall have the opportunity again before
she sails"
He then carefully opened the box, and
exposed to view small machine of beau
tiful workmanship, that very much re-
sembled the works of a clock of consid-
cradle size. 1t was compact, graceful
combination of polished springs bolts and
wheels Of brass and steel, bearing on
one side a little dial, with a band in it's
center, and numbers one, two, three, four
and so on up to twenty, running around
the outer edge, after the manner Of a
timepiece, while there was a tiny square
projection at one side of the dial, by
which it was evident that the machine
was to be wound up.
'"Therew continued Weems, in the
same chuckling tone, as he unwrapped
the cans containing the dynamite, and
adjusted them in a row; ''if that isn't an
interesting study, I'd like to know what
is. There's more than a spice of danger
about it. Only to think of it! The pow
er contained in this little machine, when
properly adjusted. and applied to GER
tain percussion cap communicating with
the contents Of these innocent-looking
cans, is sufficient to blow the biggest and
strongest ship ever built into eternal
smash! Come, I'll test it for, say few
minutes set, and then pack it away for
it's final mission"
He took a small key and some other
articles out of compartment in the box
that had contained the machine and pro-
ceeded to wind up the latter, which, dur
ing the operation. emitted a soft, clear,
purring sound. He then moved the hand
just a hairs breadth on the dial, to the
right, and, taking out his watch for con-
sultation, awaited the result with the
pleased and breathiess anticipation of
an earnest school boy in the investigation
of new toy.
The hand upon the dial of the machine
remained as noiseless as if painted there
on; but, just precisely as the secondhand
ON his watch face indicated the passage
of FIVE minutes, bang came a signal from
the interior of the clock works, and then
for an instant the entire machine seemed
alive. Then, with the rapidity of light
ming. something darted out of the bottom
of the continuance, and the entire box-lid,
on which it stood, was split asunder, as II
by an electric shock
"Good! goodr' exclaimed Weems, rub
bing his hands delightediy. True as
die and sharp as a sword.
He lifted the machine up from the lld,
and turned it upside down. A round.
steel bolt, not sharp but blunt, and OF
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