The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-03-27
The Internal Machine

i
(lJ as If the usual winter slush OF
the Lon lon streets lad vaporzed
Itself. and settled down again in the
atmosphere rs log.
Ihcp Ii was Christmas eve. That
made Ii worse. The poor in London
o ten lnd ii hard enough to keep up
their spirits in spite OF cold. starva ion.
and neglect. Yet even to the most mis-
cradle and desperate of us all, the com
motion that heralIs Christmastile, the
busy going 10 ami fro Of those with
money to buy. and the hearty display
on the part OF those WHO have any hin,
ut all to sell-all these IRE something to
see. even If you la emit sixpenoe to buy
dinner with, or Il friend on earth to
greet with the Compliments of the
Season" But when King Fog blurs
ana overshadows everything, the tenn
per OF the unfortunate classes Is severe
ly tried.
l was very savage that night; savage
with myself. savage with my empoy-
ers. ana savage most Of all with my
miserable lot In life Once on a time
l was u well-to-d0 householder, with a
iiOurishiny watch and clockmake r's
business. But after while things
went badly. somehow or other. and
suppose took more than was cool for
me. At last the business broke up;
and then-but there! what's the use OF
looking back? l had now joined the
ranks of the struggling aud hopeless.
ana 1t seemed hard that, hal. -suffO-
cat d with fog. should be tludy .ng the
grimy streets between Clerkenweil ana
st. James with IA heavyish weight to
carry on such II night and ut such
season, while the rich and fortunate
were eating and drinking and enjoying
themselves more than was good for
them. Bah! 1t made my blood boil to
think Of it all. And yet felt the jus
tlce OF 1t all. 1t was cause and effect.
AS we make our bed, so we must lie
upon It,
The fog grew so thick as went
along that IL who have been familiar
with every square yard OF London ever
since | can remember knowing any
thing-came for moment to a stand
still, and had to admit that | had lost
my way. | knew well enough how l
had cOme-Red Lion Square. High Hol-
born. Broad street and the Dials. /
ought to be In Cranborne street. or Lei.
cester Square: but. for the life Of me,
could not see two yards In front to
make sure.
Only with some difficulty did ascer.
tain that there were houses ut three
PAGES distance. l resolved to push on.
however. keeping my disengaged hand
upon the walls and lintels and doors.
In order to have something substantial
to go by Even this was awkward. and
my progress soon became slower than
ever So thick was the fog, that with
my hand ON lamp post l literally
could not distinguish the flame of the
gas above me. Nevertheless. l STUN
bled onward In hope Of meeting some
one to direct me. But no one came in
sight. l suppose had got into slum:
ono OF those places where. they say, 80
many foreign desperadoes lie In hid
Ing; and was m,silng on the evil re-
pute Of some Of the back streets in the
most luxurious city In the world, when
all OF sudden | was roughly seized.
ana before had time to use my tongue
l was dragged within neighboriny
doorway. The door was Immediately
slammed. and ruthless hands hustled
me down dark passage and into a
back room. from which Il felt sure) It
was impossible to summon assistance,
however loudly employed my lungs.
Happily was not injured in any way
only greatly alarmed: and fortunat ely
had retained enough presence Of mind
TO hold tight the handle Of the wooden
box which ! carried in my hand. II
had dropped It! Well. l would rather
not speculate upon what would have
happened II had dropped that box.
The room into which l had been
thrust was lighted by single gas jet. |
There was nothing about the apart.
Ment itself to suggest that my life was |
In danger. for It was an ordinary sitting |
room. fitted up with something like |
feminine care. But was very quickly |
made to understand. by the men who |
had dragged me into the house, that |
they were capable Of anything In pur.
suit Of their object. There were only
two scoundrels present. though It had |
seemed as II full score were taking
nie prisoner.
Now" began one Of the bulliee, q
cross-eyed. burly brute. standing be-
tween me and the door.
WELL" l said. as he paused. The
box l carried was rather heavy. II
placed It cautiously upon the table In |