Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-11-05

l4tidS1A ~ q 1SLS lhA iOto liz III
fated tires rebounded from the steel
y ridge of the rail-
road track, the
ES[M forward axle
" n caught an iron
,\ signal post, and
W. the great motor
I<MAE!.>a car, it's shatter-
ML,WN~<| ~ ed lamp jingling
SMN8SSssaiM ..-SNA like a gong, it's
TAGsM.> JSSssSs|>E pistons thrust
SYs@ASaA 49, ing in midair,
.$$QNssssGAA- reared on two
~ ~ wheels. hurting
Y~s:i@' it's occupant out
tS:.: like a pebble
'.:Is thrown from a
sling, half turn
INC Jorac"'" a1te ed and. leaving
o1@ I ~" "o" a trail of sparks
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 "the hole" had closed above
>rSs of s~entient steel. The swift
{ current \ad smoothed away every
trace of the strange monster it had ell
\ 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
a nasty cut on the temple. lay Harry
Sanderson.
A long, saturating peace, Il deep II
drenching darkness, had folded him.
Duly at first, at length more insistent-
ly and sharply, a rhythmic pulsing
sound began to annoy the quietude.
h-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 q low, continuous roar and
now and again through the roar nearer
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 muf1led clack and
mum soothed him like opium. He open
ed his eyes. 1t was daylight. He was
lying on dusty boards that ratified and
Vlbrated beneath him. the floor Of an
empty freight car in motion. A small
brown dog, an abject, muddied and
shlvering morsel, was snuggled close to
his side. 1t whined as if with joy to
see his eyes opened. and it's stubby tail
beat the floor.
Harry turned his head. Two men in
alhgy garments We're seated IN the
moor IL little distance away thumbing a
uecreplt pack of cards over an empty
DON. lie could see both side faces, one
weather beaten and good humored, the
otnef crafty-knights Of the road.
Inc sudden movement had sent a
iaomentary twinge to his temple. He
put up his hand. 1t touched a coarse
handkerchief that had been bound
lightly about it. The corner hung down.
~ was soiled and stiff with blood.
What was he doing there? Where was
Ne! Who was he?
II came to him with a start that he
actually for the moment did not know
VINO he was-that he had ridiculously
sllpped the leash Of his identity. He
smiled at his predicament. He would
ne quietly for a 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
lufnbling for the latch Of the closed
ooor. He had walked perfectly we'll,
al save the slight cut on his temple.
ana that was clearly superficial, a
mere scratch. Not a trouble OF ankle
" married his soul. His mind was as
clear and light Nc n 1arl,'s Rodv and
oraln together felt as If they had never
had a serious ache in the world. But
an that had preceded his awakening
was gone from him as completely as
though it had had no existence.
slealthlly he rose to a sitting posture
ana, with a frown of humorous per-
pieXlty, took Il swift and silent In
yeniQrY ua Saanrai lilo olothina uis