Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-10-01

| Luz yvIWu'U o'~to ed and, leaving
caugnt an IRON a trail of sparks
0's'''' PO'" like the tail of
a rocket behind it, plunged heavily
| over the rim of the bluff into the river.
A moment later the deep black wa
tiers of 1.-THE hole" had closed above
the mass of sentient steel. The swift
current had smoothed away every
trace of the strange monster it had en-
Quilted, and there by the side Of the
! track, huddled against the broken sig
nal post, his clothing plastered with
mud and CRIME, motionless and with
nasty cut on the temple, lay Harry
Sanderson.
A long, saturating peace, deep and
drenching darkness, had folded him.
Duly at first, at length more insistent-
ly and sharply, a rhythmic pulsing
sound began to annoy the quietude.
K-track, k-track, k-track-it grew loud
er; it grew more mOmentous and ma
terial; it irritated the calm that had
wrapped the animate universe. AS
though from an Unreasonable distance
he heard low, continuous roar and
/
voices.
Harry awoke. His mind awoke, but
his eyes did not open at once, for the
gentle swaying that Graded him was
pleasant, and the mufFled clack and
hum soothed him like opium. He open
ed his eyes. 1t was daylight. He was
lying on dusty boards that ratified and
vibrated beneath him, the floor Of an
empty freight car in motion. A small
brown dog, an abject, muddied and
shivering morsel, was snuggled close to
his side. 1t whined as if with joy to
see his eyes opened, and its stubby tail
beat the floor
Harry turned his head. Two men in
dingy garments were seated on the
floor little distance away thumbing
decrepit pack Of cards over an empty
box. He could see both side faces, one
weather beaten and good humored, the
other crafty-knights of the road.
The sudden movement had sent a
momentary twinge to his temple. He
put up his hand. 1t touched a coarse
handkerchief that had been bound
tightly about 1t. The corner hung down.
1t was sciled and stiff with blood.
What was he doing there? Where was
he? Who was he?
1t came to him with start that he
actually for the moment did not know
who he was-that he had ridiculously
slipped the leash of his identity. He
smiled at his predicament. He would
lie quietly for few moments, and it
would come. OF course it would comet
Yet it did not come, though he lay
many moments, the fingers of his mind
fumbling for the latch of the closed
door He had walked perfectly well,
all save the slight cut on his temple
and that was clearly superficial, a
mere scratch. Not a trouble or ankle
ty marred his soul His mind was as
clear and light as lark's Body and
brain together felt as if they had never
had a serious ache in the world. But
all that had preceded his awakening
was gone from him as completely as
though it had had no existence
Stealthily he rose to a sitting posture
and, with frown of humorous per-
plexity, took a swift and silent in
ventory. He scanned his clothing. His
coat was threadbare and, with mud,
oil and coal dust, was in a more dis
reputable state His wristbands were
grimy, and one cufflink had been torn
away. He had no hat.
He bethought himself of his pockets
and went through them methodically
one by one They yielded several dol
lars in coin, penknife and tiny gold
cross, but not letter, not a scrap Of
paper, nothing to serve him. The
CLEAN OF u ring on his finger caught
his eye. He rubbed away the dirt and
carefully examined it, wondering If
the stone was real. His hand was
slightly cut and swollen, and the circlet
would not come of, but by shifting Il
slightly he could see the white depres-
sion made by long wear. The setting
was an odd one, formed of the twisted
letters II. s. Those naturally should
be his initials, but there he stopped
He repeated to himself all the names
si5 could think 0f, beginning with z,
but they told him nothing.
He looked himself over again care
fully, rehectively. He put out his hand
and laid 1t on the spaniers head
It's rough tongue licked his fingers.
1t held up one fore paw mutely and
lamely. He drew the feverish, dirty
little creature into his lap and exam
ined the limp member 1t was broken.
"Poor little beggarr' said he under
his breath. so you've been knocked
out tooH With his knife he cut piece
from the lining Of his coat and with a