The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-24


q 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, Inotionless and with
nasty cut on the temple. lay Harry
Sanderson.
A long, saturatlng peace, d deep and
drenching darkness, had folded him.
Duly at first, at length more insistent-
~ 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
be heard low, continuous roar and
now and again through the roar nearer
voices.
Harry awoke. His mind awoke. but
bis 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
v1brated beneath him. the floor of an
empty freight car in motion. A small
brown dog. an abject, muddied and
shlverlng morsel, was snuggled close to
his side. 1t whined as if with joy to
see his eyes opened, and its stubby tail
beat the foo-.
Harry turned his head. Two men in
d1ngy 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. BE
put up his hand. 1t touched a coarse
handkerchief that had been bound
tightly about it. The corner hung down.
1t was soiled and stiff with blood.
What was he doing there? Where was
he? Who was he?
It came to him with a 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 come!
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 we'll,
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 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 sitting posture
and, with frown Of humorous per-
plex1ty. took a swift and silent in
7entory. He scanned his clothing. His
coat was threadbare and, with mud,
OH and coal dust, was in a more dis
reputable state. His wristbands were
er1my, and one cutflink 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. a penknife and tiny gold
cross, but not letter, not a scrap of
paper, nothing to serve him. The
CLEAN of ring on. his finger caught
his eye. BE 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 it
slightly he could see the white depres-
a'ou made by long wear. The setting